Boxer Amir Khan offers Islamabad academy for COVID-19 patients

An inside view of boxer Amir Khan's Islamabad academy during 37th National Boxing Championship on Apr 29, 2019. (Photo courtesy: social media)

• Pledges £20,000 to help people affected by lockdown in Pakistan
• Also offers his £8m 4-story building in Bolton to Britain’s National Health Service in fight against coronavirus

ISLAMABAD: Former world light-welterweight champion Amir Khan on Friday offered his boxing academy in Islamabad to the government of Pakistan to be utilized as a makeshift COVID-19 hospital amid virus outbreak.
“I have a big boxing academy in Islamabad sports complex which is at a central location of the city. That is a very large space and can easily be converted into a 1000-bed temporary hospital,” Khan told Arab News in an exclusive interview on the phone from Bolton.
The 33-year-old British-Pakistani sportsman said Pakistan could face a sharp spike in coronavirus cases being a densely populated country, which prompted him to offer his facility for virus patients.
“It would serve as an ideal space due to vast area, infrastructure and accessibility,” Khan said. “It also has furnished offices which can be used for the doctors.”
He also expressed resolve to launch a crowdfunding campaign in the United Kingdom for Prime Minister Imran Khan’s newly announced COVID-19 fund.
“I am also looking to send £20,000 to help poor people affected by lockdown in Pakistan and I will also spread the message in the community here in UK to donate in Prime Minister’s fund for COVID-19,” Khan said.
The Pakistani premier on Friday said his government would set up “Corona Tigers Relief Force” and announce the “Prime Minister’s Corona Fund” next week aiming to provide relief to daily-wage worker and their families.
Amir Khan has also offered his newly built £8m four-story building in Bolton to Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) in fight against coronavirus.
“I have a building of 60,000 square foot in Bolton, a four-story building which is completely ready to be a wedding hall and retail outlet. I had offered this building to the NHS which they can easily convert into a 4000-bed temporary Coronavirus hospital,” he said.
Khan said that fear and panic grew over the amount of beds available to virus patients as the pandemic continues to cause chaos.
“I am aware of how difficult it is for the public to get a hospital bed in this tragic time,” he said.
Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in coronavirus cases since the outbreak gripped the country, with more than 1250 people infected by the respiratory illness by March 27 and nine deaths recorded so far.