Special Chinese plane carrying medical equipment, doctors reaches Islamabad

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – A special Chinese plane carrying medical equipment and eight doctors landed at Islamabad airport on Saturday. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi received the relief goods. The eight-member doctors team will remain in Pakistan for two weeks and advise health care specialists of Pakistan in the light of their experience and success in battling Covid-19. China's assistance to Pakistan so far includes 12,000 test kits, three million masks, 10,000 protective suits and US$4 million to construct an isolation hospital. In addition, China has also provided 50,000 masks each to Islamabad and Sindh. Speaking on the occasion, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi thanked the Chinese government for supporting Pakistan on time. “China is fully assisting Pakistan in the fight against COVID-19. Pakistan and China will continue cooperation to deal with the coronavirus epidemic,” he added. The minister said that it is top priority of the government to protect health workers putting their lives at risk while taking care of coronavirus patients. “As a result of the Chinese assistance, the number of ventilators and testing capacity will be doubled.” He said a walkthrough scanner would also arrive in Pakistan, which would enhance testing capacity considerably. Shah Mahmood Qureshi hoped that Pakistani medical staff would benefit from experience of Chinese doctors to treat the coronavirus patients. NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood, and Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing were also present.