Confusion on lockdown may cost Pakistan

Experts say Islamabad can learn from China

ISLAMABAD: The government’s confusion in taking preemptive measures such as lockdown strategies, besides locking horns with provincial governments has contributed to the current situation surrounding the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

This was stated by experts during an international, virtual seminar on “Combatting Covid-19: Learning from China”. The seminar had been jointly organised by the Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan) and DTN.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed said that the government had failed to provide the desired leadership apart from making timely decisions to handle the situation.

Moreover, the government had locked horn with provincial governments on a variety of strategies. “The federal government was not in favour of a complete lockdown from day one which hampered the situation,” he said, adding that lack of clarity and shortfall in the healthcare system were some of the other drawbacks.

He added that the best lesson to learn from China’s fight against Covid-19 is leadership and timely decision making.

Syed condemned western propaganda against China for spreading the virus, noting that the leadership in the US, UK and other western countries delayed the lockdown in their respective countries, opting for the herd immunity for which they are now suffering the consequences.

Chinese professor from Xi’an Dr Shan Wang said that their people followed the government instructions very carefully and remained at their homes. Strict measures were taken by the government against those who violated the SOPs.

“Frankly speaking, the Chinese people are a little more disciplined while the fear of infection made them even more disciplined,” Dr Wang said.

On the action taken to control the spread of the virus, Dr Wang said that the first large hospital to deal with Covid-19 patients in Wuhan was set up in just 10 days, while the second took just 12 days. Moreover, she said that they used herbal medicines to treat those people who displayed mild symptoms.

“Timely decisions, strict lockdown and a strong healthcare system were the major elements to recover from the pandemic,” she said.

Geopolitical analyst Malik Ayub Khan said that China’s fight against Covid-19 was exemplary, especially their use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and of various apps such as the ‘Health Kit’ in WeChat to screen people per their travel history.

He added that the implementation of the lockdown by the Chinese government, and the way the Chinese people followed their instructions was critical. “I have not seen such compliance of government instructions before anywhere else,” Malik said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2020.