Sindh CM hails Balochistan counterpart's efforts to curb COVID-19

Interior minister says federal govt to provide all resources to province

QUETTA: Sindh chief minister on Friday visited Quetta and held meeting with his counterpart in Balochistan to discuss issue of the pilgrims from Sindh who are kept in isolation wards in the bordering town of Taftan after their return from Iran in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

The global death toll from the coronavirus infection soared to 3,407 on Friday, while the total number of infections hit 100,002, after a surge in cases worldwide, notably in virus hotspot Iran which clocked 1,234 new cases.

All six coronavirus patients reported in Pakistan have a history of travel to Iran. In the wake of the outbreak Pakistan had closed its border with the Islamic state but last week it allowed pilgrims to return. These pilgrims are kept in quarantine at Taftan.

To discuss the issue of the quarantined people from Sindh, the provincial chief minister, Murad Ali Shah, visited Quetta and held a meeting with Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal.

During the meeting, both the chief ministers agreed to adopt a joint mechanism for exchanging information between the two provinces on deadly virus cases and cooperation for its prevention.

They also discussed retuning of pilgrims from Iran and their screening. They declared coronavirus a national issue and agreed to work jointly to deal with the virus and its impact.

They informed each other about the precautionary measures taken by their respective provincial governments to stop spread of the virus. Talking to Sindh CM, Jam Kamal said pilgrims returning from Iran will remain in quarantine and isolation wards for 14 days as preventive measures.

“Pilgrims have been staying at the Pakistan House in Taftan quarantine wards for 14 days as preventive measures. All required facilities for screening test have been provided there and basic amenities of life are also being providing to them,” Kamal said.

It was decided that both Sindh and Balochistan would jointly work for the safe and timely return of the pilgrims of Sindh from Taftan border with mutual coordination.

Shah said recently over 2,300 pilgrims and other people have returned from Iran and China. The authorities concerned had contacted all of them and conducted their screening tests.

“A newly constructed hospital in Karachi has been converted into quarantine. The isolation ward is comprised of 140 beds,” Shah said.  He highly appreciated the efforts taken by government of Balochistan for the safety of pilgrims and to combat with the hazard of novel coronavirus.

Kamal informed the Sindh CM regarding efforts and measures so for taken by provincial government.

He said the border with Iran had been closed for the last 13 days, while Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Chaman is also closed for the last seven days.

Federal govt pledges to help Balochistan

Federal Minister for Interior Brigadier (Retd) Ijaz Shah on Friday urged media to create awareness among public regarding symptoms of coronavirus infection and safety precautions at a news conference during his visit to Quetta.

“The federal government is ready to provide all resources in Balochistan in order to prevent COVID-19. The government has decided to equip Balochistan with all machineries and resources in order to carry out screening of pilgrims returning from Iran while health facilities would be ensured at Taftan border.”

Earlier, the minister discussed with Chief Secretary Fazeel Asghar the provincial government’s efforts and arrangements at the Pakistan-Iran border for the pilgrims.

Shah said: “I have been visiting Balochistan in order to review the provincial government’s efforts against novel coronavirus amid a deepening across the world. The federal government is ready to assist Balochistan in efforts to curb the fatal virus.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2020.