Japan to support Pakistan’s war on coronavirus

Japanese envoy offers congratulations on Pakistan Day

 ISLAMABAD  : Japan on Sunday expressed its determination to help Pakistan fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic where at least four people have died while 646 have tested positive thus far.

“Japan is fully determined to support Pakistan in fighting COVID-19,” said Japanese Ambassador Kuninori Matsuda in a statement on Sunday.

He added that Pakistan was the first country to provide Japan with test materials for the virus.

“We are working on supporting the country to ably counter the feared damage in the agricultural sector caused by the desert locusts,” he said.

“As the ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, I am convinced that both countries will be able to overcome the challenges together,” the envoy said.

He also felicitated the country’s leadership and people on the occasion of Pakistan Day, wishing them a prosperous and bright future.

In his message of felicitations, Ambassador Matsuda said that the day holds a great national significance for the people of Pakistan and on this festive occasion I deeply congratulate and wish you all well-being and a prosperous future.

The envoy added that the long-standing friendship between Tokyo and Islamabad is unwavering, even though this difficult time when the entire world is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic.

Japan has recorded 1,055 cases of domestically transmitted cases of coronavirus as of Sunday, up 40 from the previous day, according to public broadcaster NHK. The number passed the 1,000 milestone on Saturday as the nation battles to avoid a health crisis ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

The official national tally does not include the 712 cases of infections from a cruise ship moored near Tokyo last month.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2020.