FO advises overseas Pakistanis to avoid non-essential travel

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office of Pakistan has advised overseas Pakistan to avoid all non-essential travel and practice social distancing in a responsible manner for their own safety and of all around.

The statement came in the weekly briefing of Foreign Office that was held without reporters as part of social-distancing to curb the outbreak of coronavirus.

FO Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said, “We advise our diaspora to exercise caution and personal responsibility for their personal health as well as of those in their family and communities in line with the advisories of local authorities wherever they may be.”

Aisha Farooqui also said that the challenges from the coronavirus can only be tackled through collective actions.

She said that coronavirus is rapidly spreading in the world, including Pakistan, adding that the federal governments and other stakeholders were taking effective measures to ensure the safety of the citizens.

Aisha Farooqui also mentioned that the Foreign Office also decided to take precautionary measures and had therefore suspended all walk-in Consular Services expect the attestation of Power of Attorney.

Commenting on Indian Occupied Kashmir, She said that Pakistan condemns the inhuman act and violation of human rights by the Indian forces in IoK.

She further said, “Pakistan urges India to lift the blockade in the region in order to obtain full information on affected people and provision of essential items and medical supplies to the affected people.”