QUETTA: Interior Minister Ejaz Shah has said the federal government will extend all-out help and cooperation to the Balochistan government to deal with the situation created after the return of pilgrims from Iran where coronavirus has left over 100 people dead.

Speaking at a press conference after a day-long visit to the provincial capital on Friday, he said the purpose of his trip was to review the preventive measures taken by the federal and provincial governments and the departments concerned in Balochistan. “The federal government has provided maximum possible assistance to the Balochistan government to tackle the hazard of novel coronavirus and both the governments are jointly working to face this challenge,” Mr Shah said.

He said the federal government had decided to equip Balochistan with all machineries and resources in order to carry out screening of pilgrims returning from Iran, while health facilities would be ensured at Taftan border.

In reply to a question about returning of Pakistani students stranded in virus-hit China, Mr Shah Prime Minister Imran Khan had chaired various meetings regarding safe return of the Pakistani students, while a federal minister was keenly monitoring the situation and periodically informing the premier.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2020