The pleas of the Pakistani students stranded in Wuhan, China were heard by Faisal Edhi who has requested the government of Pakistan to allow Abdul Sattar Edhi Foundation to evacuate the students through chartered flights.
Faisal Edhi, son of Abdul Sattar Edhi and managing trustee of the foundation after Edhi’s demise, wrote a letter to Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi requesting to let the foundation arrange a safe passage home for the students stranded in the novel coronavirus hit Wuhan, which seems to be the epicenter of the outbreak.
https://twitter.com/pkhype/status/1226528708636422144
“Most of these students are not infected and we want to evacuate them. Most of the countries including America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Japan, India, Morocco, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka have already evacuated their citizens… Kindly take the matter on priority” Faisal’s letter spoke urgency. “Pakistani students are trapped, hungry, scared and are in contact with us” he added.
To date, 40,614 Coronavirus cases have been reported among which 6,494 are in critical condition. The novel virus has been responsible for 910 deaths and has spread to several countries leaking out of China.
Read more: Coronavirus reaching Pakistan: Can Pakistan fight it like China did?
Faisal Edhi pointed in his letter that coronavirus has been spreading in China and seeping to other countries fast and trapped in the midst of the outbreak epicenter are Pakistani students who not only are scared but faces an acute shortage of food, but even then, most of the Pakistani students are not infected and if Pakistan reacts swiftly, these students can be brought back to Pakistan.
Faisal Edhi also requested the Pakistani government to identify a “quarantine area” where Pakistani students can stay unless they are tested “Negative“. “We can save them” Edhi plead to the government.
Edhi wants to move out students from Wuhan China #coronarvirues#EvacuatePakistaniStudents pic.twitter.com/j9X00JmfDY
— Faiz Baluch (@Baloch__faiz) February 9, 2020
Faisal sought permission from the Pakistani government to contact airlines and make all the necessary arrangements for the safe return of Pakistani students stranded in China.
“EvacuatePakistaniStudents” has been trending on Twitter where people of Pakistan are showing solidarity with the stranded students and are urging the government to bring them back on priority. This has given a chance to Indian trolls to spew propaganda and they are not holding back.
Edhi Foundation now steps in seeking permission to bring home Pakistani students from China. Shame on Government of Pakistan. It says it is assessing the situation. Students could be dying & you are assessing. What are you assessing?#PakistanIsFakeNews https://t.co/ZKmEUwU1v6
— Major Gaurav Arya (Retd) (@majorgauravarya) February 9, 2020
“Pakistan at it again,” one user wrote while another one reminded how Pakistani authorities abandoned its soldiers in 1971 and are habitual of pulling such acts. “Shame on you Imran Khan,” one went on to shame Pakistani Prime Minister for it.
Feel sad for Pakistani students, shame on you Imran Khan #EvacuatePakistaniStudents https://t.co/7u8oB7Bm0E
— ashameeta chopra🇮🇳 (@smiley_meet) February 2, 2020
Return of Pakistani students
Earlier, a group of 145 passengers from China arrived on Monday morning in Islamabad. After halting flight operations to China, Pakistan announced to resume its flights yesterday. The resumption of flights to China came a day after Pakistan presented thousands of coronavirus screening kit.
“We are resuming flight operations with China; a China Southern Airlines flight with 145 passengers on board will land at 9 am at Islamabad International Airport on Monday,” Abdul Sattar Khokhar, the senior joint secretary of aviation, told showing solidarity with China.
Read more: More Cities Turn “Ghost” as Coronavirus Spreads Across China
China is repeatedly expressing gratitude to Pakistan for offering invaluable support at a time when it fears for international isolation and sanctions in the wake of the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus. In its latest statement, China has welcomed the confidence of Pakistan- ‘iron brother’ on them.
But will Pakistan continue to uphold the “Iron-Brothership” at the expanse of its citizens?