Covid-19 a highly contagious virus has tightened its grip on the entire world. The world first time witnesses unprecedented blockages of economic, religious, social and cultural activities. Developing countries, owing to their feeble economies and bad governance are under tremendous pressure to tackle Covid-19. Pakistan, in this regard, is hanging in the balance, confronting with innumerable economic, religious and cultural challenges, pondering over whether to maintain lockdown or to lift it.
Every state across the world espouses precautionary measures to de-escalate the spread of virus. Implementation of such measures in Pakistan, due to multifaceted factors, so far remains unsuccessful. A query to be answered: Why are lockdown and social-distancing in Pakistan remain so controversial? The answer lies in comprehension of economic, religious, social and cultural factors of the country. The gap between the rulers and ruled in Pakistan in last 72 years has continued to widen. Human security remained unprioritized, resulted in losing the confidence of masses over the rulers. Marginalized masses are left at the mercy of poverty, hunger, illiteracy, unemployment and prevailing lethal diseases. They have no confidence over the rulers, thus, are loath to follow government’s instructions.
Human Development Index 2019 sheds lights on perpetuating inequality in Pakistan saying that the country has a higher percentage of inequality in education and health sector compared to other South Asian states. Dr. Sabina Alkire from the Oxford University articulates that in South Asia there are nearly 541 million poor people. Intriguingly, in 541 million poor people, out of which 75 million are Pakistanis. Poverty is just the tip of the iceberg, growing inequality in the country makes leaders untrustworthy and unreliable.
Meanwhile, Ramadan the holy month of Muslims has already started, the month is celebrated with a great fervor in Muslim states. However, celebration of Ramzan during pandemic disease in Pakistan would somewhat be different from other Muslim states. It has been observed, in other Muslim states whereimams follow governments’ instructions urging people to pray congregational prayers and taraweeh at homes. To the contrary, religious clerics in Pakistan have rallied their devotees to overlook the anti-pandemic measures, keeping the lives of many in jeopardy.
Empowerment of imams by dictator Zia-ul-Haq with the support of the US in 1980s to defeat Soviet Union now instead of an asset is turning out to be a liability for the state in spread of virus. A renowned professor of International Islamic University Islamabad, Husnul Amin rightly says “the state has become totally subservient to the clerics”. Arguably,state should not appease the religious clerics; appeasement makes an aggressor more aggressive. Unnecessary embodiment of imams will not serve Pakistan’s interest in 21st century. It is fait accompli, 21st century is the century of rationality, knowledge economy and research &development. Admittedly, imams, are also obsessed with keeping their economic interest to be remained intact in Ramzan. They are paid meager salaries; the month of Ramadan is blessing for them economically in obtainment of almas and charity.
Cultural factor in Pakistan too is the biggest obstacle in maintaining of social- distancing. Shaking hands and hugging are deeply entrenched in Pakistani culture. To meet someone without shaking hands and hugging are conceived as a threat to the culture. Pakistan, on the other hand, has the lowest literacy rate in the region resulting in obliviousness to the critical national and international issues. Illiterate people who blindly follow religion are believing the Covid-19 as a conspiracy being made by infidels against the Muslims. In such fragile circumstances, expecting them to follow lockdown and social-distance becoming an uphill task for government.
The federal and provincial governments lack of coordination during lockdown is another excruciating story. The tug of war between federal and Sindh government over lockdown is detrimental to the country. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistan Peoples Party chief says “economy can be revived but not the lives of the people, so the biggest challenge at the moment is to save lives”. While, prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan in his tweet says “we are faced with the stark choice of having to balance between a lockdown necessary to slow down and prevent the spread of Covid-19 and ensuring people don’t die of hunger and our economy doesn’t collapse ”Lack of coordination between federal and provincial governments in testing times questions leaders sincerity in combating of Covid-19,giving a negative image to the lay man that policy makers are ambiguous and unclear in their goals. Clarity provides confidence, the dearth of clarity in tough time in statesmanship would more the country towards quagmire and devastation.History teaches us, tough time unites and also splits the nation. Let’s hope for unity “United we stand, divided we fall”.
