–PM’s special assistant says Pakistani nationals can return after 14-day quarantine
–Dr Mirza says PM Imran is ‘most worried person’ regarding outbreak of coronavirus
–Pakistan sends first consignment of medical masks and related equipment to China to help fight deadly virus
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health Dr Zafar Mirza on Saturday defended the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s decision not to bring back Pakistani nationals stranded in China, saying the federal government had complete trust in the policies of the Chinese government.
During a press conference, Dr Mirza said that so far, it had been confirmed that 11,947 people were affected with the coronavirus, out of which 259 had died.
“It is now being transferred from human to human. It means that a person affected by the virus can also become a source for the transfer of the virus.”
“The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the situation an emergency of international concern. Being a responsible nation, Pakistan wants to take steps that ensure the safety of maximum people.”
He said that the decision was finalised after a phone call between Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, where the latter assured that taking care of Pakistani citizens was a priority for China’s government.
The statement about evacuation came as the United States and a few other countries evacuated their citizens from China and also imposed a travel ban on the country.
“Till now, seven or eight countries have carried out evictions or requested China for evacuation,” said Dr Mirza. He added that China does not agree with the evacuations. “We should not forget people from 120 countries are living in Wuhan and 120 countries endorse measures taken by to contain the epidemic,” said Dr Mirza.
Dr Mirza reiterated that Pakistan stands by China in its handling of the crisis. “We are the most worried about our own kids. But we have to take the right measures for us and not follow other countries,” Dr Mirza told reporters.
The special assistant said that Pakistan has to take measures without compromising the safety and well-being of its people living in China.
He also shared that PM Imran was the “most worried” person regarding the disease and was receiving “minute by minute” updates from the government officials.
China faced deepening isolation on Saturday over the recent break of the coronavirus epidemic as the death toll soared to 259, with the United States and Australia leading a growing list of nations to impose extraordinary Chinese travel bans.
Speaking about the Pakistanis who wanted to return home, the special assistant said that the government will not allow any Pakistani citizen inside the country till they complete a 14-day observation period in China.
An agreement in this regard had been finalised in a meeting held with the Chinese ambassador in Pakistan, he said, adding that the policy was same as China’s that says no Chinese citizen will be allowed to travel abroad till the completion of the 14-day observation period.
“Those declared free of the virus after the period will be issued with a certificate that assures the airport officials that they are free from the disease,” Mirza said.
“Through this one measure we have ensured Pakistan remains free from the disease. Because our case definition says that travelling and staying in China is an important factor [behind the spread of the disease],” said the SAPM.
Dr Mirza stated that if Pakistan was able to control the disease in Pakistanis present in China, then it has secured the country from the disease, according to the information that doctors have at this point.
Dr Mirza said that the country will soon receive the health kits which would allow the country to detect the virus. “From tomorrow or today we will start carrying out tests to determine the coronavirus,” said Dr Mirza.
He said that from Saturday, the government will launch an awareness campaign on electronic media regarding the disease, adding that the campaign will explain the origins of the disease and also advise the people on the precautionary measures to be taken by people regarding the disease.
PAKISTAN SENDS AID TO CHINA:
Meanwhile, Pakistan has sent its first consignment of medical masks and related medical equipment to China to help fight the coronavirus.
“Pakistani government has allocated 300,000 medical masks, 800 hazmat suits and 6,800 pairs of gloves from the stocks of public hospitals around the nation and transported the aid to China. The medical supplies from Pakistan arrived in China on Saturday afternoon,” Cui Jun from Beijing told Pakistan Today.
He said that since China needed assistance and Pakistan, which is working to expand exports, can increase the productivity of medical protective equipment and allow China to import.
“Both iron-brothers would benefit together from this trade,” maintained Cui.
The Chinese health authorities announced Saturday that 11,791 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus had been reported in 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps by the end of Friday.
