Political parties distribute food among the needy, urge people to stay at home

Providing support for the government's efforts to control the coronavirus spread, political and religious parties have become active not only in providing food and rations among the needy people but also appealing to the people to realise the gravity of the situation and observe social distancing.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Thursday set up a temporary Dastarkhwan in Orangi Town, the city’s largest informal settlement, to provide food to the residents of the area who are suffering from the lockdown.

“Because of the lockdown, a large number of residents, especially the workers on daily wages, are not able to find food. As part of the MQM-P’s efforts to provide relief in the pandemic crisis, the Dastarkhwan has been established in Orangi Town,” said a local MQM-P leader.

A number of the party’s lawmakers and elected local government representatives were also present there.

He said hundreds of residents had received food and the MQM-P would continue such efforts until the lockdown ended. The party has also planned to set up such temporary hotels in other parts of the metropolis, he said.

The Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) said they had started providing free rations to 50,000 houses in the city starting Saturday.

TLP Karachi chief Allama Razi Hussaini said the party had already requested the Karachi commissioner to issue special passes to the party’s 1,200 volunteers to provide food to the needy families in the city.

During the past few days, the TLP has conducted a survey to compile the particulars of the needy families across the city and after receiving permission from the District South deputy commissioner, the party has started distributing rations among the poor, the TLP said in a statement.

Awami National Party Sindh President Shahi Syed also urged the political and religious leaders, and civil society to play their due role in convincing people to stay at home and observe social distancing. He asked the party leaders at the district and union committee levels to expedite their efforts aimed at educating people about the importance of precautionary measures.

“I request the people to follow the instructions of the government and medical experts to prevent themselves from becoming the victims of the pandemic,” he said in a video message. “People should learn a lesson from the coronavirus devastation in Iran, Italy, China, and the US,” the ANP leader said.