Pakistan hails US’s timely provision of coronavirus medical supplies

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has lauded the US’s provision of emergency medical supplies, saying that this gesture in the testing time will help the country in preventing the spread of the novel COVID-19.

The Foreign Office spokesman in a statement said that the US has provided 685,000 KN-95 masks, 50,000 protective goggles, 250,000 diagnostic kits, and 1,000 pulse oximeters.

“This timely gesture is part of the continued assistance that the US has provided to Pakistan to support our Covid relief and prevention efforts,” FO said. The US has already allocated $40 million to Pakistan as Covid-19 response assistance.

“This support has benefited more than 2.5 million Pakistanis across the country, providing life-saving treatment, strengthening case-finding and surveillance, and mobilizing innovative financing to bolster emergency preparedness,” USAID said. Prior to this, the US had provided 200 ventilators for Covid-19 patients the spokesman added.

On Thursday, the US, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), had dispatched emergency medical supplies to Pakistan, Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Earlier, Pakistan had gifted personal protective equipment (PPE) to the United States to show solidarity in the fight against the coronavirus.

A Pakistan Air Forces C-130 plane carrying medical supplies for the US landed at the Andrews Air Base in Washington DC. The material including surgical masks and protective suits was received by Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense  David Halloway and other US staff.

Pakistan ambassador to the United States Asad Majeed Khan and other staff of the Pakistani embassy were also present at the airport. United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has appreciated Pakistan for sending medical supplies to the US to fight coronavirus.

Taking to Twitter, Mike Pompeo termed the supplies of medical equipment as a sign of solidarity between both the countries in the war against COVID-19.

“Appreciate Pakistan’s goodwill donation of surgical masks and protective suits to @FEMA. This delivery is a symbol of U.S.-Pakistan solidarity in the fight against COVID-19,” he said.

Appreciate Pakistan’s goodwill donation of surgical masks and protective suits to @FEMA. This delivery is a symbol of U.S.-Pakistan solidarity in the fight against COVID-19. #WeAreInThisTogether #Partners4Prosperity pic.twitter.com/TUk3nTQZgu

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) May 21, 2020