Qureshi talks to regional peers to fight virus together
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ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Sunday spoke to his counterparts in three countries of the region, including Iran, over the telephone and discussed the prevailing situation regarding the coronavirus outbreak and avenues to fight the pandemic.
According to separate press releases issued by the Foreign Office, Mr Qureshi talked to Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, Sri Lanka’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Dinesh Gunawardena and Nepal’s Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday through his official Twitter account once again appealed to the US to lift sanctions on Iran on humanitarian grounds.
“I want to appeal to (US) President Trump on humanitarian grounds to lift sanctions against Iran till the Covid-19 pandemic is over. The people of Iran are facing untold sufferings as sanctions are crippling Iran’s efforts to fight Covid-19. Humanity must unite to fight this pandemic,” the prime minister tweeted.
During his telephonic conversation with the Iranian foreign minister, Mr Qureshi conveyed his sorrow over the tragic loss of lives in Iran in the ongoing pandemic. Mr Qureshi commended the government and people of Iran for “valiantly combating the Covid-19 global pandemic”.
He underscored that the pandemic was one of the greatest challenges to confront humanity in a century and successfully overcoming it necessitated both compassion and innovation.
Mr Zarif appreciated Pakistan’s reaffirmation solidarity and call to lift sanctions on Iran.
During his telephonic conversations with his Sri Lankan and Nepalese counterparts, Mr Qureshi reaffirmed the abiding commitment to the Saarc process and reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to host the Saarc health ministers’ conference to enhance cooperation among member countries and development partners in the health sector particularly focusing on Covid-19. He said a video conference could also be organised first in view of the prevailing global health emergency.
Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2020
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Comments (102) Closed
Mar 23, 2020 08:39am
Your house is burning. Put the flames off first.
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Mar 23, 2020 08:45am
The combined total of virus fatalities in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal is still lower than that of Hindustan. Once again, it's the big country in the middle that's failing, while the smaller countries around it make progress.
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Mar 23, 2020 08:45am
Is some one listing to you ? They will listen to Modi not to you ... who absconded from SAARC meeting. They all know how responsible you are.
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Mar 23, 2020 08:45am
You forgot your most important neighbour
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Mar 23, 2020 08:45am
Sir, you did not join the SAARC videocon?.now you are trying to show as if you care! Even in that call u wanted to raise other issues rather than task at hand.
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Mar 23, 2020 08:53am
keep ego aside please start discussion with india. Your issues and situations resembles india.
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Mar 23, 2020 08:56am
Did you call them or did they call you ?
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Mar 23, 2020 08:58am
@Venkat,
Control your hate. It is burning you and your house.
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Mar 23, 2020 08:59am
As a Nepali, I only request that no Pakistani enters my country during this global pandemic. Pakistan has the highest number of Coronavirus cases in South Asia and is more integrated with China,the birth place of Coronavirus.
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Mar 23, 2020 09:01am
Look at the haters burning and rushing to comment. What delight.
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Mar 23, 2020 09:02am
@HashBrown®, do you think the Pakistan government data is correct? Pity you
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Mar 23, 2020 09:04am
@HashBrown®, please don't make jokes in these tough times
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Mar 23, 2020 09:04am
@HashBrown®, hence proved that Pakistan's education system is supremely superior to any other system in the universe.
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Mar 23, 2020 09:04am
@vyshak chenat,
Your importance is that we remain watchful of your mischief. That's all.
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Mar 23, 2020 09:07am
@HashBrown®, Which universe you live in. Visit W. H. O website to open your eyes
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Mar 23, 2020 09:11am
Perhaps forgot to contact Foreign Minister of India?
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Mar 23, 2020 09:11am
@HashBrown®, you can even put total losses to minus
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Mar 23, 2020 09:15am
Useless discussion except Iran. Nepal and Sri Lanka both have few Corona case. There is no frequent traveling from both the countrys. Neither Pakistan nor Nepal and Sri Lanka are in position to help each other.
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Mar 23, 2020 09:25am
@HashBrown®, you are living in a fools paradise.
