Sindh Transport Minister Syed Awais Shah has announced that public transport will remain suspended across the province due to COVID-19 outbreak.
Expressing his views on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s address regarding the lifting of lockdown and resumption of public transport, Awais Shah stated that the Sindh government respects and highly regards Prime Minister and federal government’s opinion, but it still won’t allow the resumption of public transport in the province.
He noted that the lifting of strict lockdown might turn Pakistan into Italy or Wuhan, as the people failed to abide by the SOPs and guidelines since the easing of lockdown last week.
Awais Shah urged the Prime Minister to consult relevant experts before making such decision and that the coronavirus issue must not be politicized.
Earlier, spokesperson of the Sindh government, Murtaza Wahab had also criticized the federal government’s decision to allow the resumption of public transport. He noted that the National Command and Operation (NCOC) had earlier rejected the proposal of resuming public transport as provinces were opposed to it. He urged PM Imran Khan to revisit the decision and that federal government should against consult with the provinces on this issue.
It is to be noted that federal government has allowed the resumption of domestic air operations, railway services and public transport in the country, which was followed by Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments’ decisions of allowing the resumption of public transport in the provinces.
