Centre opposing every effort of Sindh govt against coronavirus: Bilawal

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed concern over opposition of every Sindh government effort against coronavirus by the federal government, saying that the Centre is out to sabotage the province’s preventive and welfare measures instead of helping the poor.

Bilawal presided over a consultative meeting of senior party leaders through video link on Thursday. Sherry Rehman, Syed Naveed Qamar, Shazia Marri, Dr Nafeesa Shah, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Faisal Karim Kundi, Palwasha Khan, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho and Minister Information Nasir Hussain Shah attended the meeting.

The meeting discussed in detail the situation arising out of the coronavirus and the economic issues faced by the country in the wake of virus pandemic.

Bilawal stressed that relief aid received from the World Bank, international financial institutions and G20 countries as well as the benefits from the international nosedive of the oil prices should also be filtered down to the provinces. He was concerned that the federal government was sabotaging the sincere efforts of the Sindh government to protect the people. Meanwhile, in a message issued on the eve of International Labour Day, Bilawal said that the labour class, particularly daily wagers, have been worst affected by the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. “As the world economy shrinks it is imperative on governments to support them but unfortunately, right-wing governments across the globe are deciding to put profit before people,” he said.

The PPP chairman said the global pandemic had exposed the fatal flaws of neo-liberal economic policies, laying bare the anti-labour policies of governments that serve the few at the cost of the many.

Bilawal said that it was the responsibility of federal government to ensure the speedy provision of relief to the poor and daily wagers during the pandemic. “Sadly they have been left at the mercy of profiteers or subjected to lay-offs,” he said.

Bilawal said the state has abandoned its responsibilities and shrugged of its burden of care to protect the rights of the labourers and working class.

The PPP chairman said that this situation is a moment of concern for every conscientious Pakistani. “At a time when the lives of our fellow citizens are in danger and their future is uncertain, conspiracies are being hatched to privatise selected state units and deprive the provinces of their constitutional powers and funds,” he said.

Bilawal pointed out that the people's government in Sindh, through legislation, has banned the firing of any employee during the lockdown, while hundreds of thousands unemployed workers and their families have been provided with necessary rations at their doorsteps.

Bilawal demanded that the federal government should provide financial assistance to unemployed workers on the basis of the minimum wage set by the government until it is safe for Pakistan to end the lockdown and send people back to work without risking their lives and well being.

He said that it was the workers who are the backbone of the economy and society, and reiterated his commitment to the founding principles of the PPP, and build an economy by protecting the labour class not by allowing for their exploitation.