The Dark Side of Quarantine: Rise of Domestic Violence in times of COVID-19 in Pakistan

Malik Hassan

April 16, 2020

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Over the last few weeks, there has been a surge of domestic abuses cases being reported nationwide largely due to the fact that majority of the victims are in a lockdown; with their abusers.

While many victims previously looked forward to the start of the day when the men would leave for the offices and they would find relief in their sanctuary or would have the ability to escape to the outside world, the possibility has come to a stand-still after the implementation of the lockdown. This has been the outcome of the pandemic globally as well but we are less equipped to deal with it. Not only do we lack a support-system in our society but our government has also been unable to provide victims with a solid institution to cater for them.

It is estimated that about 70-90% of women in Pakistan are subjected to some form of abuse whether physical, emotional or psychological. While the quarantine has been somewhat successful in preventing the spread of COVID-19, it has also locked the victims with their abusers with nowhere to escape. One woman reported of being in a constant state of anxiety while working in her kitchen surrounded by sharp objects that can be used against her in a fit of rage. Another declared that she was forced to wash herself down with highly dangerous bleach so she may not transfer any (non-existent) virus to the family members while another broke down after admitting that she is kept away from her children because she is constantly tortured bout being infected even though she has no symptoms and has not been exposed to any carriers.

This sad situation cannot be alleviated because we have no digitized legal aid, effective institutions and outdated cultural practices that allow you to turn a blind-eye towards the suffering. We, as a society, need to change our practices and introduce severe punishments for the abusers. We need online as well as interactive therapy-sessions for the victims to help them gain back their self-esteem. And above all, we need to think of this as a criminal act and NOT a ‘right’. Unless and until we come up with ways to curb violence at home for good, we cannot avoid such situations and victims will be seen praying for the virus so they can escape the much worse effects of violence.

Pakistani Economy Faces Threat From COVID19.

Malik Hassan

April 16, 2020

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Businesses are running below normal capacities because of shortage of raw material, labor and most important ingredient “Customers”. This partial lockdown has taken a huge toll on aggregate demand and supply.

Pakistan Stock exchange has fallen like a house of cards on March 9 when the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced it was waging a price war against Russia to capture a greater share of the oil market as demand has been sliding, with China, Europe and the rest of the world hit hard by the spread of Covid-19.

Is it a good idea for the Khan government to keeping going like this? What if this threat stays, do we continue like and watch our house burn. After this government came into power we were seeing glimpses of hope but this unexpected pandemic has shattered the dream of and economically strong Pakistan. I think it’s high time that Imran khan should take a deep breath and let the economic activities start. If not that we are going back ore that 10 years and it’s going to be a high climb back.

Conversing With Your Children About the Coronavirus

Malik Hassan

April 16, 2020

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The global scare this pandemic has caused is too real to be silenced. Everywhere you go, every channel you tune into, every social-media site you visit; all you see and hear is coronavirus. Children being the major hubs of curiosity will naturally ask questions about this new word they are hearing and will register the fear that seems to linger on everyone’s face. They will question the changes in behavior, the reduced numbers of visits, lockdowns and constant pressure of washing and sterilizing. As a parent, it becomes a concern for you to satisfy their curiosity without causing unnecessary panic yet still registering in them a sense of responsibility. Following are some tips for parents and adults that can help them talk to their children about coronavirus and its implications:

·         Provide the right amount of information: Adults will have to maintain a balance between providing all the important information without fueling unnecessary fretfulness. Kids have a very hyper-active imagination and they tend to make up fearful scenarios on their own if they see adults being extra silent and on the other hand, too much information can cause them to panic without any immediate threat. Tell them just enough to help them understand what the world is going through and what they can do to prevent any unfortunate incident.

·         Teach them prevention: Teach your children about all the practices they need to adopt during this pandemic for example: washing their hands regularly, standing six-feet apart from strangers, sneezing or coughing into their elbows, observing social-distancing etc. They might be curious about why it’s not necessary to wear a mask unless sick even though they might be seeing many people around them doing it.

·         Paint a picture of calmness: Children will quickly register and mimic emotions they observe in adults so stay calm about the whole situation and teach them that when proper precautions and rules are followed, there is no need to harbor fear and anxiety. Tell them that even though they hear about deaths and severe symptoms, they are rare and can be avoided with a responsible behavior.

·          Limit exposure to news: While watching the news can provide you with a huge insight into the global situation, it is wise to limit the exposure to children. Many outlets are in search for extreme and ‘enticing’ news to captivate the audience and it may cause unnatural fear to settle in the kids’ minds.

·         Be a beacon of hope: Talk about positive developments happening around the world and in your country and be hopeful for better times. Keep children occupied with various activities during quarantine and keep reassuring them that when you follow the rules, take precautions and have the right practices; you are safe.

Keep sharing stories about the brave people fighting frontline with this pandemic and keep praying together for better, safer and healthier times.

How a Digital Cloud is Helping To Stay Connected in This Time of Social Distancing

Malik Hassan

April 16, 2020

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In all of this chaos, many businesses, government institutions, researchers are using Google Cloud to fulfill necessity of staying connected.

Video Conferencing products such as Google Meet has seen increased usage. This surge has been due to many companies shifting to work from home culture. Along with this; collaboration via Google Docs, and all data accessible on Google Drive has helped many companies to continue their daily office proceedings with ease.

Google Cloud learning resources, is helping individuals who want to build skills whilst staying at home. Webinars. Extensive catalog of training courses, hands-on labs on Qwiklabs, and interactive Cloud OnAir webinars at no cost until April 30 are being offered by google have become a blessing in disguise for those who want to better their skills at app development, prediction model building etc.

Content Delivery Networks (CDN) are being developed in collaboration with various governments which are being used to build a platform where quick movement of information is made possible from public to related authorities.

Google Class room is also a time saver for students and various educational institutions. By using this millions of students have avoided wasting a school year.

In this monumental moment of uncertainty Google is looking very positive in filling this void of social distancing through a digital link and surely as necessity is mother of invention, we can expect new discoveries in the digital field in years to come.

CORONAVIRUS: WHAT IS IT DOING TO THE MARKET

Malik Hassan

April 16, 2020

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The global pandemic caused by the COVID-19 has terrorized nations to its core. With cases increasing every day, countries are quickly enforcing nationwide lockdowns to prevent further spreads. This means that businesses, in particular, and stock markets, in general, have taken a severe blow. The graph below shows the affects this pandemic has had on major industries:

(source: neilpatel.com)

It’s no surprise that the Travel industry is the most brutally affected since the lockdown has put a full stop to all travel-plans in the near future. The Media industry has benefitted the most because a scared and hopeless audience has no other source of information than the television and news outlets which are constantly in the search for new content.

This pandemic will have long-lasting affects and businesses will stumble for an extended period of time to make up for the losses they are facing. Companies had to shut down operations, yet still pay their employees during that period but not all companies have that much reserve balance. They will be dealing with those losses by laying-off employees or cutting their salaries. It’s projected that in total COVID-19 will cost the global economy $2.7 trillion.

So what can a marketer do to strengthen his position during this time of economic crunch? Double-down. Yes! It is actually suggested that while other businesses are slowing or shutting-down, it is actually the best time to place all your cards on the table.

Warren Buffett has said “Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful”. So now is actually the best time to place all your bets and gain your share in the market. Your results will come to you slowly but they will come surely! So don’t be fearful when others are and make your move. Here’s hoping this pandemic vanishes as quickly as it came. Until then, stay home; stay safe.