ISLAMABAD: Pakistani information minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said on Wednesday the government had imposed a complete ban on imports from India over its “deteriorating” coronavirus situation.
India’s COVID-19 death toll surged past 200,000 on Wednesday as shortages of oxygen, medical supplies and hospital staff compounded a record number of new cases of the virus.
India’s second wave of COVID-19 infections has seen at least 300,000 people a day test positive for the past week, overwhelming health care facilities and crematoriums and driving an increasingly urgent international response.
In the past 24 hours, 360,960 new cases were recorded, the largest single-day total in the world, taking India’s total to nearly 18 million. A further 3,293 deaths, the deadliest day so far, took the death toll to 201,187.
“In view of the deteriorating situation of coronavirus in India, there is a complete ban on imports from India,” Hussain said in a tweet. “This ban has been in force since the third week of April and it is being fully implemented.”
The minister added: “If the coronavirus situation does not improve, more drastic measures will have to be taken inside Pakistan. Preparations are underway for this.”
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 28, 2021
Last week, Pakistan offered “relief support” to India as hospitals in the neighboring nation begged for oxygen supplies and coronavirus infections soared.
“As a gesture of solidarity with the people of India in the wake of the current wave of COVID-19, Pakistan has offered to provide relief support to India,” the Pakistani foreign office said, including ventilators, BiPap machines that can help push air into the lungs, digital X ray machines, personal protective equipment and related items.
“Concerned authorities of Pakistan and India can work out modalities for quick delivery of the relief items,” the statement said. “They can also explore possible ways of further cooperation to mitigate the challenges posed by the pandemic.”
Earlier on Saturday, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted in solidarity with the people of India:
I want to express our solidarity with the people of India as they battle a dangerous wave of COVID-19. Our prayers for a speedy recovery go to all those suffering from the pandemic in our neighbourhood & the world. We must fight this global challenge confronting humanity together
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 24, 2021
