Coronavirus outbreak: Government fails to ensure effective arrangements at panagahs, langarkhanas: survey

As coronavirus continues to unleash its devastation across the globe, the federal government has failed to ensure effective arrangements against this deadly pandemic particularly at the panagahs (shelter homes) and langarkhanas (free food distribution facilities).
An anecdotal survey carried out by Business Recorder reveals that people are continuing to assemble at different panagahs and langarkhanas set up across the twin cities for shelter and food.
Apart from the government sponsored facilities, there are several other free food distribution points set up by philanthropists and private charity organisations where the poor and needy continue to queue up for food - a scenario that has the potential to spread the coronavirus.
Requesting anonymity, one in-charge of a panagah in the federal capital told Business Recorder that the federal government has ordered the closure of public dealing government offices as a preventive measure against coronavirus but no instructions have been issued regarding the panagahs and langarkhanas.
"I think no clear instructions have been issued about the panagahs and langarkhanas because there are sensitivities involved. The closure of the panagahs and langarkhanas could attract public outcry and would be seen as a step against the poor and needy," he said.
However, the source agreed that arrangements can be made to isolate people seeking shelter and not allow them to assemble without closing any shelter homes and free food distribution facilities.
"But taking such steps requires a huge amount of resources that we lack. We don't have enough funds to set up separate rooms to host even a small number of people. Other options like making use of sanitizers and face masks mandatory are quite convenient and can be exercised," he added.
Those who benefit from free food supply strongly support the practice of offering langar (free food). "I am a labourer and rely on daily wages to support my family. Free food for people like me is nothing less than a blessing," said Samundar Khan, a labourer working on a construction project near Blue Area.
He received free lunch every day from a langar set up by a local businessman.
Muhammad Iqbal, in-charge of a langar, said, more than 100 people get free food from the langar he supervised.
"If we close this langar on the pretext of ensuring preventive measures against coronavirus, this would deprive all of these needy people of free food. We just can't do that. However, if the government asks us to wind up, we'll have no other option but to comply. So far, we haven't received any such instruction," he told Business Recorder.
He, however, admitted that preventive arrangements like face masks and sanitizers need to be strictly enforced in the langar. "We have not received any government instructions to ensure preventive measures either," he said adding that the langar administration would implement any directions issued by the district administration of Islamabad against coronavirus.