Thoughts on political decisions, in Pakistan, during a pandemic

A while ago, when COVID-19 had yet to reach its peak, the government in Pakistan eased the lockdown by opening up businesses. This was not a good move. My assumption is that this move led to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases here. As I write this, Pakistan is among the top 20 countries in number of cases on the Johns Hopkins CoronaVirus Resource Center website. 

It is said that the Prime Minister eased the lockdown because he could not resist the pressure from the business community. If that is true, the profit of a few was preferred over the losses of many. 

Why was this not a good move? Well, to answer this, let us consider three brief thought experiments. 

Here is the first such thought experiment. Let us say you have to sell your house, which has some defects. Should you conceal the defects? And assume that by concealing them, you are not breaking the law. What would you do? Well, it is advantageous if you profit by selling your house while hiding defects. But to benefit by another’s loss is not morally right. 

Here is another scenario. Let us say you run a big car manufacturer. One day you find out that millions of your cars, already on the market, have faulty brakes. The defect is such that it is sure to kill 1pc of these cars’ owners. Would you recall the bad cars and fix them? Or would you remain silent, and increase your wealth at the same rate you increase misery for others? Again, it is advantageous for you to profit. But it is not right. 

Last scenario. Let us say you rule a city, and that city is awaiting a cargo ship carrying a few months of food for its citizens. The rich merchants of the city are bringing in this food. But before the ship reaches the shore, news breaks that a deadly disease has hit the country from which the ship has brought the food. 

And now it is sure that if you let the people of your city consume food from that ship, then 1pc of them will die. If you decline the food and send the ship back, not only will rich merchants cry foul but also you fear your people will die of hunger. What would you do? 

Well, it is advantageous if you pay heed to merchants; they will not only make a  profit but employ many people and even help the state earn revenue. But is it right? If you let people consume bad food that will surely kill 1pc of them, is that morally right? No, it is neither right nor just. And if you fear people will die from hunger but do not rally with all your strength, all your resources, all your abilities, all your will, and all your might to overcome that fear, then how is that fear justifiable? 

COVID-19 is devastatingly deadly. Is it right then for the government to order actions that lead to more infections and deaths? Yes, it is advantageous to open up businesses too soon, so people and the state can earn revenue. But is it right? It is not, and this really hits home when you see a loved one die from the virus. 

Our ancestors created Pakistan so that justice and goodness prevail for everyone, and all lives are respected and protected. They did not create this country for people to be abandoned to a known, lethal danger from which they can lose not only their own lives but those of their loved ones, too. 

It is the job of our leaders to respect the ideals established by our ancestors. It is their job to do what is right, not what is advantageous to them or only some people. It is their job to protect everyone’s life. It is their job to do what is right, more so in this country where common men and women deal with moral wrongs, oppressiveness, injustice, and tyranny in everyday life. It is our leaders’ job to do what is right at a time in history when it is needed most. 

As Roman statesman Cicero said centuries ago, one should aim at doing what is right, not what is advantageous. Historically, as Cicero rightly said, when people preferred advantage alone, this led to assassinations, thefts of public and private property, and loss of trust. To profit or gain by another human’s loss causes pain and anguish. If everyone tries to gain by another’s loss, then this strikes at the very root of national life. It destroys the social fabric of a country.

Given one should aim at doing what is right, our political leaders should act accordingly during the current pandemic. For it was not this stressful time, but a time of peace and health, those at the top could have relaxed. But since these are not normal times, and lives of millions are at stake, those at the top must act in a morally prudent manner before this disaster wreaks havoc to a scale unknown in the history of this country. 

Our leaders must lead not by inaction, but rather by example. (Why it is still hard for them to wear a mask in a proper manner is beyond me.) They must not promote ignorance, but awareness day in and day out. All resources at hand must be used to make people aware of the dangers of COVID-19. Our leaders must not downplay but highlight risk. They must not tell anyone “It is just the flu,” because it is not. And instead of showing fear of running out of resources, they must show will, and they must endeavor mightily to enlist support from all the rich and elites, and marshall Pakistan’s resources, to tackle that fear. 

Our leaders must be guided by what is right, not what is advantageous. Because what is right can lead to advantage, but advantage alone does not always lead to what is right. 

This oped was published by Dawn on 23rd June 2020.