ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday lamented the death of overseas Pakistanis who had lost their lives to the coronavirus pandemic, saying that the nation had not forgotten them during the ongoing crisis and was praying for the health and safety of those who were infected by the virus.

Describing them as “Pakistan’s source of strength,” Khan said he was “saddened by the news of the death of countless Pakistanis living & working abroad who have fallen victim to the COVID19.”

“Many [of them] died while serving in the frontline of the global war against COVID19,” he wrote in a Twitter post. “My condolences & prayers go their families.”

The prime minister also prayed for an “early recovery of those still battling” the virus.

“You are all in our prayers,” he said. “We can never forget all of you far away from Pak who continue to do us proud & are our greatest asset, playing a critical role in Pak’s development through remittances & charity work.”

Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party enjoys significant support among Pakistani nationals living abroad. The prime minister has always emphasized the need to recognize their services for the country as well, and his administration has taken various measures to address their concerns at home and abroad.

While media reports suggested recently, however, that a significant number of overseas Pakistanis had contracted the viral disease and many of them had also lost their lives to it, the relevant authorities in the country did not reveal their number.

Last month, the foreign office named a Pakistan national who resided in Italy and died after contracting the COVID-19 infection. Yet, it did not share details of how many overseas Pakistanis were suffering from the illness or had lost their lives to it. The prime minister on Friday also expressed grief over the demise of “countless” Pakistanis living and working abroad without giving out statistics.

The premier further requested the expat community “to once again help Pak during this critical time of COVID19 pandemic by donating generously to PM’s Covid Relief Fund.”