Corona Virus: PM Imran swings into action amid infection threat

ISLAMABAD: According to a notification issued by Prime Minister Office, Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed that an inter-ministerial meeting be held at the earliest to discuss preventing measures against deadly novel coronavirus (NCV) and formulate a comprehensive strategy to tackle the threat.

As per notification, the meeting would be chaired by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health, Dr Zafar Mirza. The meeting will be attended by the federal secretaries for foreign affairs, national health services, interior and aviation, provincial health secretaries, chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority, surgeon general of the Pakistan Army, director general of the Military Operations, director general (counter-intelligence) of the Inter-Services Intelligence, director general of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority, director general of the National Institute of Health, director general of the Airport Security Force and director general for China in foreign affairs ministry.

The document stated that outbreak of Novel Corona Virus was being experienced in China. Owing to the presence of a large number of Chinese in Pakistan and frequent travel between China and Pakistan, spread of virus in Pakistan could not be ruled out if necessary precautionary measures were not put in place, notification stated. It has been directed that the outcome of the meeting along with firm recommendations should be furnished to the PM Office within one week.

Earlier, Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, in a video statement, has said that Chinese and Pakistani governments were working closely and 500 Pakistani citizens in Wuhan city of Hubei province were safe and being looked after. Both the governments were coordinating with each other, Yao said.

“So far three suspicious cases in Chinese community have been reported in Pakistan, but none of them has been confirmed. We have confidence and determination that we will overcome this difficult time and will return to normal life very soon,” Mr Yao added.