By Hashim Khan
Covid-19 has brought with itself numerous social, economic and health-related menaces to the entire world. To top these issues, now we are witnessing mutated forms of the virus that are getting more complex and difficult to counter and manage every day. It has indeed been said that every century there is some similar critical issue or type of pandemic and humanity had to face the consequences. To defend ourselves against this virus, we are supposed to take ownership of our responsibilities in the country or at international level during COVID-19. Every country hit by the pandemic is making efforts to curb this menace as there is a dire need to have a strategy customized to the local culture and needs to be effective that is able to minimize damage and havoc being wrecked by this deadly virus.
Few countries have been able to restrict the critical damage by the pandemic, however Pakistan has been successful to curtail its impact significantly better than the severity of situation as being witnessed in India. Even now, Pakistan as a country is not complacent as we see Pakistan’s National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) keeping a keen eye on the pandemic’s impact at the national level on a day to day basis and devising strategies and implementing them across the country accordingly. Similarly, the healthcare workers, security personnel, sustenance & food industry workers and telecommunication companies are all working collaboratively to safeguard and serve the people of Pakistan. This is the national responsibility of every individual person and company that is known to be Pakistani.
Frontline workers from all walks of life have become selfless during this pandemic. Even though they are at risk, they continue to serve the nation having the national spirit of being united and standing together in trying times. One example of the frontline workers is that of PTCL which remains commendable during this pandemic. It is mainly because of PTCL, Ufone and other telcos like Telenor who have granted the country an option to work from home by maintaining a seamless internet service offered to consumers 24 hours a day, every day. Being the national telco, PTCL has successfully enabled the people of Pakistan to work from home and facilitate online education in almost all the major cities of the country. The company has even enabled its customers to pay their bills, shop for groceries, and order food online without having to step outside their homes by making them stay connected and safe.
With the world literally on its toes all the time now figuratively speaking, Pakistan is no exception. We must prepare for the worst as we keep our hopes up for the best. Committing to our responsibilities as a citizen who cares during these adverse times is perhaps the basic expectation if we plan to survive this global catastrophe together as a nation. A collective effort by the government, corporate sector, civil society, healthcare workers and even at individual level, seems to be the only way to best counter this pandemic with least impact on our health system or burden on our economy. We must also come together at the international level and encourage a global peace movement that will encourage to work and survive together as humanity.