Lockdown, social distancing: President hopes nation will exhibit discipline

President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday expressed the optimism that Pakistani nation would exhibit discipline to maintain lockdown and social distancing in order to fight the coronavirus and to eventually emerge as a great nation.

Speaking to media persons during day-long visit to Muzaffarabad, he said "Pakistani nation is ready to become a great nation by observing self-discipline in their life and at mosques and adopt maximum preventive measures to check spread of the COVID-19."

The President said the Seerat of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was the real and profound example of discipline, adding people must ensure strict discipline by following the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet.

Similarly, he said the life and vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah also laid emphasis on the unity, faith and discipline. Referring to emergence of Japan and Germany as big nations after the World War-II, the President said that the big nations did emerge solely through discipline and hard work.

He said the 20-point guidelines, agreed between the government and religious scholars for congregational prayers at mosques during Holy month of Ramazan, were now obligatory for being a consensus agreement.

The President lauded the effective steps of Azad Jammu and Kashmir government to stem the coronavirus. He said he had come to Muzaffarabad to witness the situation arising out of COVID-19 in Azad Kashmir. He also appreciated the people of Azad Kashmir for observing self-discipline and expressed hope that they would follow AJK government's guidance in future as well.

He said through discipline and by adopting preventive measures including cleanliness, repeated hand-wash, mask, the deadly virus could effectively be controlled in the AJK.