Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday directed authorities to open the Chaman-Spinbuldak border between Pakistan and Afghanistan and said Islamabad would continue to support Kabul during the global coronavirus pandemic.
“Despite the global pandemic of COVID-19, we remain committed to supporting our Afghan brothers and sisters. I have given instructions to open the Chaman-Spinbuldak border and let trucks crossover into Afghanistan. In this time of crisis, we remain steadfast with Afghanistan,” PM Imran said in a tweet.
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Earlier, ex-Afghanistan CEO Abdullah Abdullah had thanked PM Imran for keeping the Chaman-Buldak border open.
“I thank PM Imran and Pakistan government for accepting our people and traders’ call to keep the Chaman-Buldak border open for the flow of foodstuff and key commodities at this critical time,” Abdullah had tweeted.
Despite global pandemic of COVID 19, we remain committed to supporting our Afghan brothers & sisters. I have given instructions to open the Chaman-Spinboldak border & let trucks crossover into Afghanistan. In time of crisis, we remain steadfast with Afghanistan.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 20, 2020
He had added that Afghanistan highly appreciates this gesture as it further strengthens bilateral ties between the two countries.
The situation of coronavirus in Pakistan
Pakistan has reported 456 confirmed cases of coronavirus and two deaths in the country. Afghanistan, on the other hand, has reported 22 cases of the virus, making it one of the few countries with a relatively low rate of coronavirus spread.
Globally, the virus has infected 176 countries with more than 9,700 people dead and over 234,000 infected by the disease. The epicenter of the outbreak has now shifted to Europe, with Italy surpassing China in the number of deaths on Thursday.
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Previously, the Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Syed Zulfikar Bukhari, PM’s Advisor on Overseas Pakistanis visited the Islamabad International Airport to review the arrangements made by the government to facilitate the pilgrims.
They inspected the measures and talked to health staff placed there for the screening of passengers from international and domestic flights.
Pakistan has tightened the safety and security measures after cases of coronavirus spiked in Pakistan