THIS is with reference to the article ‘Muddling through Covid’ (April 29). I am astounded by the poor methodology used in the said piece. While quoting data from various Asian countries, it forgets the first rule when quoting percentages which calls for making sure that the bases are the same or at least similar in scale. There is no point comparing data from Pakistan with that related to Vietnam and Thailand as they, according to World Bank 2019 statistics, have a population mass of 98 million and 70 million respectively compared to Pakistan’s 216 million. Hence, the percentages are not comparable.

Besides, the article makes the cardinal error of depending on a single source for the thrust of its numerical argument; the Duke Global Health Innovation Centre. I accessed the website, but could not get to the figures quoted.

I Googled and found an April 16, 2021, article from ThaiPBSWorld (thaipbsworld.com) that lambasts the Thai government for a poor inoculation drive, which is currently below one per cent of its population. The said article quoted the same Thai rate at 48pc!

Imran Hameed

Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2021