Week 25 begins with a taste of normality for Tassy

Edited BY


G P Kennedy



                          Tassy - Karachi, Pakistan

The week that went by was probably the most normal it has been since February this year. I was thrilled to be busy with in-person classes at my studio. My parents returned back from their month-long visit to London to visit my sister. 


 My husband was on a work trip to Dubai and he returned back the same day.  I visited a restaurant in Karachi for the first time since they reopened after the lockdown began in the middle of March.


 I was a little surprised to see that it was actually difficult to get reservations at many of my favorite restaurants. I guess spacing out tables means there are fewer people they can accommodate. The restaurant was buzzing even though we got the last seating at 10 30 pm.

 I was happy to see that SOPs were being followed in the restaurant I visited with all waiters wearing masks, and most customers wearing masks until they came into the restaurant. Unlike my experience in Dubai a few weeks earlier, however, menus were not on QR codes but the traditional paper menus.
 
Dining out for the first time in months

Over the weekend I organized a small dinner party at home for seven friends which was lovely. It felt good to entertain again. The next day we met up with another group of 15 friends. Since this was a largish group we decided to meet outdoors. In many ways, I felt as if we have resumed normal life again.


A report released by the Asian Development Bank forecasts a modest but broad-based recovery of 2 % for Pakistan in the current fiscal year. This is a significant improvement over the negative growth of 0.4%last year. While these short term economic trends show that the economy is slowly getting back on track, it is based on the very optimistic assumptions that the impact of the health crisis caused by COVID-19 will subside by the end of this year.


The reality on the ground however is a little different. Pakistan’s success in controlling the virus and reopening of its economy continues to be tempered with fears of a possible escalation of infection rates. We had a good last month or so with fewer cases, but it seems that there has been a short spike of late. 

 This week we had 800 cases reported in one day, the most we have seen in recent weeks. Educational institutions reopened this week,  but a few closed down within a few days of opening, after COVID cases amongst students and faculty staff was discovered, and there was some violation of SOPs.

 
Hanging out with some friends at my home

People are a little perturbed and some even confused about whether to continue with their activities, but most people seem to be going about their lives as normal. The new ‘normal,’ mind you. In many ways, I feel like just making hay while the sun shines. I am being as careful as I possibly can, but refuse to be holed up any longer within the four walls of my house.












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