Pakistan Ambassador to China, Naghmana Alamgir Hashmi has said that all the projects being completed under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework would meet their deadlines as all the preventives and control measures had been put in place against the spread of COVID-19.
"In consultation with the Chinese Government and companies, we have put in place a double quarantine system for the Chinese workers returning to Pakistan after the New Year's vacations to ensure that other workers will not be infected," she made these remarks while speaking in "World Insight" of China Global Television Network (CGTN). The interview was conducted by one of top and celebrated Chinese anchorperson Tian Wei. She informed that the first phase of CPEC was almost near to completion as 90 percent of projects were already commissioned and the remaining were only months away from the finishing point.
When the novel coronavirus pandemic happened in China, the government of Pakistan didn't stop issuance of visa or impose any restriction on travelling between Pakistan and China to ensure that projects were continued and completed on time. The double quarantine system also worked 100 percent and as a result there was not a single case of coronavirus that went to Pakistan from China and the projects didn't stop.
Terming the CPEC as an extremely important project for Pakistan, she remarked, "If we need to recover from our economies, it is even more important that this cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative and Special Economic and Industrial Zones doesn't stop under any circumstance."
About President Dr. Arif Alvi's recent visit to China during COVID-19 outbreak, she said that Pakistan and China were all weather friends. President Dr. Arif Alvi recently visited China to express solidarity and show the world that both the countries were standing by each others in difficulties and challenges.
"At a time, when there was a lot of politics being played on the new coronavirus and there were very determined efforts by some countries to isolate China, we stood by China." About medical supplies recently airlifted to Pakistan to help combat COVID-19, she said that this was a combination of some crucial equipments procured and purchased by NDMA of Pakistan but overwhelming tonnage of the equipment and supplies consisted of donations made by the Chinese companies and friends.
