'Leadership requires thinking', Khar rebukes PM over lockdown reluctance

Planned lockdown with minimum cases better than a forced one with many fatalities, ex-foreign minister tweets

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and ex-foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar hit out at Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday for not going ahead with a nation-wide lockdown to tackle the coronavirus outbreak citing the economic costs of doing so.

"Leadership requires thinking and planning ahead of time," Khar wrote on Twitter.

In the veiled jibe, she said that "for those who can't afford to lockdown let the example of Italy guide us."

Pakistan cannot afford complete lockdown over coronavirus fears, says PM

Khar alluded to how a planned lockdown with minimum cases would be better than a forced lockdown with many fatalities.

For those who think ‘we can’t afford to lock down’ let the example of Italy guide us. Would we rather go into a planned lock down with min cases or a forced lock down after losing many of our citizens. Leadership requires thinking & planning ahead of time. #CoronaVirusPakistan

— Hina Rabbani Khar (@HinaRKhar) March 21, 2020

Yesterday, Prime Minister Imran Khan, while addressing the media in Islamabad had ruled out a complete lockdown in the country which he believes would slow down the economy and increase unemployment.

He said the people should self-quarantine for at least another 45 days to help tackle the crisis.

He appealed to media the houses, opinion makers and journalist fraternity among others to report judiciously so as to not create panic.

"We are also developing a comprehensive economic package which will be announced on Tuesday,” the premier said during an interaction with senior journalists.

The prime minister said the government is going to announce incentives for the construction industry, so that day labourers associated with the industry continue to get work amid the economic slowdown in the country.