‘Centre should bear SMS expenses for Ehsaas Programme’

Shah expresses disappointment over charging needy for registration messages

KARACHI: Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah on Wednesday expressed disappointment over cellular companies charging the needy for registering themselves in the federal government's Ehsaas Programme via text messages.

Shah requested the federal government to take immediate action against cellular companies engaging in this practice, pointing out that those registering for the programmes were already suffering due to the lockdown in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

"The federal government should bear the costs of all the SMS being sent for the Ehsaas Programme," he insisted, adding that making these text messages free would give relief to the people.

Meanwhile, the provincial minister was concerned about the rapid increase in coronavirus cases in the country, pointing out that there had been an increase of over 800 new cases in the last two days alone.



He warned that the situation could worsen if people did not take precautionary measures seriously and did not follow the health advisories issued by the government. "It is not possible to get rid of the pandemic unless people observe the lockdown," he maintained. "People should refrain from leaving their houses except in an emergency."

He feared that the coronavirus cases could increase by thousands in the next three days, adding that the government-led lockdown needed to be tightened keeping the coronavirus threat in view.

Shah stated that water tanks had been placed at 10 different spots in the city along with basins and soaps, in order to facilitate law enforcement personnel to wash their hands and maintain hygiene.

He added that the Sindh government was as concerned about the safety of law enforcers as it was about doctors, nurses, and paramedics.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2020.