Pakistan looks to be swimming against the tide of rising case numbers

 Edited BY


G P Kennedy


Tassy - Karachi, Pakistan


 I had a relatively normal week. At this point in my life, there is nothing too different from a regular day pre-COVID-19, other than the fact that I wear a mask wherever I go and still do not go to the gym. We resumed our weekend activities, attending a dinner party at a friend’s house, and a beautiful birthday celebration at the beach.

 Even though there were more than 20 people there, since the entire event was out in the open with a cool breeze, none of us felt the need to wear our masks. In fact, at the two get-togethers, I attended everyone was happy that COVID had at least forced them to meet in smaller groups, which made it much more intimate and special. (The tradition in Pakistan for any form of entertainment is large groups of people - be it a wedding, dinner party, birthday celebration, or even just going out for a meal. I guess it is a cultural thing, as people feel inclined to include a lot more people in their ‘tribe.’

 I understand this resumption of activities may be the temporary lull before the storm so I guess I’m just making the most of the situation. The chief minister of the province of Sindh where Karachi is situated has already warned that a second wave is in the offing. Daily cases in the country rose to 1200 or so as compared to an average of just 400 last week.  Compared to the statistics I’m reading about in other countries this is still very low.

 After a staggered start of educational institutions, it seems as if all schools will reopen this week with strict SOPs being implemented. The move has not entirely been welcomed.

School Action Committee protest

 Being an underdeveloped country education is sadly not given the priority it deserves even in the best of times. Prior to the pandemic a staggering number of 22.5 million children, aged 5 till 16 were already out of school in Pakistan. With Government-mandated lockdowns, education has been disrupted for even those children enrolled in schools. It is felt that two very important activities with regards to children - routine immunizations and schooling have been gravely affected.

 In the meanwhile, a 56-day clinical trial of the COVID-19 vaccine began in Pakistan’s capital city Islamabad and is soon be expanded to other cities. The vaccine prepared in collaboration with China would be used to monitor the development of antibodies. Up to 10,000 volunteers aged between 18 and 60 are expected to take part.

 I have a number of friends who are still in lockdown mode in anticipation of the second wave. In other words, they never resumed their ‘normal’ lives. I on the other hand am taking full advantage of this lull and really doing whatever I can during this time.

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