KARACHI:Expressing serious concern over plights of the poor, especially daily wagers, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh leaders have demanded of the government of Sindh to ensure immediate delivery of ration to the doorsteps of poor people in the province.
Addressing a press conference here Monday, leader of opposition in Sindh Assembly Firdous Shamim Naqvi said due to the spread of corona virus, today they had only invited the PTV. We hope that all other channels would link to the PTV.
He said a meeting was help with Sindh Governor in chair and attended by the leaders of PTI and PPP. He said the meeting was about lock down. He said we all have to join hands in this crucial time. He said that Nasir Shah has rightly said that this is not curfew but care for you. He said on TV a campaign against coronavirus is being launched but the situation about lock down is not satisfactory. He said people of the province are worried about this situation. He said they do know till when this lick down would linger on. He said they do not know when ration would be supplied to their homes. He said after passage of 10 days the government of Sindh has no answer to these questions.
He said after lock down the government has not held any meeting with us. He said he tried to contact for making a parliamentary committee but in vain. He asked if Murad Ali Shah would tell people about his policy regarding the length of lock down. He said the steps of Sindh government are good. However, some people have died of the virus in the province.
He said government is issuing orders but not implementing them. He said Rs170 Crore were deducted from salaries of employees. He said the government got donations from Rs 1 to 3 Crore. He said Rs1 Crore was spent on Expo Center and Rs58 Crore were given to DCs. He asked where the remaining money went. He said as per a statement of Murad Shah there are 1 Crore daily wagers in Sindh. He said if this money is spent amongst them, each of them would get just Rs58.
He said people are calling us on phone and complain about hunger. He said the facility of quarantine should be available in every district. He said people go to hospitals but they are sent back. He demanded details about the quarantine facilities. He said there is mismanagement everywhere. He said we have promised that we will not criticize unnecessarily. He said we will not adopt the tone of PPP chairman and Sindh ministers. He said let’s resolve the virus issue and other things would be seen later. He said CM should take on board all political parties.
He asked to make public policy about next two weeks. He said we have to save lives of people. They should not die of hunger. He said crime rate is feared to rise. People are facing mental problems also. He said closure of shops at 5pm is a cruel decision. He said medical stores should remain open round o clock. PTI Vice president and leader of parliamentary party in Sindh assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh said that today’s press conference is not for criticism. He said we have extended a hand of cooperation to the government with good intentions. He said there are 68 MPAs in Sindh opposition.
He said the first case was emerged on Feb 26 and meetings started from 27th. He said more than 20 notifications have already been issued. He said we were invited in couple of meetings. He said we were told that provinces would coordinate while applying emergency. He said many kits have already received from China but testing process is yet to be properly started. He said despite a health budget of Rs250 billion, tests of people are not being conducted.
Haleem Adil said that people are dying from hunger. He said threats are hurled in our constituencies on pattern of 2007. He said tests should be conducted at homes. He said people do not get facilities in hospitals. He said CM Sindh is good in self marketing. He said when assistance would be sent to people through Easy Paisa. He said funds are available for dogs but not for people.
He said Rs58 Crore are issued for 2 million families which means Rs19 per family per day. He said Sindh government is focusing on hollow talks and self marketing. He said Prime Minister had given a package of Rs1200 billion for whole Pakistan. He said house owners are not charging monthly rent, but what the provincial government has done for people? He said federal government has given relief of Rs26billion to K Electric but the Sindh government has not even paid its bills.
He said 10 days have already passed to lock down. He said we need to stop hunger. He said hunger and chaos is more dangerous than disease. He said 15 days would pass but people of Sindh would not get financial support. He said PPE is not available to doctors in all hospitals. He asked where are N95 masks. He said at least give these masks to journalists. He sought details of isolation centers and ventilators. He demanded to take action against those failed to discharge their duties at Taftan.
He said the names of politicians should be make public who allowed entry to their relatives. He said Taftan was a jungle but Sukkur is a major city and why mistakes were committed there. He warned of civil war like situation in Sindh. He said hungry people would riot in cities. He said the opposition wants to help the government. He asked the government to give ration to people instead of self marketing. He said Prime minister has given facilities to every sector.