Covid-19: CM Murad suggests 14-day ban on inter-provincial transport

F.P. Report

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday suggested to the federal government to ban inter-provincial transport for two weeks in order to control the spread of the coronavirus. 

In an informal chat with the media men outside an accountability court (AC) in Islamabad where he had gone in connection with the hearing of a case filed against him, Murad Ali Shah said that was the only way the spread of pandemic could be controlled. “I do not say there should be no inter-provincial transport for a year.

Only a two-week break can break the Covid-19’s cycle,” he said. The court is currently hearing the reference filed against him for allegedly releasing funds for ‘illegal contracts’ for the Nooriabad power plant. 

The Sindh chief minister was of the view that there was no concept of a ‘smart lockdown’. “Either there is a lockdown or no lockdown,” he argued. Murad claimed that Sindh had more ventilators than any other province. He said buying vaccines dozes is in the pipeline.

He informed that the provincial government was contemplating purchasing single-dose coronavirus vaccine. “But first we will have to see the efficacy of this vaccine,” he told the media. 

When a reporter asked him that there was pressure on him to resign because of his ‘involvement’ in the case, the Sindh chief minister replied that why he should resign when the case itself was fabricated.

“Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders who have resigned from their posts must have done something wrong,” he said, and added, “Even I am not aware what charges have been included in the reference filed against me.” 

The Sindh chief minister said it was unfortunate that the reference pertained to a plant which was generating 100 percent electricity.

“It is due to this plant that loadshedding hours in the province have come down by two to three hours,” he said, and added, “The Sindh government has tried to ensure that this plant keeps functioning so that electricity could be provided to the consumers at cheaper rates.”   He urged the opposition parties to forge unity in their ranks.

“Forget who is cultivating relationship with Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) or any other party. The only thing that should be our priority is the situation the country is going through presently,” he commented. 

Murad said the blame-game between the PPP and the PML-N should stop.