KARACHI: Expressing concerns over a tug of war between the federal and provincial governments, disgruntled Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan leader and head of its organisational restoration committee (ORC) Dr Farooq Sattar asked the Sindh government on Friday to make public details of billions of rupees it claimed to have spent on ration distribution to the deserving persons.

Speaking at a press conference at his PIB Colony residence, he said the Sindh government had claimed to have distributed handouts worth Rs8 billion among the needy. “Where are details of it [ration distribution]?”

He said that health experts had already made it clear that patients of the coronavirus and related deaths were on the rise, but so far no national policy could be seen anywhere.

He said that it was beyond anyone’s understanding why the prime minister was not sitting with the chief ministers of the provinces and convening the meeting of the Council of Common Interests.

He said that the coronavirus was spreading because the federal and Sindh governments were busy in trading allegations against each other. “It is a tragedy that both sides have not been praising each other’s positive measures.”

Dr Sattar said that the Sindh government had taken somewhat effective measures in the beginning to control the pandemic and everyone had praised its efforts.

However, he said that even the Supreme Court had given observations against the Sindh government’s ration distribution claims. Also, he said, the apex court did not appreciate the federal government’s Ehsaas cash programme.

He said that the federal government had given the cash relief programme to those who had been registered with the Benazir Income Support Programme and it did not take into consideration those who fell below the poverty line during the past two years.

He said that under the current circumstances political workers could do a better and effective job in providing relief goods, or cash, under the ration distribution and Ehsaas programme, at the grassroots level.

Dr Sattar asked the government to involve youths at the mohalla level for distribution of ration as white-collar people in big and small cities had been facing hardship.

He said that the provincial government had allowed online businesses despite the fact that it was a mere two per cent of the total business.

He demanded that the Sindh government provide handouts to the people during the lockdown and also facilitate small businesses.

Dr Sattar condemned the behaviour of police with citizens, especially the motorcyclists having women family members as their pillion riders.

He asked Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and inspector general of police to look into the complaints that police sought bribes for allowing shopkeepers to open their businesses.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2020