NEWS COVERAGE PERIOD FROM MARCH 16 TO MARCH 22nd, 2020

PAKISTAN’S PROGRESS LINKED TO CPEC: QURESHI

By RECORDER REPORT on March 18, 2020

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the leadership of Pakistan and China are committed to materialize the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects.

Talking to media in Beijing on Tuesday, he said Pakistan’s development is linked to CPEC, and this mega project will benefit the entire region.

The minister said the two countries have been continuing their cooperation in all fields, including economy, trade, poverty alleviation, infrastructure development, Afghan peace process and regional peace and stability.

He said China’s support to Pakistan’s stance on the situation in occupied Kashmir signify how deep the two countries’ relations are.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan and China have exemplary bilateral relations, and the two countries have to see how they utilize this excellent political relationship for betterment of the region; how Pakistan can enhance per acre yield of its agricultural land; and how Pakistan can promote its industry and infrastructure.

The Foreign Minister said China always stood by Pakistan in all odd times. He said now China has been passing through a difficult time in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak. He said we have arrived in China to express solidarity with China on behalf of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and the people.

He said China has dealt with Coronavirus in the best possible way, and now the country has overcome the challenge. He said today only twenty-one cases have been reported across China, which is a big success.

Copyright News Network International, 2020

https://www.brecorder.com/2020/03/18/581035/pakistans-progress-linked-to-cpec-qureshi/

IMPACT OF COVID-19: CPEC PROJECTS TO BE COMPLETED IN TIME: FO

By ALI HUSSAIN on March 20, 2020

The Foreign Office on Thursday expressed the confidence that Pakistan would be able to complete the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in time, and would counterbalance “short-term” impact by coronavirus outbreak.

Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui, while responding to media queries sent to her via e-mail for the weekly media briefing due to Covid-19 outbreak, said that the CPEC comprises long-term projects whose completion, in many cases, was spread over years.

“We are quite confident that we will be able to complete the CPEC projects in time, and going forward, the short-term impact by the spread of Covid-19 will be counterbalanced by effective and swift mobilisation of resources for timely completion of the CPEC,” she said.

Referring to the situations in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the reported cases of coronavirus from the occupied valley, Farooqui said that Pakistan condemned the inhuman and brutal repression of the people of the IOJK by India security forces.

“We call upon the Indian government to lift the communication blackout, especially in view of the outbreak of Covid-19 and reported cases of affected people in IOJK. Pakistan urges India to lift the blockade in the region in order to obtain full information on affected people and provision of essential items and medical supplies to the affected people,” she said.

To a question whether China offered any help to deal with coronavirus during the recent visit of President Dr Arif Alvi, she said that Pakistan and China have always stood by each other particularly in challenging times. During the recent visit of President Dr Arif Alvi, she said that letters of exchange were signed between the two countries, which aim at building capacity and address the challenges posed by Covid-19 in Pakistan.

To another query, Farooqui said that as of now, visa services had not been suspended by any Pakistani missions abroad. All missions are providing essential consular services to overseas Pakistanis, she said, adding that our community members have been advised to obtain consular services through online mechanisms and to try and avoid all non-essential travel, and visit the embassies/consulates only in emergency situations after obtaining appointment.

In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, she said that the government and all departments at the federal level and in all the provinces are undertaking a series of measures to prevent and contain its spread. It is a rapidly evolving situation, she said, adding that the government and all stakeholders were monitoring, evaluating and coordinating all mechanisms and systems to ensure safety of the citizens.

She said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had also established a Crisis Management Unit for coordination on Covid-19 under the supervision of Special Secretary (Administration) to liaise with the diplomatic corps in Pakistan as well as with Pakistan’s missions abroad and their respective outreach to our diaspora communities worldwide.

Farooqui said that Pakistan embassies and consulates had established 24/7 hotlines and nominated focal persons to facilitate our overseas communities in their respective countries.

All these contacts details are available on our social media platforms and on the website of the ministry, she added. “We advise our diaspora communities to exercise caution and personal responsibility for their personal health as well as of those in their family and communities in line with the advisories of local authorities wherever they may be,” she said.

The spokesperson also advised Pakistani community members abroad to avoid all non- essential travel as well as avoid public places and points of congregation and practice “social distancing” in a responsible manner for their own safety, and the safety of all around.

To another question, she said that Italy was home to about 150,000 Pakistani nationals, concentrated mostly in the north of Italy (Lombardy region with its capital as Milan). Farooqui said that Pakistan embassy in Rome and the consulate general in Milan were in constant contact with the Pakistani community.

