Pindiites should forget quick return to business as usual

Before Eidul Fitr all over the country people were fighting with an invisible enemy — the Coronavirus Pandemic. While they were forced to stay at home and practice isolation, nature was reacting and re-establishing itself in its own way.

“Every morning, I generally used to wake up to a lot of traffic noise and loud honking. During lockdown my days started with sweetened chirping of birds and blowing of cleaner and gentle wind. From my rooftop, I beheld greener canopy and dancing butterfly, besides feeling the cleaner air. All these near blissful moments came as the lockdown was imposed to stem COVID-19 disease,” says Shanawar Ali.

“Suddenly one day, the government announced relaxation in lockdown period. This decision days before the start of Eid holidays to help people in Eid shopping made them carefree and put them in a holiday mood, which led to surge in the Coronavirus Pandemic,” says Ammar Rizvi.

Ambar Naqvi says: “Instead of enforcing lockdown to tackle Coronavirus Pandemic, this decision further deepened the problem. Families started roaming without any fear in the markets and shopping malls and youngsters were seen wandering around, it was almost as though the weeks of lockdown had all been a fruitless effort. A few people were observing social distancing rules, and apart from some staff of the shops and shopping malls staff, no one was wearing a mask.”

“Alarming disregard for social distancing has already led to increase in Coronavirus Pandemic cases. Crowds of people without showing respect for SoPs made the whole exercise of lockdown meaningless and futile. In the wake of a new wave of coronavirus break out, we should not remain under any illusion that there will be a quick return to business as usual. It will be a long time before we get back to normal,” says Ayaz Abbas.

“It is beyond one’s understanding why the government did not announce lockdown as many had already died since Coronavirus Pandemic was first reported in the country. It had an extraordinary effect on people all across the country and Rawalpindi city was no exception. Although due to shortage of test kits it was not possible to test everyone but with time, the government has been quite successful in increasing the number of tests,” says Johar Hussain.

Sabira Batool says: “Our life will not be the same post-Coronavirus Pandemic. There is going to be our new way of living. Although effects of social distancing, isolation and other measures on our lives are devastating, especially for the poor, but this is an inescapable reality. However, the government should take more initiatives as it has already taken through which many of the poor and the needy received food and other kind of help.”