By Fatima Javed

BEIJING, Apr. 7 (Gwadar Pro) - Government of Pakistan on Saturday submitted a report to the Supreme Court of Pakistan stating that the projected figure of COVID-19 by April 25 will be around 50,000. The figure reflects the seriousness of the situation and highlights the importance of measures which need be taken further on individual as well as on governmental level. The report however mentions the slow pace of the confirmed cases after 35 days, compare to Europe and Iran.

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said that the coming weeks can test Pakistan as coronavirus cases in the country crossed 3,000. The minister expressed the government's concerns that the coming weeks can be difficult for the country's health system.

Until now because of the poverty ratio in Pakistan the Government is not going for a complete lockdown as the poor and daily wage earners will suffer drastically. But on the other hand it is trying its utmost to contain and stop the spread without going for a complete lock down option.

To combat COVID-19 outbreak in the country, the government of Pakistan submitted the National Action Plan to the Supreme court of Pakistan. In its report, the government explained the situation arising in the wake of the pandemic and the severity of suspected cases. The highest court was informed that apart from domestic emergency funding, a comprehensive financing requirement of $336 million was prepared for strengthening preparedness and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC) the financing requirement was prepared in consultation with the provinces and approved by the Planning Commission. Funds from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank were also used to strengthen preparedness and response to the pandemic. The diagnostic facilities were established in all the provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, and at the Taftan border. 

Moreover The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) has developed corona testing kits, which was sent to the DRAP Technical Assessment Committee for testing before making it available to the public. The Public Health Emergency Operation Center activated at the National Institute of Health (NIH) was tasked with surveillance of daily situation report, risk assessment and data analysis.

The government’s National action plan also states that the ministry had started off early preparations, including various administrative actions, initiation of coordination mechanism, development of National Action Plan for COVID-19 emergency, quantification and costing of essential equipment and planning of response strategies, to deal with the pandemic.

207 hospitals in all the major cities of 154 districts of Pakistan were identified for isolation of suspected patients and their isolation capacity increased. The quarantine facilities were also established in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

The Ministry of Interior also submitted its report to the Supreme court stating that all arrivals at the airports and sea and land ports were being managed in coordination with relevant stakeholders including the Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination and the Government of Baluchistan as per prescribed protocol. The eastern and western borders of the country have been sealed till the situation stabilizes.

The Islamabad Capital Territory Administration has taken appropriate necessary measures to control the spread of COVID-19. The Pakistan Coast Guards have sealed all the jetties to control movements from the sea. All arrivals at the airports, seaports and land routes are being managed in coordination with relevant stakeholders. Eastern and western borders of the country have been sealed till the situation stabilizes.

The Punjab government in its report stated that a Corona Crisis Management Cell has been established to monitor the situation. It said Section 144 has been imposed in the province. More than 1,500 pilgrims who came from Iran have been quarantined in three cities: Faisalabad, Multan and DG Khan. The policy guideline for shifting of prisoners from high density confinement to lower density confinement is also being implemented.

There are 462 hospitals with COVID19 isolation case management facilities across the country with 7295 beds. In these hospitals 1177 COVID patients have been hospitalized out of them 18 are critical. Meanwhile, 323 Quarantine facilities have been established with 17911 cases housed at these facilities.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 3,160 on Sunday after new infections were confirmed in the country. According to the national dashboard on coronavirus pandemic, 170 patients have recovered from the disease so far, whereas, 45 patients lost their lives and 18 remained in critical condition.