COVID-19 in Pakistan
Guest post by Mehrose Ahmad, Irum Ali, Farva Batool, Roshan Chudry, and Danial Waqar
The authors of this article are part of the 2020 APF Fellows Program.
Overview
The COVID-19 epidemic has been spreading widely across China, Europe, and the United States, but little attention has been paid to its impact in the developing world, particularly in places like Pakistan. The country’s urban and hyper-crowded cities, its vast number of daily-wage earners who lack adequate spaces for social distancing, and an over-extended healthcare system compound an already challenging public health environment in Pakistan. While Pakistan benefits from a close relationship to China, support from the World Bank, and a strong response from civil society organizations, its federal and provincial governments; military; and religious leaders must coordinate messaging to ensure Pakistanis practice social distancing and proper hygiene practices.
Needs and Challenges
Pakistan faces unprecedented shortages in PPE, ventilators, and COVID-19 testing kits. Due to severe lack of shortages in testing kits and labs to process testing results, the actual number of infected is likely much higher.
Healthcare workers worry for their safety as some physicians have passed away as a result of contracting COVID-19 from treating patients. Pakistani doctors in Balochistan went on strike due to poor working conditions and lack of equipment.
With most healthcare resources diverted to COVID-19, Pakistan’s extant healthcare challenges - such as measles, polio, and tuberculosis - may be ignored, highlighting the weaknesses in the country’s public health response and capacity.
Pakistan’s communal culture and society means that social distancing measures present extraordinary challenges for the population. This increases the overall risk of the pandemic intensifying in a short period of time.
The pandemic also reveals the pervasive income inequality in the country’s healthcare system. Lower-income populations are at higher risk of infection while higher-income individuals benefit from quicker access to testing and medications, and enjoy access to spaces adequate for social distancing.
Government of Pakistan Response
To grapple with the unprecedented public health emergency, the Government of Pakistan introduced a range of measures to support affected individuals and to control the spread of the virus. While a national lockdown has not been established by the federal government, Pakistan’s provinces instituted their own lockdowns and curfews in conjunction with the military.
The government attempted to quarantine religious pilgrims from Iran and closed much of its border with Afghanistan and India. It also shut down the majority of domestic and international air travel. Schools have been closed as a means of enforcing social distancing measures.
The Pakistani government transformed 1,800 three- and four-star hotels into quarantine centers. Railway officials converted train facilities into medical wards to prepare for major outbreaks.
Finally, the federal government announced a relief package worth PKR 1.2 trillion (USD $6.8 billion) to provide relief to daily wage workers; cash payments to low-income families; accelerated the procurement of wheat; and introduced fuel price cuts and tax cuts on sugar and wheat.
Response of Pakistani Civil Society
Pakistani civil society is a critical component of the country’s pandemic response. Organizations such asthe Edhi Foundation, Elaaj Trust, Dua Foundation, and the Shahid Afridi Foundation have donated thousands of PPE to public hospitals; and distributed essential ration packs.
Businesses and industries are also leveraging their resources to respond to the pandemic. Asif Jofa, a renowned Pakistan fashion designer, designed and produced bodysuits, face masks, face shields, and hand sanitizers to relieve the burden on the healthcare system. Similarly, designer Deepak Perwani has donated reusable and disposable PPE Suits to hospitals. Umer Hussain, owner of popular eateries in Lahore, has provided his business site as a unit for production of safety suits for doctors.
International Assistance
The World Bank launched the Pandemic Response Effectiveness Project, which authorizes a $200 million aid package for Pakistan. This project provides key medical supplies, such as ventilators, PPE, and enhanced testing facilities to both public and private hospitals. The project also supports remote and distance learning measures for children unable to attend school due to widespread closures.
Pakistani President Arif Alvi recently flew to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping to express Pakistan’s solidarity with its “iron brother” at a critical time for China in its fight against the coronavirus. China commissioned $4 million to help Pakistan take defensive actions and preventive measures against the outbreak. It sent a medical unit of doctors to assist Pakistani doctors.
Support Pandemic Relief in Pakistan
There are many ways to support pandemic relief in Pakistan. One of the most charitable countries in the world, Pakistan is home to many charities and organizations serving on the frontlines of the current crisis.
The Pakistani diaspora around the world also maintains strong charitable connections with Pakistan and has been actively engaged in sending PPE and other kinds of support for pandemic relief in Pakistan.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Irum Ali graduated from The University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelor’s in international political economy and currently works at United Way Metropolitan Dallas.
Mehrose Ahmad is a student at Barnard College pursuing Biochemistry.
Farva Batool is studying for her MS in health informatics and wants to connect her public health background with the utilization of mobile health services in underserved communities.
Roshan Chudry is a senior in the Macaulay Honors Program at Hunter College on the pre-med track and am majoring in clinical psychology and minoring in biology.
Daniel Waqar is studying for an M.Phil in Modern South Asian Studies at the University of Oxford at St Antony’s College.