Covid-19: Easing of lockdown may cause a disastrous situation, fears governor

Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar on Sunday said that irresponsible attitude of the business and traders community in particular and the people at large in the wake of easing of lockdown may land the whole nation in a disastrous situation.

While addressing a ceremony organized in honour of social workers rendering services during pandemic crisis on front lines, and later talking to media persons at Governor's House today, the governor said that those fighting against this virus deserve salute of the whole nation. Sarwar Foundation Chairperson Begum Perveen Sarwar, Akhuwat Chairman Dr Amjad Saqib and other philanthropists were also present on the occasion.

The governor said: "Hunger was posing yet another dilemma as it might toll heavily, if businesses were not allowed to open," he said. Considering all ground realities including economic hardships, he said the government devised a policy to combat corona and simultaneously launched financial assistance programme.

He further said that over Rs 100 billion had so far been distributed among needy to mitigate the economic hardships of poor families and those, who lost jobs during the current economic meltdown. "With the easing of lockdown to allow the economic cycle to move on, it was now businessmen, traders and public's responsibility to observe all SOPs at public places to not only protect themselves and their families but people at large," he said, adding: "Non-observance of SOPs at this critical juncture of time, cost severely on the health of the people and healthcare delivery system of the government." Chaudhry Sarwar said.

On the other hand, Principal Post Graduate Medical Institute and Amir Uddin Medical College Prof Dr Sardar Muhammad Al-freed Zafar told media that steps taken to curb the spread of Corona and lockdowns have revolutionized the world, leading to a significant reduction in air pollution and the spread of complex diseases among citizens. There has also been a decline in ozone depletion from air pollution and toxic gases, he added.

He appealed to the citizens to change their lifestyle till the availability of Corona vaccine. He said the people should not take advantage of the government's easing of lockdown, keep in mind government's SOPs while shopping in the markets and do not take children with them. Principal PGMI said there might be disastrous results, if the public failed to implement the SOPs, social distancing and staying home is a must to defeat the virus.