A dangerous gamble.

Byline: Zahid Hussain

THE sight of the multitudes thronging marketplaces and the stream of traffic choking the roads while the curve of Covid-10 cases continues to rise is frightening. Yet this was predictable. With the relaxation of restrictions, there is not even a pretence of social-distancing. The administration seems to have abdicated its responsibility as the situation spirals out of control.

Pakistan is rapidly climbing up the ladder of the countries most affected by the virus. It is now 19th on the list, jumping five places in a matter of days. The death toll has also been mounting and is far from reaching its peak. But a federal minister has callously dismissed the virus fatalities claiming that more 'people are killed in road accidents in the country every day'.

This reasoning echoes President Trump's argument for lifting the lockdown, ie traffic wouldn't stop because of road accidents. He is not the only one among the leaders who sounds like the US president in dismissing the effects of the deadly virus. Pakistan is perhaps among the very few countries that have reopened business while the Covid-19 graph is still on the rise. While the prime minister is never tired of giving examples of other countries reopening, he has failed to understand that these states began to do so only after the number of patients declined substantially. These countries have also enforced strict rules under which businesses have to operate. In contrast, we are in a hurry to relax the restrictions despite the surge in cases.

We haven't heard of anyone dying of hunger as yet, but hundreds have already been killed by the pandemic in this country. With people gathering in bazaars and congregations at mosques sweeping aside all rules of social-distancing and precautions, there is complete chaos. Law and order has broken down in parts of the country, with the leadership in complete denial about the seriousness of the situation.

The centre has not understood that bringing the virus under control would help the economy recover.

Many experts have warned that a public health disaster is waiting to happen. So what is going to happen to the economy in such a situation? Has the leadership thought about the consequences while abruptly reopening business? It is evident that the federal leadership has never been convinced about the need to shut down in order to contain the spread of the virus.

The prime minister has been at the forefront of the campaign against the...