Pak opens borders with China to receive medical equipment as virus cases cross 1,200

Pakistan on Friday opened its borders with its all-wear ally China for a day to accept Chinese medical supplies to fight growing coronavirus outbreak in country which has infected 1,235 people and claimed nine lives, officials said.

China on Thursday asked Pakistan to open border between two countries for one day on Friday so that medical supplies to fight coronavirus pandemic could be transported into country.

According to Pakistan's health ministry, number of confirmed cases are nearly 1,235 with Sindh province on top with 429 patients.

largest province of Punjab followed with 408, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with 147, Balochistan 131, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) 91, Islamab 27 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) with 2 patients.

According to government data, 9 patients have died, 23 have recovered and 7 are in critical condition.

One new case was reported in PoK, taking tally to 2. Complete lockdown has been imposed by regional government and strict measures were taken to prevent furr spre.

China was providing critical medical supplies to Pakistan and Khunjerab pass between two countries was opened on Friday to let goods enter Pakistan, according to Chinese embassy in Islamab.

"Medical supplies from Xinjiang, China to Pakistan is delivered through Khunjerab (5,000m) port today, highest land port on Earth. Both sides from China and Pakistan braved cold, cleared ros, me good preparations for delivery of medical supplies at Khunjerab Pass,” Chinese embassy in Pakistan tweeted on Friday.

Meanwhile, several cases of extreme negligence were also being reported from different areas.

A person with suspected coronavirus infection in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was allowed to go home after giving samples on March 24, Geo News reported.

Later, he was tested positive and authorities took him to a hospital and put entire vill in quarantine.

On Wednesday, Bhara Khahu town in Islamab was sealed after several cases emerged in locality. Earlier, a vill of Mardan area was sealed after spike in cases.

Pakistan and China describe ir relations as all-wear strategic cooperative partnership and have firmly supported each or on issues concerning each or’s core interests. PTI SH AMS AKJ AMS