Pandemic has created an atmosphere where people are worried and praying. A lot of treatments and prevention/ precautions are in circulation.
I never knew that our country is not far behind from the developed countries in treatment of COVID -19.
Americans have a lot of money to dole out. Despite the announcement of two trillion dollar support package, to my knowledge, till today, the 2nd April, no help has yet reached the needy.
Same is the case here in UK, where I am stranded for the moment. The facilities are equally scarce here. I personally heard a doctor addressing a Juma congregation, just before the ban was imposed, that almost everybody is going to be affected by this virus.
No medical facility, where GP doctors attend to the patients, are allowing patients to visit the facility. Only telephonic conversations are held and medicine prescribed. Pharmacy opens for a prescribed short time.
There is not much different in other parts of the world either.
One thing positive of this pandemic is that every country is coping with it on its own with a little help from elsewhere, like China helping people in Pakistan.
Russia has sent the supplies to the US. This time the story has changed from Ian Fleming’s “From Russia with Love”, where 007 James Bond is after a Russian vilian. Putin has played a fast one by getting written on the aeroplane with supplies to the US, From Russia With Love.
Prime Minister of Italy is on record now that as soon as Italy over comes the epidemic, it will be leaving the European Union. Britain has already announced that. The opposition to BREXIT will have to draw new parameters.
It is for the first time in the history of Pakistan that a government has announced a relief package of 1200 billion rupees. The good part is that it has already been implemented. The result of this will be assessed after a month or so.
However, some very commendable work is being done both in the public and private sector. For example establishing a 1000 bed isolation facility in only nine days in Lahore by Punjab Government and 1200 bed isolation facility in Karachi.
One billion rupees donation by Daood family and good work being done by Shahid Afridi and likes in the private sector, is definitely a great source of encouragement. There is a dire need of coordination and management.
This task has to be undertaken by the government. I am sure Asad Umer and his team can do it. Let it be known to the general public on regular basis rather daily.
But, something bigger is in the offing. That is the realization of self-reliance. This pandemic has forced the countries to redraw their existential requirements. If, Pakistan comes out of this ordeal without outside help, then it can build on its experience.
This is the time to enforce the work time regulations for offices and businesses and then make sure to remain enforced once the pandemic is over. Any relaxation in that would bring back the bad habits once again.
I have my doubts that the so-called political elite of today will be of any help in future too. They are so self-conceited that they are not ready to think beyond their own petty differences.
Even in these dire times they are pulling the legs of each other to further their own nefarious agenda. So called big wigs have not put in anything to alleviate the conundrum of the masses, not even for their own voters and supporters. In a way it is good. I am sure better sense will prevail and people will throw them out.
As a teacher of Human Resource Management, I always insist that HRM is nothing but education and health. Both are complimentary to each other.
Without education, health is of no consequence and without health, education is of no consequence. In 2000, while researching on my thesis, Human Resource Development in Pakistan, I came across the progress made by South Korea.
They hired Pakistan’s Third Development Program, implementing in its letter and spirit. They allocated about 70% of their budget to education and from the remaining amount major chunk was kept for health. Yes, the leadership was not corrupt. It ensured the development, progress, and prosperity.
The present government appears to have the resolve. Crona has at least forced the government to speed up the R&D and production of the essential items. That’s a good sign. Only perseverance is needed.
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