By Uzma Zafar
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday said the government was considering to bring back 6,000 stranded Pakistanis per week as compared to the previous 2,000.
The foreign minister in a statement on the current coronavirus situation said the step would be taken in view of opening up of more airports for flight operation and enhancement of testing capacity. Qureshi said the government was cognizant of the problems of stranded Pakistanis, adding that relevant departments including Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Aviation department were making every possible effort in this regard. He said Pakistan was yet to touch the peak of coronavirus cases and feared spike in the end of May and early June. He said the situation required preparedness not only to contain the virus but to minimize the effects of poverty as an aftermath.
He said Pakistan could not afford continuous lockdown due to possible financial crisis and emphasized on a flexible strategy to be implemented as per ground realities. Qureshi said Prime Minister Imran Khan had given a test sample of COVID-19 on Tuesday, the result of which was expected today.
Agencies add: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday said that Pakistan needs to remain vigilant as the country was yet to hit its peak for coronavirus infections, media reported. FM Qureshi said that the the country was slowly and gradually ratcheting up its testing capability for coronavirus so that proper mapping of the virus could be determined which would in-turn help in strategise according to developing trend.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the nation should remain aware and mindful that the cases will infact see a spike but it should not strike fear as putting up a united front against the invisible enemy was incumbent.
The foreign minister said that the country stood on a difficult crossroad where it has to create and intricate balance between stopping the virus from spreading along with caring for its poor who may face life and death circumstances due to lack of economic activity.
FM Qureshi also said that there is no set mechanism as yet that could be seen as a tried and tested way to fight back against the pathogen, he said that Pakistan being a third world country could not prolong or observer a full lockdown due to the economic implications it would incur.
Shifting gears to repatriation of overseas Pakistanis, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that efforts were underway to bring all those willing to fly back to their native land, back to Pakistan.