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Mar 23, 2020 09:26am
This is not the time to fight like in laws. Yeah I felt FM Qureishi should have also reached Indian External Minister Jaishankar to take him on board, now if everybody keep on constructing it’s own mosque on 1.1/2 brick, nothing good can be achieved. Pak India must share labs results and jointly try to find vaccine, or medicines to Coronavirus virus, the Coronavirus has altered geopolitical geostragedic priorities of the whole world. Every nation first priority is how to get rid of Coronavirus, and even after getting out this virus, the economic wounds will take a decade or even more to heal. A new world order may emerge after Coronavirus, but at the moment it’s premature, and unpredictable.
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Mar 23, 2020 09:26am
@Denial open your eyce and look around.
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Mar 23, 2020 09:27am
Don't spread Corona virus. Stay at home if you have no work.
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Mar 23, 2020 09:28am
When there was an important time,you wasted that in doing politics and now running here and there.
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Mar 23, 2020 09:29am
Why is Imran Khan so worried about Iran?
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Mar 23, 2020 09:30am
Pay attention to Pakistan I wish Pakistan could have capable leaders to deal with problems and finding solutions.
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Mar 23, 2020 09:30am
Fighting virus is not time-pass. Help Pakistan first.
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Mar 23, 2020 09:45am
He’s offering aids!
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Mar 23, 2020 09:49am
@HashBrown®, check again and then talk, don't make a mockery of yourself.
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Mar 23, 2020 09:55am
@HashBrown®, failure is synonym with a country whose GDP was $325 billions before Niazi came and now it has gone below $280 billion.
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Mar 23, 2020 09:55am
Instead of wasting telephone calls to foreign counterparts it would be prudent Mr Qureshi talks to his own PM and understand his dilemma on lockdown
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Mar 23, 2020 09:58am
@HashBrown®: what's the population of the total combined countries ? Still trying for brownie points aren't you ? And yeah our cases are still far lesser than yours.
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Mar 23, 2020 10:05am
@HashBrown®, India- 396 Pakistan- 799
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Mar 23, 2020 10:06am
You mind your own business and look after the well being of your citizens, that’s what the whole world is doing. If virus spreads in Pakistan, it will be uncomfortable
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Mar 23, 2020 10:07am
Your health adviser smuggled 20 million masks.
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Mar 23, 2020 10:09am
IK has turned out to be a disappointment in handling the situation. Lockdown is the only solution
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Mar 23, 2020 10:14am
@HashBrown®, pak total 799 cases india 400 cases... don’t compare it’s time for all of us to come together
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Mar 23, 2020 10:19am
Nepal and Sri Lanka don't consider Pakistan as it's neighbour.
It is geographically 1000+ km away with no land border.
Fact is that Pakistan don't have good talking terms with its neighbours.
Pakistan missed the bus when SAARC conference was happening.
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Mar 23, 2020 10:26am
Speaking English with a deliberate accent, wearing western suits and playing to the gallery. Well, virus doesn't care for all these. Pakistan must fight the virus internally first rather than acting as a regional player now. Ask for help surely.
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Mar 23, 2020 10:27am
please stay at home
stay safe.
we will argue after .. good luck
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Mar 23, 2020 10:28am
Pakistan at the moment is like a cat on a hot tin roof.
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Mar 23, 2020 10:40am
Asked for debt write off or not.
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Mar 23, 2020 10:44am
He is dialing the wrong number and talking to wrong people.
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Mar 23, 2020 10:52am
He should talk with India First... He is just wasting his time... India has more ideas & medical advances..
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Mar 23, 2020 10:54am
Clearly Present leadership in Pakistan dont have a clue that what they are facing and what they need to do.
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Mar 23, 2020 10:55am
fix ur own house
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Mar 23, 2020 11:15am
Sri lanka & nepal are thousands of miles away. Futile exercise by a Futile FM.
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Mar 23, 2020 11:21am
@HashBrown®, : Please wait for 1 month you all would be able to see who is failing and who is not failing.
