STAFF REPORTER
ISLAMABAD US Charge d’Affaires Paul Jones penned a letter to Pakistan Muslim League-N President Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday to reiterate the US support to Pakistan against the coronavirus. Mr Jones apprised Shahbaz about contributions the country is making to assist Pakistan in fighting the deadly disease. After the United States declared Pakistan as a priority for emergency coronavirus assistance, the Pakistan-US health partnership started to train healthcare providers and procured emergency supplies worth $2 million, the letter maintained. He apprised the PMLN president about the second chapter of the US assistance, worth $8.4 million. He maintained that the US would provide three mobile labs to Pakistan – to test, treat and monitor those living in virus hotspots. In addition, the US will fund high-tech emergency centres in Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Islamabad for disease monitoring and response. “We will expand our partnership in training community healthcare workers to assist people in their homes to lessen the burden on hospitals,” the letter read. The ambassador wrote that the US is a leading supporter of debt relief, which will provide relief to Pakistan, and has also contributed $2.4 million for life-saving activities in Afghan refugee and host communities in Pakistan. “The United States stands with Pakistan against coronavirus. Together w e can stop the spread of the deadly disease to protect our loved ones and regain our prosperity and freedom,” he wrote. Meanw hile, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, replying to the letter from US Ambassador to Islamabad Paul W. Jones, said the pandemic “know s no borders” and has w reaked havoc across the world. He said: “A failure to deal w ith the scourge collectively has consequences. The situation is ripe for the US to take a leadership in the fight against Covid-19.” Shahbaz also thanked the US for their assistance during the pandemic, saying
