LAHORE: PML-N President and Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif has expressed alarm and concern over the oxygen shortage in the country amid rising cases of Covid-19.

“All stakeholders must formulate a strategy on emergent grounds to save the country from a crisis like the one prevailing in India,” Shehbaz said in a statement here on Monday.

He urged the government to come up with a better strategy to deal with the new virus variants detected in the country. He proposed that the successful model devised by him during the dengue crisis could also be used.

Shehbaz warned the government that any confusion, hesitation or procrastination at this stage of the Covid-19 would prove to be a fatal mistake.

“What can be learnt from the world right now is that the only way to defeat this pandemic is to vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible.”

The PML-N leader said it was the government’s criminal negligence that it did not stand for the adequate amount of vaccines, which led to the spike in the coronavirus cases in the country.

He said a clear and decisive mindset was needed for crucial administrative decisions.

“True understanding of the on ground situation, reliable statistical data and appropriate actions need to be ascertained at all costs,” he added.

Shehbaz Sharif suggested to the government that daily consultation with all provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan should be held.

He urged the nation to cooperate with national institutions in implementation and practice of the coronavirus protocols. He also asked all public leaders to spread awareness among the people and pursue them to observe precautions.

The PML-N leader demanded the government restore local bodies so that they could be used effectively in the fight against the new coronavirus.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2021