COVID-19 pandemic control and administrative issues in Pakistan: How Pakistan mitigated both pandemic and administration issues?

Abstract

COVID‐19 is wreaking havoc all around the globe, and Pakistan bears no exception. This study explores Pakistan's response toward controlling COVID‐19 Pandemic from the day the 1st case was reported, February 26, 2020, in Pakistan until August 31, 2020. It explores the administrative conflicts among federal and provincial governments and political behaviors of political parties toward the COVID‐19 pandemic by referring Government Response Index. By applying the ARDL model approach, results show that since the administrative harmony had been implemented in Pakistan in July 2020, its positive impact on combating the COVID‐19 situation in Pakistan and substantial improvement in recovered cases and a downward trend new confirmed and fatal cases has observed in Pakistan. The findings demonstrate that administrative efforts scattered due to internal conflicts from February to mid‐July 2020 have ended, and collective aggressive policy enforcement has been mitigating the adverse impact of COVID‐19 in Pakistan since July to date. However, sustainable measures and prudent policy implications are needed to combat the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic and future calamities.