Lock Down, No Lock Down, NO!! Lock Down
The logic of a madman is a sane man’s confusion.
Joe R. Lansdale
It’s better to have fewer choices than having a variety of them. As fewer choices make it easier to decide, but here in Pakistan looking at the current state of government panic it seems it’s not entirely true, as there aren’t many choices except imposing a lockdown or no lockdown. Pakistan’s stance on lockdown has confused general masses as well as business investors as such uncertainty has further pushed the nation down the economic gutter. Before discussing how government reaction kept changing their policies, let’s first take a look at the very start of the show COVID-19 which caused all panic.
In Pakistan, the first case of the novel COVID-19 was reported on 26 February 2020 when a student from Karachi on returning from Iran was tested positive for COVID-19 (Ayaz Gul, 2020). By March 18, cases were reported in all provinces, both autonomous territories, and federal capital. As of the current situation, May 28, 2020, an officialstate-owned website shows 59,150 confirmed cases with 1,225 deaths reported (htt1). During such horrifying circumstances, the immature attitude of the government towards state policy is only adding to the misery of masses.
On 15 March 2020 government decided to shut down all educational institutes and imposed a ban on public gathering declaring somewhat partial lockdown. Prime Minister Imran Khan guaranteed the nation through the live address on National television both on 22ndand 24th March that Pakistan will not opt for Complete lockdown as it will result is “disastrous effects”, while the neighboring countries of India and Bangladesh already declared NATIONWIDE LOCKDOWN starting 25th March. Much to everyone’s surprise on 26th March a complete Nation-Wide lockdown was implemented by somewhat of military interference. Amid all this situation there were also interprovincial clashes regarding the decision as Sindh had already gone for complete lockdown on 22nd March 2020 (Imtiaz Mugheri, 2020).
All sections showed the same patron of confusion. During March one of the most anticipated sports events, PSL was going on. On 13 March PCB announced that the remaining matches of the tournament will be played behind closed doors and the event will come to an early close on 17 March instead of 22nd. Then again on the morning of 17th March, all the remaining matches were put on indefinite postpone which are still in a state of halt up to this date.
Even when at the end of Ramazan government announced ease in lockdown the very immature behavior of masses was something the world couldn’t believe. People rushed to market in thousands even though time and again the government urged the masses to follow SOPs. Till the last day of Ramazan people crowed almost all the big markets of every city breaking every last of SOPs.
Comparing these attitudes with our close neighbors both India and Bangladesh showed a very mature and long sorted stance in the same situation. Lockdown was properly announced the day before and was implemented. Even during the period of ease people kept their nerves. People offered their Eid Prayers on roads to make sure to follow proper safety procedures.
As a Nation, it’s time for us to grow up and review our collective attitudes toward such a situation. For this state of panic, confusion, and chaos people are responsible as much as the government if not more. We need to understand that this lockdown is not a provincial or sectorial race, where we have to be back on roads to win the race. As matter of fact it’s a race for life and to keep living we have to make sure we are back, safe, and when time is right, no matter how long it takes because after all nothing more precious than our lives and of those we love and care.
STAY HOME, STAY SAFE.