Murad calls for new National Action Plan to contain COVID-19

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has called for developing a national narrative and action plan to contain and combat the coronavirus or the province-wise different actions and approaches would make no difference.

"A provincial Coronavirus Advisory Group has proposed extension of the lockdown by another 14 days, and we support the proposal if it is approved at the national level. I know, two FOMOs `Fear Of Missing Out' are criticizing me, but I don't care."

This he said on Monday while addressing a press conference at the Auditorium of the New Sindh Assembly Building here.

He was flanked by provincial ministers Saeed Ghani, Imtiaz Shaikh and Nasir Shah besides Advisor Murtaza Wahab.

He said that the issue of the coronavirus pandemic was not of Sindh alone or of Pakistan alone but it was a global issue, and it has created crisis globally. "We have one option. Either to contain it or slow it down so that necessary health emergencies could be made otherwise it would wreak havoc everywhere in the province and in the country," he said.

Shah said that COVID-19 was such a serious emergency which none of us had ever seen or even thought of. Therefore every decision to contain it must be made at the national level, and the provincial governments should follow them.

Lockdown: He said that one of the provinces had its Corona Advisory Group which suggested further extension in the lockdown for another two weeks. "I am surprised that some people who were perhaps in hibernation became active suddenly and started criticizing me for imposing the lockdown," he said.

"I have no objections over your criticisms wrapped in foul language, but also criticize those who followed Sindh in imposing the lockdown," the chief minister said.

He added that he was quite happy and content that other provinces also followed the lockdown through which the Sindh province succeeded in slowing down the spread of the coronovirus.

Shah said that his government announced distribution of rations, but they deliberately delayed sharing data of deserving people, and as a result his government could not start distribution of rations.

"No issue, the federal government has initiated distribution of cash. It is a good thing but its mechanism should have been different," he said and added now people were being gathered to receive cash "in violation of the social distancing SOP, and any one of them could be infected and the carry the same infection back to his or her home".

He said this disbursement should have been done on the BISP model.

To a question, he said that the provincial government was not sovereign, and it could not print currency notes. "It is the job of the federal government, and they must take care of the people," he said.

Replying to another question, the chief minister said, "We can revive, reconstruct and reshape our sinking economy, but we can't revive the people who have lost their lives due to the coronavirus infection. I am trying my best to save the people."

Shah said that people refused to meet with the COVID-19 patients and even did not receive their bodies, and they staged protests when a coronavirus-affected body was set to burry in their graveyard.

"A poor and hungry person will not experience such an attitude," he said and added this was why he had been trying to save the people of the province from the virus.

The chief minister said that being a human being he might have made some mistakes in making his decisions, but he was sure that his mistakes had not caused as much loss as his timely decisions had passed on health benefits to the people of the province.

Rations distribution: The chief minister said that 250,000 ration bags had been distributed so far. "We have released Rs1 billion for distribution of rations, and the philanthropists have provided 300,000," he said and added in this way we would distribute 500,000 bags all over Sindh.

"I was quite surprised when they started raising fingers of accusation against my government," he said and urged them to avoid creating friction in national unity.

He said that ration was distributed from 4am to 7am every day, and it was handed over to the deserving people at their doorsteps. He thanked the Rangers and police for helping the government in distributing rations.

Funds: The chief minister said that he had created Coronavirus Emergency Fund in which the provincial government employees contributed Rs3 billion and Rs118 million have been donated by people of Pakistan.

"I have heard that overseas Pakistanis have also donated about $1.5 million. All the details of the fund have been put on the finance department website, and we have hired Fergusons to audit the account," he said and added that final agreement with Fergusons was about to be signed.

To a question, the chief minister said that he had handed over some funds to the Indus Hospital for procurement of equipment.

"We have also given funds to the Pakistan Army for the establishment of the EXPO center Field Hospital where they have procured required equipment on their own," he said and thanked the Pakistan Army, the Corps Commander of Karachi and the GOC of Karachi for their support and cooperation.

Equipment shortage: Shah said that his government was facing shortage of equipment such as ventilators, PPEs, testing kits and testing machines. "Our vendor has agreed to accept our order, but his goods are lying in London," he said and added that the federal government was competent to talk to the British government.

He said that he had ordered preparation of the PPEs locally, but vents and testing kits and machines were required to be provided by the federal government. He thanked the federal government for providing the PPEs and some testing kits.

He said that the government of a particular province arranged 10,000 tests and 50,000 kits within a few days. "A similar facility may kindly be given to other provinces as well," he urged the Centre.

According to the WHO, Sindh was the only province which conducted tests as per their procedure, he said and hoped that others would also follow suit. Ulema: The chief minister thanked the Ulema and religious scholars for their support and cooperation.

"I have met them and will meet them again so that further guidance could be sought," he said. He also thanked doctors and the paramedical staff for their untiring services. He also thanked the media for educating the people.

Ramazan: The chief minister said that the holy month of Ramazan was approaching. He said that there was a dire need for developing a new SOP for Ramazan. "I have said a number of times that life has completely changed, and now we all have to change our day to day habits - the habits of living and eating and lifestyle in general - everything must be based on health advisories," he said.

Way forward: The Sindh chief minister spelling out the way forward said that a National Action Plan to combat COVID-19 should be framed.

There should be a national narrative, he said and added that the Army Public School carnage had developed national unity and subsequently a national action plan came into existence. At this juncture, a similar plan had become the need of the hour, and we had to evolve it now, he said.

Testing capacity: Shah said that at present our testing capacity was 500 tests per day and from next day it would be 15,000 per day. To a question about two ministers, the chief minister said that let them criticize us. They were what he said "FOMOs Fear of Missing Out".

"Let the FOMOs show their presence in the areas, but they forgot that they tried to break the national unity developed on the coronavirus threat," he said. The chief minister said that the price of some items had increased.

"This is the plight of some of our traders that they have started minting money out of the crisis. They don't have fear of God. I am surprised," he said. He said that he would try to control the prices.

Utility bills: The chief minister said that he had written a letter to the prime minister to write off electricity bills of up to Rs5000 and Rs2000 of gas bills. Daily COVID-19 report: Disclosing daily report, the chief minister said that during the last 24 hours 513 tests were conducted, of them 41 were diagnosed as positive and one patient died during the said period.