Online Interactive Series on "COVID-19: Pakistan’s Comprehensive Response"

On 9th April 2020, CGSS organized an “Online Interactive Series” on the topic “COVID-19: Pakistan’s Comprehensive Response”. Keeping in view the recent situation of COVID-19 in Pakistan, CGSS organized this online session to analyze and discuss suggestive recommendations in response to this novel virus.
The panelists of the session stated that so far the Government of Pakistan has performed well in its limited resources. However, in this situation of calamity, an effective cycle must be established by the Government which must be strictly followed by the citizens. The first step must be taken to mobilize the community. Our society is not prepared for this situation and the law enforcement agencies have been burdened. There must be proper SOPs for the law enforcement agencies. We must tackle this situation as a nation, every individual holds the responsibility and media must also play a supportive role.
The impact of COVID-19 cannot be calculated because it is new and in the process. We have seen different response from each country. Coronavirus will bring change all the three spheres including geopolitics, geo-economics and geostrategic. We have always believed that democracy is the best political system, but now we will also have to learn which governance system is most effective to tackle situations like these rather than democracy. In our society, there is a huge gap between the law and order and its implementation.
Providing recommendations and suggestions, the participants were of the view that a central command and control center must be established to take swift action and ensure its implementation. Furthermore, steps must be taken for effective working of institutions like NDMA and PDMA. This situation can be better handled through the local and district bodies. Police is one department that has deep roots all over Pakistan and we must utilize it with all its strength. Two essential elements within Pakistan including inter-ethnic fraction and political fallout must be eliminated to tackle this situation.
The participants stated that the martime industry and hotel industry has been very badly effected and Government must also announce a relief package in this regard. There must also be logistic based fund allocation for effective dissemination of food and medical equipment. Furthermore, there are many NGO’s and welfare societies that are working on funds raising, but the funds must be collected and one place and rooted through one channel so that everyone can equally benefit from it. The international economy is under stress and the import and export of Pakistan has also been badly hit during the last month. We must also demand to reschedule and wave off our loans. The situation will go worse if no concrete steps will be taken.
We have left many things unattended and do not have compatible resources.
The Online Interactive Session was attended by 20 participants and was moderated by Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Taimur Akram (Retd), Executive Director CGSS. The panelists included experts of different fields to calculate the impact in every sector. The panelists included the following:
• Lt Gen Asad Durani (Retd), Senior Defense & Strategic Analyst
• Lt. Gen Khalid Naeem Lodhi (Retd), Former Federal Defense Minister & Senior Member Advisory Board CGSS
• Mr. Kamal ud Din Tipu – Former Inspector General of Police
• Dr. Basharat Hassan- Advisor, Pakistan Engineering Council, Public Health Engineering Specialist.
• Mr. Tahir Alam – Former Inspector General of Police
• Dr. Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan - Regional Geopolitical Analyst & Member Board of Experts, CGSS
• Mr. Makhdoom Babar- Editor in Chief, Daily Mail
• Mr. Kanwar Muhammad Javed Iqbal – Senior Researcher at National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA)
• Lt Col Athar Sultan (Retd), Logistic Expert
• Mr. Khushnood Ali Khan- Expert on Hospitality Industry
• Mr. Amer Durrani, President Reenergia & Financial Expert
• Mr. Pervaiz Bhatti, International Relation Expert, Lahore