ISLAMABAD: More than a hundred Chinese engineers and support staff arrived in Islamabad from Urumqi on Friday morning in a special flight after being kept in isolation for 58 days to avoid contracting the dreaded coronavirus which China has largely managed to contain in the last couple of days.
Despite the disease’s outbreak in Pakistan, China’s Gezhouba Group sent 131 professionals to continue working on infrastructure and energy projects under the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the company’s public relation’s officer in Islamabad confirmed to Arab News.
He added that 28 more Chinese workers were expected to arrive in Islamabad Friday evening.
“The CPEC staff arrived at 9 a.m. today carrying the Pakistani and Chinese flags and raising slogans to display their commitment to the project despite the situation they faced back home or the unfolding situation in Pakistan,” Gezhouba’s Mustafa Kamal told Arab News.
“They were thoroughly examined before travel. They were also screened upon arrival by National Institute of Health officials and will be kept at an isolation facility in sector F-6/1 (of Islamabad) between 14 and 20 days. We have medical staff there and best available equipment from China, and the workers will undergo virus tests again before resuming their duties at project sites,” he added.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office and Ministry of Planning offered no comment when reached by Arab News.
According to Kamal, however, his company had apprised the Foreign Office and other relevant government departments of the workers’ arrival.
“The number of Chinese nationals was also reported to the Foreign Office,” he said, adding that all health and safety measures would be applied as the workers perform their duties, and a person with any disease symptoms would be immediately shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.
Chinese CPEC workers arrive in Pakistan despite virus threat
https://arab.news/8r2rn
Chinese CPEC workers arrive in Pakistan despite virus threat
- 131 Chinese reached Islamabad Friday morning to work on the corridor projects, 28 more to join
- Will be kept at an isolation facility in Islamabad for 2-3 weeks, China’s Gezhouba Group official says
India look forward to Pakistan ‘challenge’ at T20 World Cup
- Pakistan government late Monday ended a week-long stand-off by rescinding order for its team to boycott Feb. 15 match
- Pakistan’s decision to go ahead with the match was hailed Tuesday as an outbreak of ‘good sense’ and ‘good for cricket’
NEW DELHI: India said Tuesday it would be “a challenge” to face a “quality” Pakistan team in Colombo after Islamabad U-turned and decided to play the blockbuster T20 World Cup clash.
The Pakistan government late Monday ended a week-long stand-off by rescinding its order for the cricket team to boycott the February 15 match.
“It’s great that the game is back on, we kind of never changed the preparation,” said India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate.
India will face a second Group A match against Namibia on Thursday in New Delhi before flying to Sri Lanka.
It means a quick turnaround for Sunday’s match, the biggest and most lucrative clash in world cricket.
“It’s going to be a challenge going to Colombo where Pakistan have been for the last two weeks,” added Ten Doeschate.
“We are delighted to have another chance to play against a quality side in the first phase of the tournament.
“We are fully focused on just bringing our best game to that fixture.”
Pakistan’s decision to go ahead with the match was hailed Tuesday as an outbreak of “good sense” and “good for cricket.”
A frantic weekend of negotiations saw International Cricket Council (ICC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chiefs fly to Lahore on Sunday for talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The governments of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka both wrote to the Islamabad government on Monday urging it to change its stance and allow the game to go ahead.
After “multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15,” the Islamabad government said on its official X account late Monday night.
The decision had been taken with the aim of “protecting the spirit of cricket,” it added.
’GOOD FOR CRICKET’
Former India cricketer Madan Lal told AFP on Tuesday that it was “good for cricket.”
“We want strong teams to play so that the charm of the World Cup is not lost,” he added.
Sri Lanka, who will host the match which generates multi-millions of dollars in advertising, broadcast rights, sponsorship and tourism, also praised the decision.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in a social media post, thanked Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for “ensuring the game we all love goes on.”
Veteran Indian journalist Pradeep Magazine told AFP “good sense has prevailed on all sides.”
Financial considerations would have been taken into account, he added.
“Everyone realized that losing the revenue from an India-Pakistan match would have been a loss-loss situation for all ICC member nations.”
The 20-team tournament has been overshadowed by an acrimonious political build-up.
Bangladesh, who refused to play in India citing security concerns, were replaced by Scotland.
As a protest, the Pakistan government ordered the team not to face co-hosts India in the Group A fixture.
Pakistan, who edged out Netherlands in the tournament opener on Saturday, would have conceded two points if they had forfeited the match.
Pakistan will play all their T20 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka as part of an International Cricket Council deal that ensures the two nations only meet on neutral territory.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav said on Friday before their opening win against the USA that his team would travel to Colombo for the clash, whether the game was on or not.
“We haven’t said no to playing them,” Suryakumar said. “Our flights are booked and we are going to Colombo.”
