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Pakistan Begins Screening Travelers From China for Coronavirus

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - Pakistan announced Thursday airport authorities have begun
   screening travelers from neighboring China for signs of the
   coronavirus.

   China's recent billions of dollars of investments in infrastructure
   development projects in Pakistan has led to a spike in the number of
   people traveling between the two countries, including thousands of
   Chinese workers.

   Pakistani officials said more than 40 direct or indirect flights from
   China land every week at three main airports, including Karachi, the
   country's largest city, Lahore and the national capital of Islamabad.

   "These points of entry are being closely monitored in line with
   international health regulations," Pakistani State Minister of Health
   Zafar Mirza said in a statement.

   No cases reported yet

   However, he noted, Pakistan has so far not reported any case of the
   coronavirus, which seems to have originated in the Chinese city of
   Wuhan.

   "Major hospitals in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad are also being linked
   with surveillance systems on airports, seaports and ground crossings,"
   Mirza told the state-run broadcaster.

   He said emergency measures are being put in place in coordination with
   the Chinese embassy in Islamabad to make sure that a large number of
   Chinese workers, who recently went to their homeland in connection with
   their New Year's celebrations, are strictly screened when they return
   back.

   WHO has confirmed nearly 500 cases, including nearly 20 deaths, all are
   said to be in or from China.

   The Pakistani government, Mirza said, was in constant touch with
   Chinese counterparts and the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure
   strengthened national surveillance and quarantine systems.

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