Islamabad: After their return from China, President Arif Alvi, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiative Asad Umar and other members of the delegation took the coronavirus test and were found negative.
According to a statement by the Embassy of China in Islamabad, Pakistan’s president and the foreign minister and all 18 members of the delegation underwent the coronavirus test.
The delegation that visited China from March 16 to 17 had received Covid-19 tests in both throat swab and blood test forms in China twice and the results of all the tests of every member are negative, the statement further said.
This was President Alvi’s first visit to China specifically aimed at conveying strong support and solidarity of Pakistan towards the government and the people of China in their battle against Covid-19.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Qureshi had quarantined himself for five days after the trip. In a televised press conference, Qureshi said he was self-quarantining himself on expert advice for the sake of all those around him.
“If I have voluntarily decided to go into self-isolation, it is just to send a message. I’m healthy, I haven’t been affected, but a message has to be given that we need to follow the guidance of the experts. I’m acting responsibly not for myself, but those around me,” he had said.
He had further called for a unified national response to the spread of virus, saying “political considerations would have to be set aside for putting up a unified response.” Criticism, he maintained was easy, but would not achieve anything.
During the visit, President Alvi held separate meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and other Chinese leaders.
The two sides also reviewed pace of various projects, particularly the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the midst of coronavirus global scare and agreed that the project should not suffer any delay due to this. The two countries would also make efforts to eradicate the virus.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Senate Chairman too has asked members of the Senate to donate one-month salary to fight against coronavirus.
In a message he said in order to make the government financially strong to fight against coronavirus and overcome the issue, it is our social and moral obligation to step forward and contribute towards a cause.
