KARACHI: A recent research has found that more than 40 per cent Pakistanis are of the view that utilising the local governments would have been a better idea than forming a Tiger Force for relief activities in the backdrop of the countrywide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus as two in five citizens are still unaware of the prime minister-initiated youth platform.

The report was released by global research organisation Ipsos recently after almost a week-long survey and study it had carried out across the country, collecting facts in both urban and rural parts of the country.

“It was initiated to share our understanding about the world we live in and how citizens around the globe think and feel about their world,” said Abdul Sattar Babar, the Ipsos managing director in Pakistan.

“We conducted our research with over 1,000 people sample size and covered facts during the first week of April 2020. The study included input from 73 per cent male and 27pc female participants. It helps peep in the social, economic and political situation emerging amid the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.”

The study says that 88pc Pakistanis are now aware of what Covid-19 is, showing a 19pc increase since February while people have also increased precautionary measures to minimise risk of infection.

“From 47 per cent in February; the percentage of Pakistanis who wash hands ... has increased to 89 per cent. However still one-third have not stopped shaking hands/physical contact with others,” it said. “The perception of coronavirus being a threat to Pakistan has increased significantly within 6-7 weeks, from only 36 per cent to 83 per cent.”

‘The perception of coronavirus being a threat to Pakistan has increased significantly in six to seven weeks’

The study finds that only two in five (around 38pc) Pakistanis can correctly recall the official helpline for Covid-19; the rest are either unaware or cannot recall correctly.

“Three in five (around 61pc) Pakistanis are unaware of any welfare organisation doing relief work for Covid-19 affected families. Among those who know, Edhi Foundation (20pc) and Alkhidmat Foundation (14pc) are the most known,” says the report, adding that despite ample media coverage two in five Pakistanis are still unaware of the Tiger Force set up by the prime minister.

“Around 43 per cent Pakistanis think utilising local governments would have been a better idea instead of making a new Tiger Force,” it says. “Majority of Pakistanis (around 56pc) believe that mosques (and other religious places) should be made centres of relief distribution during Covid-19 crisis. This view is held even more strongly in KP, Balochistan and AJK/GB.”

Unfortunately, it says that two in five Pakistanis associate Covid-19 with certain sects (43pc), communities (30pc) and have developed conspiracy theories (43pc) about the outbreak.

“People belonging to KP are more prone to agreeing with religious misconceptions. YouTube also seems to have played a role in disseminating religious misconceptions,” says the report.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2020