Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed, on Monday, cited the vagueness and lack of transparency in response efforts related to COVID-19 outbreak by federal and provincial governments.
While hearing the coronavirus suo motu case, five-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC), headed by CJP Gulzar Ahmed inspected the reports submitted by Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal, provincial governments of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh and Zakat and Ushr Department regarding COVID-19 response efforts.
The top court noted that all the claims regarding effective COVID-19 response are mere paperwork, and not enough is being done in the field.
Federal health secretary, Attorney General and various other relevant individuals attended the hearing.
“Billions of rupees are being spent on the COVID-19 kits and masks. How much amount should be spent on masks and gloves? Why are billions of rupees being spent? Correct figures will only be known after audit of the expenditures,” remarked the CJP on the financial resources being exhausted amid the virus crisis.
The SC also expressed its displeasure over the lack of representation from National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
“The performance of the institutions has not been mentioned. Same was the case with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) report,” said the court.
Furthermore, the court also inquired about the conversion of Haji camp into a quarantine centre. To which the health secretary replied and informed the court that NDMA has converted Islamabad Haji camp into a quarantine center.
Additionally, Justice Sajjad Shah criticized the lack of uniformity in centre’s and provinces’ policies and their failure to formulate and implement a comprehensive policy regarding coronavirus situation.
“No province has come with a policy. The government is allowing those sectors to work from which it is scared,” he noted.