“Our embassy and consulate general are also coordinating with educational institutes where Pakistani students (1,500-2,000) are studying. So far, we know about the unfortunate death of one Pakistani origin person who lived near Milan, Mr Imtiaz Ahmed,” she added. Responding to another query, she said that Pakistan had always supported an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.

“We hope after the peace agreement in Doha on 29 February 2020 all sides will move towards intra-Afghan negotiations to establish long-lasting peace in Afghanistan,” she added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020

https://www.brecorder.com/2020/03/20/581770/impact-of-covid-19-cpec-projects-to-be-completed-in-time-fo/

PAKISTAN RULES OUT VIRAL OUTBREAK DELAYING CPEC

By Kamran Yousaf Published: March 20, 2020

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan does not see the novel coronavirus outbreak, which has had a devastating impact on the global economy, delaying the projects under the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“CPEC comprises long-term projects whose completion, in many cases, is spread over years,” Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said at her weekly briefing on Thursday.

“We are quite confident that we will be able to complete the CPEC projects in time and, going forward, the short-term impact by the spread of COVID-19 will be counterbalanced by effective and swift mobilisation of resources,” she added.

CPEC is a flagship project of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that envisages linking the economies of over 65 countries through a network of roads and rail links.

The second phase of CPEC is scheduled to kick off when President Xi will visit Pakistan sometime this year. However, it is not clear if the visit will go ahead as planned because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The number of coronavirus cases around the globe has recorded an exponential growth over the past few days. The cases are also increasing in Pakistan as authorities have started conducting tests of more suspected patients.

The sudden spike in cases in the country has prompted authorities to take a raft of measures to contain the pandemic.

Authorities are urging citizens to limit their movement and avoid social contact.

As part of these measures, the spokesperson held the briefing through a video link and answered questions sent by journalists.

When asked if Pakistan had formally requested China for help in dealing with the coronavirus crisis, Aisha noted that the two countries had always stood by each other, particularly in challenging times.

“During President Dr Arif Alvi’s recent visit [to China], letters of exchange were signed between the two countries aimed at building capacity and addressing the challenges posed by COVID-19 in Pakistan,” she added.

After the coronavirus outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, thousands were infected there within a span of a few weeks. Beijing had to put in place draconian measures such as locking down the entire city for over a month.

The steps helped Chinese authorities in preventing the virus from spreading to other parts of the country. On Thursday, Beijing said that no locally transmitted case was reported from mainland China, raising hopes that the pandemic could be controlled with effective measures.

The spokesperson said in view of the global outbreak, the federal and provincial governments were taking a series of measures to contain the spread of the disease in the country.

“It is a rapidly evolving situation. The government and all stakeholders are monitoring, evaluating and coordinating all mechanisms and systems to ensure safety of the citizens.”

The spokesperson said the foreign affairs ministry had decided to take precautionary measures against any potential public exposure and therefore suspended all walk-in consular services except for the attestation of power of attorney.

“Attestation of documents can be carried out through courier companies during this period. Walk-in consular services would remain suspended from March 18 till April 3 and be reviewed subsequently,” she elaborated.

“The ministry has also established a crisis management unit for coordination on COVID-19 under the supervision of the special secretary (administration) to liaise with the diplomatic corps in Pakistan as well as with our missions abroad and their respective outreach to our diaspora communities worldwide. Hotline numbers of the crisis management unit have been shared on our website.”

The spokesperson further said Pakistani embassies and consulates had set up 24/7 hotlines.

“We have also nominated focal persons to facilitate the Pakistani overseas communities in their respective countries. All these contact details are available on our social media platforms and on the website of the ministry,” she added.

“We advise our diaspora communities to exercise caution and personal responsibility for their personal health as well as of those in their family and communities in line with the advisories of local authorities wherever they may be.”

The spokesperson also advised Pakistani community members abroad to avoid all non-essential travel as well as avoid public places and points of congregation and practice social distancing in a responsible manner for their own safety and the safety of all around.

“The role of the media in building public awareness on safety and precaution during this difficult time is crucial and deeply valued. This challenge can only be tackled through collective action. Thank you for your support.”

To a question, Aisha said Italy was home to about 150,000 Pakistani nationals, concentrated mostly in the North of Italy (Lombardy region with its capital as Milan).

“Our embassy in Rome and consulate general in Milan are in constant contact with the Pakistani community. The embassy as well as the consulate general had set up 24/7 helplines to provide services and information to the community at the start of the outbreak.”

She said the Pakistani embassy in Rome and consulate general in Milan were also coordinating with educational institutions where Pakistani students (around 1,500-2,000) were studying.

“So far we know about the unfortunate death of one Pakistani origin person who lived near Milan, Mr Imtiaz Ahmed,” she added.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2179897/1-pakistan-rules-viral-outbreak-delaying-cpec/