RAWALPINDI: Pakistani Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood has become a favorite among Pakistan’s school-going children during the coronavirus pandemic when schools remained shut for much of the year — so much so that memes calling him “the prime minister of children” have become ubiquitous on social media platforms in Pakistan.
So it was only expected that Mahmood’s announcement yesterday, Thursday, that regular five-day classes would restart at schools from March 1, has not won him any fans.
It is further clarified all educational institutions will continue to observe normal corona SOPs such as physical distancing, mask wearing and ensuring hand washing facilities https://t.co/O0gdDzTgU3
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) February 25, 2021
In response, one young user posted: “Breaking news! COVID is completely defeated in Pakistan!”
BREAKING NEWS !
Covid19 is completely defeated in Pakistan. ! https://t.co/lha58ZeL1f— RitzKhan (@RizKhan1345) February 25, 2021
One Twitter user put up a picture of the minister and wrote, “He is no longer my friend.”
Yeah aab mera dost nahi hai pic.twitter.com/r4d1hz76hM
— RayBoii (@RayBoi6101) February 25, 2021
Another user created a meme with the caption: “The worst thing about betrayal is that it never comes from an enemy.”
— GXR Alvi (@LitAlvi) February 25, 2021
Another user expressed sorrow at having to meet real people again and do handwritten assignments:
You mean I am gonna have to meet real people?
Talk to real people?
Do hand written assignments?
HAYE GHAM https://t.co/BqL1TqW3wb— H. (@_mayosandwich) February 25, 2021
One user shared a popular meme of IT workers hugging each other with the caption: “Pakistani parents right now,” referring to parents’ relief not to have their kids at home all the time anymore:
Parents rn https://t.co/KP8bbZs584 pic.twitter.com/1rH3oe3Rpb
— Aon Hussain (@aonhussain) February 25, 2021
And lastly and with resignation, one Twitter user tapped into the most popular social media trend of the subcontinent and said: “No more pawri.”
No more pawri https://t.co/mxHn7siK3z
— Nomi (@Nomi_070) February 25, 2021
