Coronavirus outbreak: Chinese medical team, relief arrives in Pakistan

A special plane from China carrying relief assistance to fight coronavirus has arrived in Islamabad on Saturday.

A team of Chinese doctors specializing in coronavirus also arrived in Pakistan. According to the Foreign Office, the doctors will remain in Pakistan for two weeks and will advise the health care specialists in the country.

So far, the Chinese government has provided 12,000 test kits, 300,000 masks, and 10,000 units of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), a Foreign Office spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said that the Chinese government has also provided $4 million to build a separate hospital for coronavirus patients.

The FO said that the Xinjiang government has separately provided 50,000 masks to the Sindh government while aid from private means in China has also been received.

The Alibaba Foundation and Jack Ma foundation have also donated 50 thousand test kits and 50 million face masks.

China also handed over two tons of masks, test kits, ventilators, medical protective clothes worth 67 million rupees through Khunjerab Pass.

Earlier, a cargo plane carrying the goods landed at Jinnah International airport today, marking the third flight from China that has brought medical supplies. The flight, YG-9067, was sent by Chinese firm YTO Cargo.

A day earlier, China had sent a plane carrying medical supplies, including 56,000 testing kits, N-95 masks and other material, to Karachi.

On March 25, China had sent a plane carrying 450,000 face masks — including 50,000 N-95 masks — to the country.

The aid came as Pakistan reported more than 1,400 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 11 deaths today.

Communist Party of China offers support to PTI govt

China’s Communist party established contact with PTI’s central committee leader Arshad Dad today. The Chinese party leaders offered complete assistance to the government in fight against the virus, said the ruling party in a statement.

According to the PTI press release, the communist party sent a letter of support to the ruling party, expressing solidarity with the Pakistani nation.

In the letter, the communist party said that China overcame the disease with united efforts and it is willing to share its expertise with Pakistan.