150 Pakistani nationals in Saudi Arabia contracted COVID-19, says envoy

The photograph taken on May 7, 2020, shows a general view of Riyadh after the Saudi government eased a curfew, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19. (REUTERS)

• Pakistani foreign minister hold virtual meeting with citizens in the Kingdom, says Pakistan likely to hit COVID-19 peak by May end
• Qureshi thanks Saudi authorities for showing patience with foreign nationals during the pandemic

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Raja Ali Ejaz revealed on Thursday that 150 Pakistani nationals in Saudi Arabia had been infected by coronavirus and 30 of them had lost their lives to the infectious disease.
According to an official handout shared by foreign ministry, he made the statement while briefing Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi who was invited to interact with the Pakistani citizens in the Kingdom through a video link.
The virtual town hall meeting was also attended by members of the country’s diplomatic mission in the Arab state.
The Pakistani envoy informed that Saudi authorities had taken strict lockdown measures to prevent virus spread, adding that they were also offering best medical facilities to those who were suffering from the disease.
The foreign minister shared Pakistan’s national tally in response, pointing out that more than 22,000 people had suffered from the infectious respiratory illness since the beginning of its emergence in the country during the last week of February. However, he said that the country had a low coronavirus mortality rate.
Qureshi maintained that Pakistan was likely to hit the COVID-19 peak toward the end of May and beginning of June, saying it was a major consideration that needed to be taken into account by the government while devising a strategy to deal with the issue.
He noted that it was not possible for a country like Pakistan to remain in lockdown indefinitely since it had limited resources and its economy was dwindling.
The foreign minister said that the government wanted to devise a mechanism through national consensus that not only arrested the virus spread but also allowed the national economy to remain functional.
He said that any extension in the lockdown situation would result in greater unemployment in the country, making the daily wage earners suffer the most.
Discussing the overall economic strategy of the country, Qureshi said the government was striving for debt relief on the instruction of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Qureshi also praised Saudi Arabia for patiently dealing with foreign nationals in the Kingdom and not forcing them out of the country.
He also lauded overseas Pakistanis for always stepping forward to help their country in times of crisis.