Pakistani PM inaugurates China-aided isolation hospital for COVID-19 treatment

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has inaugurated the China-aided Isolation Hospital and Infections Treatment Center (IHITC) to enhance the country's capability to fight COVID-19 and ease pressure on hospitals in capital Islamabad.

Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, Information Minister Shibli Faraz, Chairman of CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) Authority Asim Saleem Bajwa, and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing attended the inauguration ceremony.

On the occasion, the Pakistani side thanked China for the firm support to Pakistan in the fight against the pandemic. The Chinese government and the Chinese people have been helping Pakistan prevent and control COVID-19, providing a large amount of medical supplies, sending medical expert teams and aiding Pakistan with the building of the IHITC, the Pakistani side said.

With the support from China, the IHITC was built in a short span of time to treat COVID-19 patients and the medical facility will be used in infections treatment in the post- COVID-19 scenario, said the Pakistani side.

Facts have proved that Pakistan and China have enjoyed a close friendship which is highlighted in the most challenging times, and Pakistan will continue to learn from China's experience in fighting COVID-19 to win the battle as early as possible, the Pakistani side said.

At the inauguration ceremony, Chinese Ambassador Yao said China and Pakistan are good friends and brothers who have always supported each other in difficult times, and the mutual support between the two countries in the fight against the disease embodies the China-Pakistan community of shared future.

Cooperation and solidarity are the most powerful weapons for the international community to win the battle against COVID-19, Yao said, adding that the Chinese government has been attaching great importance to helping the countries hit by the pandemic.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan, the IHITC was built in 40 days with the cooperation from China. The hospital has five different wards and 250 beds with maximum facilities to diagnose and treat the infectious diseases.

According to the data available on the website of the health ministry on Thursday, Pakistan recorded 240,848 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 4,983 deaths and 145,311 recoveries.