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Mar 23, 2020 11:26am
@HashBrown®, Are you sure the number of cases in
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Mar 23, 2020 11:28am
@HashBrown®, Are you sure the number of cases in Pakistan is less than India?
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Mar 23, 2020 11:35am
Funny how countries like Pakistan think they can help others while they cant even do the bare minimum for themselves.
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Mar 23, 2020 11:43am
I really appreciate the photographer for his contribution for this particular expression.
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Mar 23, 2020 11:55am
@Truthwins, SAARC is a useless platform. It has neither the capacity nor the willingness from memember states to tackle major issues.
And PM Modi video call was lacking seriousness as it was intended for popularity stunt.
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Mar 23, 2020 12:18pm
How Sri Lanka and Nepal will help you or other way round?
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Mar 23, 2020 12:38pm
Looking busy, doing nothing
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Mar 23, 2020 01:29pm
Why can’t pakistan stop interfering in other countries business all the time?
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Mar 23, 2020 01:30pm
The Iran model will work for Pakistan.Nepal and Sri Lanka are too small to help others.
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Mar 23, 2020 01:32pm
@Venkat, Yes.Its fact
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Mar 23, 2020 01:40pm
Please order them what to do.
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Mar 23, 2020 01:44pm
Mr qureshi want to use this time for his political mileage not for the public .
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Mar 23, 2020 01:51pm
the PM and FM are right in their support for Iran on humanitarian grounds and asking the US to lift sanctions to allow Iran to import vital medical supplies.
The most vital nation's in the current climate are Iran and Afghanistan both on religious visits and economic grounds, especially for tens of thousands of Afghans, what I find puzzling is that no voice in India especially in the Indian government is raising the issue of sanctions that are in place with the US, it seems India is only a friend where it can make money, but when a friend is in need India is no where to be seen. Chanakya policy being utilised at it's best
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Mar 23, 2020 02:00pm
Talking to Iran makes sense. What help would it be to talk to Nepal and Sri Lanka...... again a proof that the leadership lacks vision and practicality. If anything, the discussions should be in the order of risk- immediate neighbors with porous borders, incoming flights and expat concentrations like Saudi, UAE etc., and then the controlling nations such as US, UK, Russia, etc.,
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Mar 23, 2020 02:04pm
@Dr. Q, to whom are you advising
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Mar 23, 2020 02:23pm
Charity begins at home Sir ji
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Mar 23, 2020 02:25pm
What did you speak with them? and what was the outcome? Are you going to help those nations or you are seeking help from them?
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Mar 23, 2020 02:31pm
@HashBrown®, take the count after 1 month from now.
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Mar 23, 2020 02:52pm
During SAARC meeting, Mr Qureshi was in China, asking help
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Mar 23, 2020 02:55pm
@HashBrown®, do you understand what you are talking about?
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Mar 23, 2020 03:32pm
@Denial :
Reality bites hard. Learn to Introspect.
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Mar 23, 2020 03:49pm
@Fastrack, Don't watch ! Try to stop citizens dying ?
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Mar 23, 2020 03:50pm
@rahul chaudhary, IK is worried about everyone except Pakistan ?
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Mar 23, 2020 03:52pm
All other countries in SAARC are doing much better than Pakistan. Put your house in order, please!
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Mar 23, 2020 03:56pm
We must think out of the box and must united against Caronavirus
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Mar 23, 2020 04:27pm
No doubt, coming together is the beginning and getting united is the aim and objective to fight the deadly coronavirus because we know very well that united we stand and divided we fall.
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Mar 23, 2020 04:40pm
@HashBrown®, is it some kind of sick race ?
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Mar 23, 2020 04:58pm
Is Nepal,srilanka your neighbuor oh really
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Mar 23, 2020 05:00pm
Very soon he is going to call on India for essential medicine.
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Mar 23, 2020 05:26pm
You forgot to mention Kashmir. That is a miracle.
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Mar 23, 2020 05:28pm
Imran should call Trump to lift sanctions against Iran. Also talk to regional leaders to press upon US.
