APROPOS the article ‘A changed world’ (April 1). The developed countries are also facing challenges because of the Covid-19 virus. However, they have come up with contingency plans to deal with the pandemic. On the other hand the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf led government has remained indecisive about the measures on how to deal with the problem.

It should have concerned about the disadvantaged section of society and should have committed itself to helping the poor with relief packages.

Earlier, the flood of information about Covid-19 created misconceptions across the country thanks to social media, which has led many people to behave like certified experts.

Taking the deadly virus non-seriously was the first costly mistake that a substantial number of our population initially made, although all countries including Pakistan were alerted by the World Health Organization about the havoc that the virus was capable of wreaking.

The wishful thinking convinced people that summer temperature will render the virus ineffective and therefore it cannot harm Pakistan owing to its hot weather in summer. Ultra-optimists began to say that soon a vaccine would be developed for the infection, and thus a cure would be possible. I won’t say a word about what religious bigots had to say on the subject.

In the beginning when the schools and offices were closed, the people --strangely-- started celebratory gatherings.

While the population at large is in unrest and is upset after being confined to their homes amid the nationwide lockdown, it needs to be sensitised to the traumatic consequences.

If the coronavirus becomes wildly rampant, neither the stock of provisions hoarded by the people nor the resources they have accumulated would help.

Riaz Mahar
Sukkur

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2020