PML-N Secretary Information Marriyum Aurangzeb has called an immediate boost in capacity for new coronavirus testing, quarantine and public awareness campaign.
In a statement on Sunday, Marriyum said even with the situation of the outbreak getting increasingly grave, there is no national strategy to fight the pandemic. There needs to be a national policy, plan and wide-scale mechanism to inform and prepare the people of the country for the fight against COVID19, she stressed.
The former Information Minister said at this point people have no idea what to do if they contract the virus or start experiencing its symptoms. This she said is an extremely dangerous situation as it leads to fear driven irresponsible behaviour and ends up triggering community spread which can cause an exponential increase in the spread of the disease.
She stressed that the information must be translated in all local languages and then disseminated to all nooks and corners of the country regardless of their exposure to any foreign travelers or not. She proposed that local and national media must be involved in this process.
Marriyum said Television Channels, Radio Pakistan and private radio channels can play a key role in explaining social distance and help save hundreds of lives.-PR