KARACHI: As the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government in the centre builds its case to ease the lockdown restrictions after May 9 citing growing poverty as the key reason, the PPP-led Sindh government sounded firm on its stance about the curbs as it reiterated that despite a different line from Islamabad, it would take the decision about the lockdown on the advice of medical experts.

Three provincial ministers at a press conference held here also lashed out at the federal government for being “irresponsible” and backing out from its own commitments.

The fresh stance of the federal government regarding easing lockdown did not appear to convince the provincial government as the ministers almost ruled out any flexibility in the existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for businesses and daily life.

“We don’t care whether the federal government unjustifiably defames the Sindh government or the media criticises [us] baselessly... the Sindh government will adopt all precautionary measures to save people’s lives,” Sindh Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah told the press conference at the auditorium hall of the Sindh Assembly.

PPP ministers slam PTI-led federal govt for ‘defaming’ the provincial govt

“The whole world is following the advice of medical experts and so is the Sindh government. After April 24 meeting, when an extension in the lockdown was decided in consultation with all stakeholders, it was federal minister for planning, development and special initiatives Asad Umar who had announced that the lockdown all over the country would remain intact till May 9. But, we wonder now how he is constantly trying to give an impression as if the people of Sindh are facing hardships due to the decision of the lockdown.”

Accompanied by Education Minister Saeed Ghani and Agriculture Minister Ismail Rahu, Mr Shah said that not only the federal ministers and their spokespersons but also a segment of the media was also targeting the Sindh government giving an impression that the people were suffering only in Sindh owing to the lockdown while the rest of the country was open and daily life was normal.

“There are organised attempts to discredit the Sindh government on mainstream media and social media through various false allegations. Sometimes it’s about alleged mismanagement in ration distribution and false statements from the business community against the provincial administration. The federal government cannot divert our attention by such tactics and we would do everything possible to save the lives of our people,” he said.

He said the people were fast learning that the federal government had miserably failed to deliver and now it wanted the Sindh government to do nothing as well to escape from the public wrath. Even the welfare and relief activities done by the Sindh government were criticised by federal ministers, he said.

Locust issue

“On the one hand only allegations are being made regarding coronavirus pandemic and on the other hand the federal government had extended no help to do away with the constant locust attacks on crops in Sindh,” said the information minister. “Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has requested the federal government more than once in this regard but no assistance has been provided so far. The federal government would do something productive only if it could get out of its habit of blaming others.”

The agriculture minister said that the federal government was constantly informed about the locust attacks and it was requested to help in this regard, but to no avail.

“Millions of acres of crops in Sindh are at the risk of locust attacks and in this regard we have asked the federal government that the Sindh government is ready to pay for the fuel of the aircraft to be used for aerial spray as well as for the pesticides, but it’s so unfortunate that so far we have not been provided with any aircraft,” he said.

He recalled that a meeting held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Imran Khan had promised that the spray would begin from April 1, but so far nothing happened.

He warned that if the federal government did not take this issue seriously it could be detrimental not only to Sindh but to the entire country.

“So far 35 per cent of the total area affected by locust attack is in Sindh. This is an emergency situation that needs immediate attention,” he said. “We are thankful to the army which had fully supported the Sindh government in eradicating locust. We again request the federal government to immediately provide aircraft for at least three desert districts.”

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2020