By Muhammad Luqman
Pakistan’s government has in principle decided to make wearing face masks mandatory in public places as the lockdown in the South Asian country has been relaxed to a great extent with opening of shopping centres and resumption of aviation activities.
“So far, the government has been recommending that people wear masks when visiting public places. However, we have now decided to make it mandatory as lockdowns have been eased. We will issue a notification in this regard,” Special advisor to the Prime Minister Dr.Zafar Mirza told a televised press briefing alongside Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Pakistan government has already allowed the export of masks and sanitizers with the expansion in the production facilities of these commodities in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic that has sofar killed more than 300,000 persons across the world mainly in the United States, Europe, Brazil, Iran and China.
Dr.Mirza also commented on an agreement between a subsidiary of Ferozsons Laboratories and the United States-based Gilead Sciences for manufacturing and selling remdesivir — an experimental antiviral drug that is being used to treat coronavirus patients.
SAPM Dr. Zafar Mirza says there is no shortage of PPE in country and Pakistan is in a position to export PPE to other countries@PakPMO @ImranKhanPTI @zfrmrza https://t.co/VZfJLjcHkG
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) May 15, 2020
“The US company has signed agreements with six companies across the world, of which one of them is from Pakistan. Not only will we be manufacturing the drug for our use, we will also be exporting it to 127 countries,” he said.
Pakistan’s government , in a bid to alleviate the sufferings of low income people, has further relaxed the lockdown, opening the automobile industry.
“Today, after consulting with the industries ministers of all provinces, we have decided to open the automobile industry, which includes car making industries and their showrooms, motorcycle industries and their showrooms and bicycle warehouses, from Monday,” Federal Industries Minister Hammad Azhar told mediamen.
“Currently the wheat harvesting season is going on and this is the peak time for this industry where they make the most amount of sales,” he said.
“Majority of the provinces were of the opinion that big shopping malls have a regulated atmosphere, where [citizens’] entry and exit can be controlled and strict SOPs can be implemented.
“They also thought that by opening malls, crowds at small markets can be reduced. There were some differences of opinion, which is why we have left this decision up to the provinces,” he said.
He added that those businesses with small electricity connections of 5KW and 70KW which are now receiving bills, will find that their bills, for the next three months and of the current month, have been paid.
Pakistan is opening up at a time when COVID-19 cases have touched the level of 38437 with 822 deaths.
” It seems that government is ultimately opting for herd immunity in the population that is a dangerous thinking,” says Dr.Qaisar Sajjad, the Secretary General of Pakistan Medical Association (PMA).
He said that government should take measures like lockdown to help stop the spread of the virus infection in the society.
