After the
World Health Organization declared the monkeypox epidemic as a health
emergency, emergency measures are being taken worldwide to prevent it. The
government of Pakistan has also started strict security measures to prevent the
spread of the disease. done In this regard yesterday, the Prime Minister has
ordered strict investigation of passengers at airports, seaports and borders
and awareness campaign across the country. On this occasion, he has also
directed effective communication with the provincial governments to prevent the
epidemic. A few suspected cases of monkeypox have been reported in Pakistan in
recent days, while one patient died of this disease in the country last year.
The first case of monkeypox was confirmed in the country in April 2023, a woman
was also diagnosed with this disease in May 2023, while in December 2023, a
person under treatment in the federal capital died of monkeypox. The government
of Pakistan had issued a warning about monkeypox in May 2022, at that time the
disease was spreading in most of the African and European countries.
Monkeypox
was initially a disease found in monkeys, which after 1970 in the western part
of Africa. spread and remained confined there for several decades. Although a
few cases of monkeypox were reported in Europe and America in the past, most of
its patients were found in Africa. However, now for the first time this disease
has been reported in other regions and there has been a global concern. Monkey
pox can be transmitted from humans to humans, so experts advise to ensure
social distancing. The virus of monkey pox is cracked. Enters the body through
the skin, respiratory tract, eyes, nose, or mouth. Within one to three days
after the fever appears, the patient develops a rash that often starts on the
face and then the body. It spreads to other parts. Other symptoms of the
disease include headache, muscle aches and fatigue. The duration of exposure of
the virus is usually 7 to 14 days, but it can also be 5 to 21 days.
The
disease usually lasts for two to four weeks. The fresh wave of monkeypox
started in England in May 2022, which soon spread to Europe, America and Asia.
For the last two years, the spread of this disease was small but continued
gradually. Now once again the spread of this disease is being noted worldwide,
after which the WHO declared it a health emergency. In this context, the
precautionary measures taken by the government of Pakistan are certainly very
important and timely. Apart from the federal and provincial governments, the
local bodies also have to be vigilant in this matter. If a person shows
symptoms of this disease, he should be quarantined immediately and his social
contacts should be strictly limited and he should be treated under the supervision
of qualified doctors.
The
federal and provincial governments have allocated isolation wards and beds in
major hospitals of the country for potential monkeypox patients. The National
Command and Operation Center has also issued an advisory that should be
followed across the country. During the global spread of Covid, Pakistan was
also severely affected by this epidemic. As a result, economic activities were
almost suspended. Therefore, it is important that the monkey poxBy ensuring
effective prevention, the health of the citizens and the process of economic
recovery should be protected from negative effects.
The decline in local production and consequent importation of
cotton against heavy foreign exchange has already become a heavy burden on the
textile industry. The extraordinary appreciation of the dollar against the
rupee over the past five years has increased the cost of production of the
industry. The consumption of Pakistani textiles is being badly affected, while
the country's exports are heavily dependent on this sector. In this, the
governments of the countries with which Pakistan competes have given substantial
incentives to the export industries, and this would prove to be helpful for the
government in economic stability. This media report is of great interest to
Arbab Bast Wakshad that due to excessive production cost, more than 100 small
and big factories, including the leading textile mills, have been closed in
Faisalabad, and more than two hundred thousand people have become unemployed.
If the situation continues, there is a fear of closure of
more mills in the coming days, whose production has already reduced to 40%.
Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association has warned that if the
government reduces the interest rate of 10%, including electricity and gas
prices. If it is not brought to a level lower than the production industry will
also be closed. The relevant circles say that the conditions are very favorable
at the global level to increase Pakistani exports. There is no doubt that the
high interest rate and the current energy prices in the industrial sector. It
is having a bad effect. The demand of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and
exporters to maintain the employment of people, especially to increase exports,
is not unreasonable. The government should try to take appropriate steps in
this regard.
Eco-friendly Tourism Necessary
Due to the recent increase in heat intensity, the number of
citizens moving to the northern regions has increased tremendously. Although
the phenomenal increase in the number of tourists is being hailed as a boon for
the local tourism industry. However, the accidents and emergency situations
faced by the citizens who visit the northern regions for tourism in recent
times show that we need to improve the provision of infrastructure and other
basic facilities at tourist destinations more than the promotion of tourism. .
In addition, it is important to improve the attitudes of the local population
towards tourists. Incidents of inappropriate treatment of tourists by local
people, especially hotel owners and shopkeepers, are becoming common. Apart
from this, there is an urgent need to change the attitude of the citizens who
go to the northern regions for tourism from different cities of the country to
not respect the culture and customs of the local people or to spread garbage at
the tourist spots.
It is worth mentioning here that many people who go to the
northern region for tourism pick fruits from the trees outside the houses and
in the orchards of the local population with such brutality that it either
destroys the fruit trees. Branches are broken or damaged so much that it
reduces their ability to bear fruit. In such a situation, it is natural to have
a reaction from the local population, due to which there is often a fear of
unpleasant incidents. In these circumstances, it will not be out of place to
say that we need to educate the citizens about their responsibilities related
to tourism more than promoting tourism. Apart from this, from the environmental
point of view, it is necessary to advise the people visiting these areas for
tourism to avoid harmful factors for the natural environment.
Due to the introduction of new places in these areas thanks
to social media, a large number of citizens are moving there, but in this
sense, infrastructure and facilities are not available in these areas, due to
which environmental problems are arising. In most of these areas, the
infrastructure required for tourism is substandard and many beautiful areas are
without electricity for several hours a day. In these areas, the basic
facilities of phone and internet are not available properly while there is also
a shortage of drinking water. In these circumstances, it is necessary to invite
international and experienced local investors to build environment-friendly and
sustainable infrastructure on an emergency basis. In this way, Pakistani
citizens and foreign tourists going for tourism abroad will be attracted to
visit these areas. At present, the share of tourism in the total national
income is around six percent, which can be increased to 20 percent, but for
this, security and road infrastructure also need to be paid attention to. In
addition, world-class airports should be built in areas of tourist importance
and existing airports should be upgraded so that tourists from abroad can come
directly to these areas.
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