Corona virus has come to Pakistan; those who believed otherwise should get out of their holes. It is said that after the ‘Spanish flu’ of 1918-1920, Corona will prove to be the most devastating disease of the modern age. It should be remembered that 5 to 10 million people lost their lives due to this Spanish flu.
The fact remains that the disease has only ‘killed’ a few thousand lives so far, but countries around the globe have closed their borders. Offices, schools and the rest of normal life has stopped breathing. The entire corporate industry stands on the brink of disaster, with airlines being the most prominent. Major stock markets around the world, including the United States, are in decline.
Of course, there are businesses that are taking advantage of this calamity, but overall economic activity is getting limited day by day and economists seem to agree that the global economy will be in severe crisis in the coming months.
Pakistan’s economy was already crippled, but due to Corona virus, things would only get worse. When Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed the nation after several days of silence, he said that Pakistan’s economy would not be able to tolerate complete closure. Although has been shouting ‘do not panic’, (Ghabrana Nahin Hai) but from all his talk, every listener must have guessed that he, himself was nervous and the system of governance is really hollow.
In fact, even in the worst case, most of the disadvantages of crises have to be incurred by the poor and helpless. In the case of Corona virus, Science believes that it poses the highest risk for the elderly or those whose immune systems are already weak.
If the disease is widespread in Pakistan, then only these circles will not be affected. For example, nowadays, there is talk of ‘social distance’. Experts are emphasizing that keeping distance from others is the best way to avoid Corona virus. It is said that as long as possible, work by binding yourself indoors, but most people in many countries of the world, including Pakistan, cannot earn their living by staying indoors.
Daily wage earners have to step outside, garbage collectors wander around the city, Farmers in the villages need seeds for plantation, and so do thousands of other businessmen who go out of their homes to feed their children. Remember that about 45% of Pakistan’s total urban population resides in the Slums (Katchi Basti). People residing in slums are alien to the concept of “social distancing” since dozens of people live collectively. So when thinking about the possible catastrophic outcomes of Corona Virus in countries like ours, the conditions of the majority of the hard-working labor class cannot be ignored.
By the way, even in the “normal circumstances” the major chunk of the economic misery is endured by the poor working majority. It should not be forgotten here that we have many citizens in Pakistan who have constantly been suffering from war, terrorism, militancy and historical neglect, such as tribal districts.
If Corona’s outbreak is not stopped, poor working and oppressed segments would again be asked to sacrifice in the broader national interest. On the contrary, the story of the so-called “quarantine camp” on Iran Border “Taftan” makes it clear that Balochistan, Pakistan’s most oppressed province, is bearing the maximum brunt.
This sorry situation is not just of Pakistan but of the whole world. Weak and the oppressed segments in every country will be more affected by Corona virus, as they will be the victims of this calamity or the resulting economic crisis. 
However, influential elites and capitalists are also being harmed by the ‘global pandemic. In fact, Corona virus has fully disclosed the facts about the global economic and political system that came to the fore at least during the 2008 financial crisis. If we cannot do anything else, then at least we must make a commitment that after the Corona crisis, we will not allow the establishment and elites of the world, including Pakistan, to again impose hostile and capitalist public policies on the poor. History testifies that only crisis gives rise to friendly political and economic policies.
The global financial crisis in 2008 was the result of policies that had dominated the world since the end of the Cold War. Generally, these policies are associated with the word ‘globalization’, which refers to political and economic rules and regulations that maximize the opportunity for capital to expand and broaden economic activity. This meant that the doors to profitability were fully opened worldwide. There was a natural resource port that was not even seen in the European colonial period. State institutions providing health, education, employment, housing and other basic necessities of life were handed over to the ‘free market’ and the principles of individuality were superseded by the collective as a whole.
The result of this process of buying and selling everything was a result of the fact that many people made a lot of money and overall ‘growth’ flourished. Millions of people have migrated from one place to another for education and employment. Apparently this system of capital and of human beings around the world was just and only beneficial. But there are always two aspects of ‘development’. The rise of economic activity and the pursuit of profiteering behind it have made every society in the world, including Pakistan, more uneven.
In 30 years of ‘globalization’, poverty and hunger has increased, leaving many at the mercy of wars and environmental pollution. Certainly in Pakistan these problems existed even before the era of ‘globalization’. But in the last 30 years, the population of countries like ours has increased dramatically and thus, has increased more issues. Also Read: Humanity in the time of Covid-19
After the financial crash of 2008, for a time, there were a lot of public demonstrations and movements against the capitalist system, and the need for reforms was emphasized. But 12 years later, we see that the system of the world is the way it was, instead of serious political alternatives, rulers around the world are spreading hatred.
What can the rulers and establishments give us in this Corona crisis? Yes, the rulers of some countries have begun to act consciously, for example, as Spain has taken over all private hospitals, and France has begun to provide cities with gas, electricity and water free of charge. However, the priority of British and USA is to save banks. Ten billion dollars in one country and another 33 billion pounds to financial institutions have been gifted by the governments.
People living in the slum areas of Pakistan and the residents of Baluchistan, the Pashtun tribal districts and other oppressed areas should be given more attention during Corona virus disaster, because these are the areas where ‘social distance’ is impossible.
Water should be provided to them, special medical camps should be set-up, Corona virus testing facility should be made available. Further emergency income should be handed to poor so they can consume basic necessities of life.
It is likely that nothing is going to happen because even under ‘normal circumstances’, state institutions do not maintain the same attitude towards the working class and oppressed segments of the society. So it is imperative that all rational people need to raise their voice and struggle to bring about the fundamental reforms to the outdated political and economic system that has led to this Corona crisis.
Don’t think this is a biological crisis that we cannot stop. If we can engineer atomic bombs, build Bahria towns and DHA’s all over the country, and can invite profiteers around the world to invest in the country, then we are surely capable of providing health and employment to everyone. If we start thinking about this fact today, we will not look so helpless next time. Also Read:What Corona Has Taught Human Race
