Govt urged not to allow sacrificial cattle markets within city.

Byline: Faiza Ilyas

KARACHI -- No cattle market should be set up within the city and the government must ensure strict implementation of its standard operating procedures (SOPs) during Eidul Azha, demanded the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and civil society activists on Wednesday.

Speaking at a press conference held at the PMA House, they also demanded a complete lockdown in the city as per WHO recommendations to prevent spread of Covid-19, describing the smart lockdown approach as ineffective.

'We suggest strict implementation of SOPs during Eid or else the government should get ready for another hard time like we faced after Ramazan. The government must not allow holding of cattle markets for sacrificial animals within the city,' said Dr Qaiser Sajjad of PMA.

Presenting a list of other demands on behalf of the PMA and civil society activists in attendance at the event, he said the government should bear treatment cost of all coronavirus patients at private hospitals in consultation with hospital managements.

PMA demands complete lockdown, random coronavirus testing

'No medicine/health related items should be sold without the prescription of a qualified medical practitioner. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and healthcare commissions of respective provinces should address the panic and confusion currently prevailing in the country relating to the management of coronavirus,' Dr Sajjad noted.

He also called upon the government to look into the issue of rampant power outages across the city and ensure routine electricity supplies in the ongoing pandemic.

Concern over rising cases

Highlighting concerns over rising Covid-19 cases, Dr Sajjad said the situation was worsening in the country with each passing day.

'The government data suggest that till now 213,470 people have been tested Covid-19 positive, whereas 4,395 people have died. This situation has occurred because the country doesn't have any uniform policy to contain the spread of coronavirus.'

The federal and provincial governments were not on the same page, which had led to confusion in the general public over the pandemic, he added.

Elaborating further, Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro said a lack of clarity and misconceptions about the virus and insufficient hospital facilities had caused frustration and panic in society. 'The social media is spreading false information that patients shouldn't be taken to hospitals because doctors will declare the patient Covid-19 positive and the...