KARACHI - Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Saturday appealed people to strictly adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs) against COVID-19 to bring down the positivity ratio of cases.

The minister was addressing a press conference at the Sindh Governor’s House. Opposition Leader in Sindh Assembly, Haleem Adil Sheikh and other notables were also present on the occasion. He warned that the government would take drastic steps, like complete lockdown, if pattern of increase in Corona cases persists.

The Minister said currently we are consuming 90 percent Oxygen of our total supply while positivity ratio of cases has jumped to 11 percent. He said the government decided to seek help from military for full compliance of SOPs as our implementation percentage is just 21 percent.

Chaudhry Fawad Hussain urged all political parties, Ulema and people with influence to play their role in implementation of SOPs. The Minister also urged Election Commission of Pakistan to formulate SOPs for election campaigns as in our neighbouring country India, Modi’s election campaign is being considered as the major reason of Corona spread.

 

Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said our sympathies are with the people of India in this crucial condition and we pray for everyone’s recovery. He said the professional journalists under a certain criteria would also be accommodated in the Prime Minister Housing Scheme, through the press clubs. He said journalists would also be awarded Health Cards facility through a special package to enable them avail healthcare facilities for themselves and their families. Fawad Chaudhary said they are also moving towards resolving the issues related to media advertisements, besides, payment of pending salaries of the media workers would also be raised. He observed that the bitterness in the politics was not in the interest of the country.

 

Chaudhry Fawad Hussain urged the opposition not to politicise the issue of TLP. He said after long time stability in economic sector is being witnessed and we should work together for improving the country’s economy.  

 

The pace of vaccination against COVID-19 in Pakistan is much better than a number of countries in the world, the minister said. He hoped that they would cover the targeted population in a year.

 

“This is in a scenario when only three countries are producing these vaccines, including China, Russia and India- the latter being worst hit hence is no more exporting the vaccine”, he said.

 

He said despite shortage of the vaccine at the global level, Pakistan has attempted to arrange the same without any compromise in terms of quality. “We have received through GAVI, besides those provided to us by China as a gesture of friendship, and have also purchased from other available sources.

 

Fawad Chaudhry said the provinces should also purchase corona vaccine for their population as Punjab has made allocation for the purpose, but no such step has yet been taken by Sindh.

 

The Federal Minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan was reluctant to impose complete lockdown but fully conscious that lives of the people were the most important and valuable. He said equal responsibility lied upon the citizens themselves as well as influential segments of the society to ensure optimum compliance of the COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) so as to avert India like situation.

 

The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) has recently reviewed the COVID-19 situation, and it has decided to take further steps after a week, with an advice to impose strict restrictions, if situation would deteriorate, Fawad Chaudhry added.

 

Fawad Chaudhry said the COVID-19 situation was very difficult in India and Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi have also expressed solidarity with the people of India. “We stand with the people of the India in this challenging situation”, he added.

 

 

 Fawad Chaudhary said the restrictions on dine-in and dine-out facilities in the restaurant and hotels would be imposed and only take-away would be allowed. The government would facilitate the delivery services providers to help people in their shopping, he added.

He said complete lockdown would not be in the favor of the daily wagers and traders but keeping the wheel of economy moving was less important as compare to the precious human lives, therefore, they appealed to the masses to strictly observe the COVID-19 SOPs.

 

 

To a question about the health cards facility, he said the provinces and federal government shared 50 percent cost, each in the facility, but the Sindh government has refused for it. Regarding a question that the Supreme Court of Pakistan has handed over two hospitals of Karachi to the federal government due to the issues of corruption and maladministration, he said efforts are being made to make representatives of the Federal and Sindh governments as members of the Board to run the affairs of the hospitals in an efficient manner. He said better hospital would help provide improved health facilities to people.

 

To another question, Fawad Chaudhry said Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was also part of NCOC and he was also responsible to ensure compliance of NCOC decisions.