Foreign diplomats briefed on Pakistan’s strategy to cope with Covid-19 crisis

A delegation of 19 countries visits National Command and Operation Centre in Islamabad

A delegation of foreign diplomats and defence attaches visited the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) in Islamabad, where they were apprised on measures being taken to cope with the coronavirus crisis.

"On arrival, at the NCOC the delegation was received by Lieutenant General Hamooduz Zaman Khan, the NCOC national coordinator," an official statement said on Monday.

The diplomatic visitors were given detailed briefing on the scale, scope of the NCOC, national Covid-19 response architecture, national Covid overview and Pakistan’s response paradigm, the communique added.

Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar apprised the foreign dignitaries on the situation arising out of coronavirus pandemic and the containment efforts made so far "to mitigate the challenges and provision of best possible services to common people".



State Health Minister Dr Zafar Mirza also gave health overview and Pakistan’s Covid-19 response, the statement said. "The delegation was apprised in detail on epidemiological aspects of Covid-19 and efforts at all levels."

Khusro Bakhtiar, minister for economic affairs, shared information about financial assistance extended by international financial institutions to Pakistan and thanked the G20 member countries for granting the grace period for repayment of loans.

"The delegation included Dean of Diplomatic Corps, Diplomats and Defence Attaches of Australia, Canada, China, Cuba, Egypt, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan Korea, Malaysia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and United Kingdom," it added..