THE REPERCUSSIONS OF COVID-19 ON HUMAN RIGHTS: RESPONSE AND CHALLENGES IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

This paper elucidates the relevance of health care system and human rights challenges with reference to Covid-19 Pandemic. It spotlights the therapeutic development and significance of joint co-operation among the comity of Nations and there is a dire need to adopt human rights based approach to curb the crisis, because the COVID-19 does not discriminate between developed and underdeveloped states, rich and the poor, but its impacts do. This paper reflects that Covid-19 has caused serious damage to rule of law and human rights in the globalized world, Resultantly, the people in developing world slipped down under the poverty line during the Pandemic, and the world economy collapsed. In this context, Pakistan has promulgated lockdown, smart lockdown and micro lockdowns in order to save the lives of people and has announced the economic relief package of one billion US dollar($), and introduced a strategic Action Plan to cope with the challenge of COVID- 19. Moreover, the Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan in a suo-moto case (2020) directed the Government to alleviate the miseries of masses through effective governance, financial support, quarantine facilities, restrictive measures and necessary supply of health safety equipments on priority basis.