Civil-military huddle miffed at delay in relief efforts in Sindh

Sindh govt urged to redress the situation immediately as continued delay in relief work might set off civil unrest

KARACHI: At a high-level civil-military huddle serious concerns were expressed at the elusive relief efforts of the government for the people affected by the ongoing lockdown in Sindh, which the provincial administration has declared in an effort to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic in the province.

Attendees at the meeting included Sindh’s chief minister, military’s top brass, including Corps Commander Karachi and Director General Sindh Rangers. Concerns were expressed that no relief work was being undertaken at the government level and that philanthropists are leading whatever relief efforts are being carried out in the province.

It was stressed upon the government to assuage the concerns and redress the situation immediately as continued delay in relief efforts might set off civil unrest in the province which would be a recipe for disaster, especially at a time when the nation is making efforts to stamp out the deadly contagion, according to sources.

Pakistan Army, Rangers and police personnel are at the forefront to enforce the lockdown in the province on the directives of the provincial government and the continued delay in relief efforts could create chaos. Following the articulation of serious concerns, it has been learnt that distribution of relief goods among the lockdown affectees would commence within a day or so.

Sindh went into a lockdown on March 23 for 15 days on the orders of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah who at the time said that he had no other option to save the people from the coronavirus epidemic.

According to him, all political parties represented in parliament and religious scholars were onboard on the lockdown decision.