Sadia Aslam Khan

COVID-19: Socio-Economic Implications for Pakistan

There is no dyeing the fact that the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19 has unleashed
immeasurable socio-economic implications for Pakistan. At present, the country is
plunged into multifaceted impacts of COVID-19. Unfortunately, it has affected the social
and economic well-being of the country at large scale. Moreover, the economic and social
disruption caused by the pandemic is devastating. One the one hand, exponential increase
in poverty, rampant food insecurity, overstretched health infrastructure, increasing
criminal activities, large-scale disruption of celebration of cultural, religious and festive
events, Postponement of national and international sport activities, as well as undue
stress among the population and closed tourism activities, halted providing and seeking
education are the Social Implications Triggered by COVID-19; while on the other hand,
Freezing manufacturing of essential goods, Halting exports and imports, Crippling labor
market, Mounting loss in national and international business, Poor cash flow in the
market, Significant slowing down in the revenue growth, Paralyzed agriculture sector and
Stalling transport activities are the Economic Implications Triggered by COVID-19.
Needless to say, no country can run on the road of development and advancement
without ensuring the proper SOP to be followed. Most prominent among them are
Imposed smart lockdown across the country, closed educational and training institutions,
encouraged people to stay at home, ensured working of employees from home,
established emergency hospitals and quarantine centers as well as formed national tiger
force and launching of ehsas emergency cash program are Preventive and Emergency
Response Taken by the Incumbent Government to Mitigate the Implications of COVID-19.
There is a great need to devise a democratic national action plan to overcome the impacts
of covid-19 in the country. Most prominent among them are ensuring effective role of law
enforcement agencies in implementing SOPS, strengthening of health governance system,
political collaboration and coordination, emphasizing on global cooperation, a coronavirus
job retention scheme and funding of small business grant are the Suggestive Measures to
Mitigate the Socio-Economic Implications for Pakistan. Lastly, it is hoped that the impacts
of COVID- 19 can be mitigated by adopting a significant policies and taking above stated
steps in to action