STAFF REPORTER
ISLAMABAD Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui has said that in the wake of coronavirus outbreak across the globe, India needs to end the communication blackout in occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K). Speaking at the weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Aisha Farooqui expressed deep concerns over the continued communication blackout in the occupied territory. She said this is depriving the people of the region of critical information and supplies of critical medical items needed to effectively contain COVID-19 pandemic. Medical teams and supplies should be allowed to reach the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir, she demanded.She further stated that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi during his interaction with the SAARC counterparts in recent days reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the SAARC process. The FO Spokesperson said that Pakistan has proposed a video conference of SAARC health ministers at an early date to coordinate efforts to stem the coronavirus in the region. It is utmost endeavor of the government and our missions abroad to ensure the safety and early return of our nationals stranded in different parts of the world, she added. Aisha Farooqui said our missions are actively in contact with the local authorities and helping the Pakistani nationals with food, medicines and accommodation. She pointed out that the government in recent days operated special flights to repatriate the stranded Pakistanis from Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Doha.