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Mar 23, 2020 05:43pm
@HashBrown®, be happy
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Mar 23, 2020 05:55pm
@Singh.ra, That was the point of the call.
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Mar 23, 2020 05:58pm
@Sairbeen plus., I agree with you the majority of it, but I can't see them working together on the vaccine.
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Mar 23, 2020 07:24pm
He should go to London and demonstrate on the street to get them to forgive the debt.
Just do not hug anyone .
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Mar 23, 2020 09:39pm
This govts seriousness and ability came to question by their response to SAARC invite. Pakistan was the only country whose head of state could not be bothered to show up, was the only country that did not show basic courtesy to thank the host, the only country, true to its fashion, rudely brought up politics at a regional cooperation health summit! Ended up exposing itself to the world!
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Mar 23, 2020 10:24pm
talk about missing the bus, now wait till they blame india for their own incompetent .
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Mar 24, 2020 03:18am
@Vivek, even if cases are fewer than india look at size of both countries
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Mar 24, 2020 03:23am
@HashBrown®, Pakistan has made progress?
in what?
in having more cases than India - even though Pakistan is way smaller than India
ignorance is bliss
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Mar 24, 2020 03:47am
Trying to be in lime light after Modi showed the leadership?
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Mar 24, 2020 05:19pm
@HashBrown®, check the numbers
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Mar 24, 2020 05:37pm
@M. Siddique, First tell China to write off your debt. If you succeed you can use it to force the US to follow suit
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Mar 24, 2020 05:43pm
Talking only will not serve any purpose, contribute to the SAARC Joint fund.
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Mar 24, 2020 06:09pm
We have an amazing bunch of leaders. When the cases of covid 19 was rising, this gentleman was in self quarantine for no reason. But of course, he had enough time for photo sessions.
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Mar 24, 2020 06:18pm
@Venkat, Friend it is your people who are fleeing the cities in train to the villages in Panic, because Modi government has failed to handle the situation in the big cities. Our cities are calm, I live in the biggest metropolitan Karachi. There is no panic, no rush to stores to buy goods. Absolute calm.
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Mar 24, 2020 06:42pm
Is this guy really serious?
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Mar 24, 2020 07:41pm
@HashBrown®, Well said
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Mar 24, 2020 08:24pm
The spread of this virus is through One Belt One Road (the old silk road). We are suffering because of the CPEC and Iran and Italy are suffering because they are part of OBOR. Scrap the CPEC and let us save ourselves.
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Mar 24, 2020 08:27pm
What good is talking? We can not send any money or help to these countries. So let us save ourselves. Only our ego is big and in every other thing we are bankrupt.
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Mar 24, 2020 08:34pm
The simple truth is none of the countries have the kits to test for the Coronavirus or the equipment to treat people who are infected by it. Only measures which have worked so far have been isolating infected people and quarantine (self or state imposed) to prevent the spread of virus. As South Korea and Taiwan have proved it requires universal testing and quarantine of the infected (symptomatic or asymptomatic ) to control the spread of this virus. The sooner the politicians acknowledge this and work towards controlling the spread of infection the better it is for the country’s population
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Mar 24, 2020 10:22pm
@Tumgan Dulogho,
Also, the only country not to contribute a single Paisa to the SAARC fund to fight Corona Virus.
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Mar 24, 2020 10:51pm
The virus does nor know who is Muslim or Hindu. Put prejudices aside and work together for a change.
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Mar 24, 2020 11:05pm
I caution every Pakistani National that without total lock down, this disease has no other solution or option. Pakistan Govt. is inviting much greater danger not only for Pakistan but even to rest of the world. This is complete suicide. All other Nation's experiment clearly proved again and again that only complete lock down is the solution or be prepared for international isolation and mass graves as very shortly, world will come out from this viral disease by imposing complete lock down.
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Mar 24, 2020 11:15pm
Why is he still using the phone from the last century?
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Mar 24, 2020 11:28pm
What you guys doing to control virus?
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