Is saluting doctors and offering tributes enough?

Pakistani nation has proved its resilience every time it has come face to face with a calamity. whether it is flood, earthquake or any other natural disaster, Pakistani people have forded its way back through unity and sheer determination.

COVID 19, a novel virus has currently hijacked the entire globe where more than 205 countries and territories around the world have reported more than million confirmed cases. Pakistan has also been affected by this pandemic where the virus has affected a considerable strength.

Despite a late start on response measures, government has been able to control the rapid spread of the virus while improving the overall health facilities to cope with emergency situation. Every department, whether public or private sector has stepped up to ensure that pandemic do not spread further. However, major responsibility of tackling the virus rest on the shoulders of doctors and paramedics.

Doctors and paramedics are constantly on the frontlines against COVID 19, risking their lives to save others. The fact that the virus has no proven cure right now and is currently treated through various trial methods, makes doctors and paramedics jobs more challenging. Despite shortage of personal protective equipment, their commitment and dedication is commendable. In fight against COVID 19, doctors are the real soldiers on borders, who are facing the main burnt of this pandemic. Dr. Osama Riaz (late) lost his life while screening and treating COVID 19 patients and became the first Pakistani doctor who died of coronavirus.

Pakistan payed a rich tribute to their fighting spirit and sacrifices by saluting and raising white flags at their homes. However, the question arises that are such tributes enough or we need to do more. Expecting a doctor to fight against COVID 19 without protective equipment is ignorant and callous. Though due to global spread of virus, there is a shortage of supplies and government is trying hard to provide as much as it can. However, this pandemic should lead to major reforms in our health departments.

The pandemic has exposed numerous flaws in our health system, where we do not have enough lifesaving equipment nor the skill to locally manufacture it. Whenever, there will be a global crisis, it is only the local industry which will be available to rescue the situation. Therefore, in long term we need to enhance our local manufacturing while ensuring enough stockage level of such equipment through priority purchase. We need to learn fast otherwise, i am afraid, next time saluting doctors would not be enough. Being son of the soil, they will still be on the frontline but expecting them to fight without proper equipment is heartless and cruel. So saluting doctors and offering tribute may work for optics but to really value them we need to provide them the requisite tool to fight against pandemic.

aurat march 2020

Aurat March – Why the issue is much more than stone pelting?

On Sunday, March 8, 2020, Aurat March was to highlight various issues women are facing in Pakistan; harassment, forced conversions, transgender rape and political rights in society are few to name. Rather it became a spectacle of a mayhem, in which the marchers were welcomed with stone pelting. It was allegedly initiated by JUI-F individuals clad in burqa, however, few are pointing fingers at Aurat march organizers for enacting it to gain attention. However, it is hardly important, Who? Rather more important question is why? Aurat March is a regular feature in Pakistan, then why did it turn violent?
The march is under scrutiny since last few years and one of the main reason is slogans such as “Mera Jism Meri Marzi” and “Lo bhet Gai Thek sy my” or is it?. To find answer to this we need to go back and analyze the role of media, Aurat march organizer and Haya March brigade. Slogans might have turn sharp and more offensive to the likening of Pakistani conservative society. However, the reaction was triggered by a negative media coverage scoping in on slogans rather than on wider woman issues. This time also, while discussing the issue, Marvi Sirmad and Khalil u rehman in a moment of rage forgot they are on air and had a severe meltdown. Need I say more? we will leave it on a note that rest is part of our glorious talk shows history. However, if you delve deep into the issue, you will find that media played a major part in making Aurat march controversial as it promotes cosmetic discussions to increase its viewership rather than have a meaningful debate. The narrative fed by the media has its effect which in a way has led to Haya March.
At the same time, the so-called representatives of Azadi March insisting on controversial slogans only shows that they are not concern about the deeper issues of Pakistani women. It looks more like an effort to antagonize the conservative society on contentious issues. It does not mean that I am ignoring these issues in any way but it can be relegated for a time since we have much bigger issues confronting woman in our society.
Haya march in itself shows that as a society we have failed to understand what Azadi March is and are more concern about few controversial slogans. Irrespective of the reasons, we again put up a show for a world which we can ill afford at this point of time. Current government is striving to improve Pakistan image globally, however, events like these do not help the cause. We as a society needs a deeper understanding of this day and should contribute in a more serious way to make the life of women better in Pakistan. The media rather than fueling the inferno, may also adopt a more responsible approach to avoid future altercations.