PSP, ANP ask people to observe social distancing, stay at home

Expressing their concerns over the irresponsible behaviour of people in Karachi for not observing social distancing after the Sindh government’s orders of a province-wide lockdown to limit the spread of COVID-19, political leaders on Tuesday said that such an uncooperative and careless attitude could cause irreparable harm to the entire nation.

Low resources

Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) Chairman Syed Mustafa Kamal said the people should be careful and obey the government’s orders in letter and spirit. Expressing his grave concerns, he said that a few people had demonstrated irresponsible behaviour by not staying inside their homes.

“In this difficult time, everyone needs to prove that they are a responsible citizen. The resources of the country are not high enough to bear the burden of the damage caused by COVID-19,” said Kamal, who had also served as the city’s mayor. “Therefore, prevention is the best cure and the only way out.”

He said the lockdown was the need of the hour and in the greater public interest. “Those who violate the order endanger their lives as well as that of their families.”

He appealed to young people in particular that “your parents sacrificed a lot to protect you from danger and disease during your childhood. It is your responsibility today to stay in your homes and protect your parents, elders and children from the spread of coronavirus”.

Kamal said that depending on their individual capacity and ability, the workers of the PSP would distribute soap and rations to the underprivileged households, thus helping the government in the wake of the lockdown.

He said the PSP had extended all-out support to the provincial government in order to protect the lives of the people from the deadly global pandemic.

“Our social media teams are also busy circulating messages and advising the masses to follow the instructions of the government to deal with this complex situation,” he said. This is not the time to do political point-scoring but to tackle the serious problem facing us as one nation, he added.

Help government

Awami National Party (ANP) Sindh General Secretary Younas Bunairee said the people should stay inside their homes to help the government’s efforts to limit the spread of the virus. He said his party had directed all the district- and union committee-level leaders to persuade the people in their respective areas to stay indoors and not come out on the streets unnecessarily.

“Observing social distancing is the only way to fight against this global pandemic,” Bunairee told The News. He said the citizens should cooperate with the government and stay at home. He also said the ANP fully supported the provincial government’s efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus and was ready to help them whenever they needed.

The ANP leadership has also directed the district and union committee leaders to help the daily-wage workers who have been affected because of the lockdown in the city, he added. “In the city’s various areas, such as Pathan Colony, party workers have distributed free rations among the needy.”