Coronavirus fear: Pakistan decides to close Chaman border with Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Sunday decided to close Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan amid alarm of outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

According to sources, the federal government has issued a notification with regard to shutting down the Pak-Afghan border crossing at Chaman in the first phase.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior, Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan will remain closed from 2 March (Monday) for seven-days.

It further stated the Chaman border crossing will remain closed for seven days in the first phase. The notification stated the move has been taken in wake to evade the outbreak of novel coronavirus, the notification added.

Iran has reported 43 deaths out of nearly 543 infection cases—making it one of the hardest-hit countries outside China. Afghanistan also announced its first novel coronavirus infection case last Monday involving a patient who had recently been in Iran.

The novel coronavirus has spread to more than 25 countries across the globe, reaching the death toll over 2,835 and infecting 85,000, mostly in China.