Sindh to keep 200,000 N95 masks received from China: Murtaza Wahab

KARACHI: The spokesperson to the Sindh government, Senator Murtaza Wahab, has said that the province will keep 200,000 N95 face masks received from China earlier today and the remaining stock will be distributed among other provinces, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

Senator Murtaza Wahab confirmed in a Twitter message that 500,000 N95 masks were received from China today.

He added that the provincial government has decided to keep 200,000 masks and the remaining masks will be distributed among Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan.

 

CM Sindh has decided that out of the 500,000 KN95 masks received from China earlier today, #Sindh will keep 200,000 masks and the remaining will be distributed amongst Punjab, KP, Baluchistan, AJK & GB Governments. Yes together we can

— SenatorMurtaza Wahab (@murtazawahab1) March 25, 2020

Earlier in the day, a cargo plane bound for Pakistan carrying a big supply of epidemic relief material arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday.

The necessary medical equipment has been sponsored by Chinese businessman Jack Ma’s Foundation and the Alibaba Foundation has taken.

The official Twitter account of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan tweeted out pictures of the consignment and said that China was standing together with Pakistan through thick and thin.

A plane bound for Pakistan carrying N95 and surgical masks sponsored by China’s @JackMa Foundation and the Alibaba Foundation has taken off. China is standing together with Pak through thick and thin！🇨🇳🇵🇰#COVID_19 #ChinaPakSolidarity @ForeignOfficePk @MFA_China pic.twitter.com/N2eIUCM060

— Chinese Emb Pakistan (@CathayPak) March 25, 2020

In another statement to media, Wahab paid tribute to the local administration and medical teams on behalf of the Sindh government.

Read: Lahore tops as Punjab coronavirus tally reaches 312 cases

He said that doctors and paramedical staff members are continuously working after risking their own lives for the medical treatment of coronavirus patients. He also praised services of the law enforcement agencies.

The spokesperson has once again appealed the citizens not to leave their home unnecessarily and cooperate with the personnel of police, Rangers and army during the lockdown. He added that the spread of COVID-19 has visibly reduced due to lockdown and further results will be received after complete social isolation.

Wahab said the Sindh government is standing alongside with its citizens during a difficult time.

Read: Hafeez Shaikh elaborates govt’s economic plan amid COVID-19 crisis

It is pertinent to mention here that the tally of coronavirus cases in Pakistan jumps to 1022 including 413 in Sindh, 310 in Punjab, 117 in Balochistan, 81 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), 80 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 20 in federal capital Islamabad, one in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

Eight patients have lost their lives due to the virus and 50 new cases were reported since Tuesday evening.

The number of COVID-19 cases has risen to 440,359 and 19,753 deaths around the world. As many as 101,232 patients have recovered so far.