- Sans leadership role
The deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic can be termed as a modern-day plague. Over 103 countries including Pakistan are afflicted by its lethal effects.
At least 139,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 5000 have died according to the latest count. German chancellor Andrea Merkle had the moral and political courage to declare that 70 percent of Germans could be eventually affected by the Coronavirus. It has already devastated Italy where the death toll has reached 1000 with the country in a state of a virtual lockdown.
Even the US president Donald Trump who for quite a while was in a state of denial has woken up to the threat. He has declared a national emergency and in his signature style, banned all flights from Europe to the US barring the UK with one stroke of a pen.
Another example of political expediency dominating the agenda is changing three health secretaries within days at a time when the top bureaucrat of the health ministry should be playing a pivotal role in implementing policies relating to prevention and control of the Coronavirus.
But more significantly the US president has reached a compromise with his nemesis, House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi, to legislate a bailout package for Americans, that includes unemployment benefits, free virus testing, aid for food assistance programs and federal funds for Medicaid. This is how it should be in a responsible democracy.
In sharp contrast to this sense of urgency; Pakistan has just barely woken up to the looming crisis. We were depending more on our luck- and perhaps benevolence of Allah on the Islamic republic- rather than properly thought out contingency plans to deal with the impending crisis.
Take the case of testing facilities for the virus. The state has hitherto not provided any such facility free of cost for its citizenry.
In the meanwhile, private hospitals and testing laboratories are making a killing, charging Rs 7000 plus to get the test done. Another example of heartlessly making money out of misery is some newspapers planning advertising supplements on the pandemic.
Most of the reported cases of COVID 19 are from Sindh. The Sindh chief minister Murad Ali Shah is playing a much more proactive role in overseeing protective as well as remedial measures, including closure of educational institutions and having remaining PSL (Pakistan Super League) cricket matches sans audience. Punjab where ostensibly there are so far no reported cases, a health emergency has been imposed.
CM Sindh had proposed an interprovincial meeting of the chief ministers of all the provinces with the prime minister to chalk out a joint strategy. Predictably Khan shelved the idea. Only Shah turned up for a meeting.
Special assistant to the prime minister on health Dr Zafar Mirza who was spearheading the government’s strategy to deal with the pandemic reportedly asked for more funds from the federal government. Unsurprisingly, he was told that the provinces should use their own funds for the purpose.
Finally, the prime minister summoned an emergency meeting of the NSC (national security Committee) on Friday in which all the chief ministers participated along with the top military brass as well to discuss measures to prevent the Coronavirus from spreading.
Now it has been decided that the NDMA (National Disaster Management Agency) will play a lead role in meeting the Coronavirus threat. Measures like closure of educational institutions including universities, restricting large gatherings, sports events and travel restrictions were long overdue on a national level.
Obviously, it could no longer be business as usual in the face of an existential crisis that has far reaching social and economic costs. Khan was traversing the country almost on a daily basis announcing ambitious schemes. But there was no use continuing with an ostrich-like attitude.
A serious exercise should be conducted as well to bring the opposition on board in order to evolve much-needed consensus on such a grave issue. At a time when the media should be playing a pivotal role in informing the public regarding a national emergency, a vendetta against it has been ramped up.
Take the case of the editor-in- chief of the Jang-Geo group Mir Shakilur Rahman. The errant publisher was arrested from NAB premises in Lahore on Thursday where he had been summoned to answer questions about the residential property, he purchased back in 1986.
The NAB has claimed that it believes in the rule of law and the freedom of press. But under what law was Shakil arrested at such an initial inquiry stage? Khan’s spat with the Jang-Geo media group dates back to his days in the opposition. And predictably it has continued unabated.
Another example of political expediency dominating the agenda is changing three health secretaries within days at a time when the top bureaucrat of the health ministry should be playing a pivotal role in implementing policies relating to prevention and control of the Coronavirus.
The latest victim is Dr. Tauqir Shah who was principal secretary to chief minister Punjab in 2014 during the Model Town incident in which 14 protesters belonging to Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) died as a result of police firing upon them took place. On the protest of PAT chief Allama Tahir ul Qadri, Dr Tauqir was removed within a week of his appointment.
Dr Tauqir, who is well known for his competence, was handpicked by the PM’s advisor on establishment Shahzad Arbab. This betrays a jaundiced mindset that perhaps considers every bureaucrat that had served with Shahbaz Sharif a persona non grata.
With global recession knocking at the doors, since last Monday the greenbacks posted a sharp jump of Rs 3.65. There has been further upward movement of the dollar against the rupee throughout the week.
As anticipated, according to some estimates out of $3 billion of the ‘hot money’ parked in Pakistan, investors have already pulled out one billion from the country for greener pastures. The stock exchange has also been in a free fall since ‘Black Monday.’
With foreign punters running away with their short-term gains this was bound to happen. This also partly explains depreciation of the Rupee after being stable for at least six months against the dollar.
The good news however is that international oil prices fell further, by 30 per cent. As a result, according to some estimates, the oil bill would fall by at least $3.2 billion.
The slump in international oil prices will provide not only a much-needed cushion for the cash strapped economy but also a window of opportunity. Even if half of this relief is passed on to the consumer it would mean a significant decrease in inflation to single digits.
Along with this, a reduction in policy rate will be a boon for investment as well as for our stagnant exports.
The country can only deal with challenges emanating from the Coronavirus threat and impending economic issues as one nation. This is the opportunity for the prime minister to play a leadership role by providing the healing touch rather than harping on divisive issues.
