In spirit of solidarity

It’s heartening to note that individuals and groups are coming forward to shoulder the state’s burden in the fight against Covid-19 coronavirus in whatever capacity they can. There are reports of young men and women registering themselves as volunteers to work at hospitals and medical centres and strengthen the hands of our gallant medical practitioners who are out to serve the humanity putting their own lives in danger. Social workers, philanthropists and charitable foundations are literally on the lookout for people needing help in cash and kind in these times of lockdowns in parts of the country. Professionals and associations are also offering their expertise that could be of any help in the efforts to contain the pandemic.

With the whole world is united through the common denominator of suffering at the hands of the novel coronavirus, a shortage of medical equipment as well as personal protective gears for medics is being experienced across the globe — even in developed countries like the US, the UK and Italy. Pakistan is obviously no exception. Realising this paucity, the Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers, also called Paapam, has expressed the desire to be a part of the government’s efforts for manufacturing medical equipment. Through a letter addressed to the Engineering Development Board, which looks after such manufactures, Papam has offered its manufacturing facilities and expertise for locally developing necessary medical equipment, including ventilators.

While China, like a true friend, continues to help Pakistan, sending medical equipment, including ventilators, diagnostic kits, face masks and personal protective gears for medics, the government should also look for avenues of support within the country. Papam’s offer for local production of necessary medical items should, therefore, be given a serious consideration.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2020.

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