Centre, provinces on same page to tackle coronavirus: FM Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that the federal and provincial governments were on the same page to cope with the novel coronavirus.

Talking to journalists today (Thursday), FM Qureshi reiterated that Pakistan was facing a dual challenge of overcoming the coronavirus pandemic and saving people from hunger.

He said that the world has never witnessed a pandemic like COVID-19, adding that the novel coronavirus has badly affected the economy of the world.

FM Qureshi also warned that the pandemic would also increase pressure on Pakistan’s economy as it has brought economic activities to a stand still.

He also paid rich tribute to the paramedical staff that was on the front line in the fight against the coronavirus.

In another statement issued today (Thursday), FM Qureshi informed that the federal government was taking all-out measures to bring back the stranded Pakistanis in the Gulf.

The Foreign Minister further informed that screening was being done at the airports and quarantine facilities have also been expanded there.

“The opening of remaining airports has enhanced our capacity to bring back six to seven thousand Pakistanis from abroad every week,” he added.  

He further said that Pakistan has increased its testing capacity, adding that the government had an earlier testing capacity of three thousand but it will reach twenty to thirty thousand by May.