Pakistani diaspora urged to 'exercise caution', avoid non-essential travel: FO

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani diaspora was urged to "exercise caution and personal responsibility" and avoid non-essential travel amid the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic, Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said Thursday during the weekly media briefing.

The Pakistani community abroad was further told to stay clear from points of congregation, Farooqui added, and practice social-distancing in a responsible manner for the safety of their own and of all around.

"We advise our diaspora to exercise caution and personal responsibility for their personal health as well as of those in their family and communities in line with the advisories of local authorities wherever they may be," she added.

In an update on Twitter, the FO spokesperson explained that the Pakistani missions abroad have established 24/7 hotlines to assist "diaspora communities & also designated focal persons in each Mission".

"Details of hotline numbers and focal persons," she added, sharing a link to the Foreign Ministry's website.

Interestingly, the briefing in Islamabad was held without reporters as part of the social-distancing campaign to contain the spread of COVID-19. Farooqui's statement, in line with the new practice, was shown live through the official television channel, with responses to reporters' emailed questions to be updated on the FO website later.

Crisis Management Unit established

Farooqui added that the media's role in building public awareness on safety and precaution in these challenging time was crucial and deeply valued. This challenge could only be tackled through collective action, she added.

The spokesperson said coronavirus was a rapidly-evolving situation and that the government and stakeholders were monitoring, evaluating, and coordinating all mechanisms and systems to ensure citizens' safety. The foreign ministry had also decided to take precautionary measures against any potential public exposure and had, therefore, suspended all walk-in consular services except the attestation of power of attorney.

The attestation of documents could be carried out via courier companies during this period, while walk-in consular services were to remain suspended from March 18 till April 3 and would be reviewed subsequently, she said.

She mentioned that the ministry had also established a Crisis Management Unit (CMU) to coordinate on coronavirus under the supervision of Special Secretary Administration to liaise with the diplomatic corps in Pakistan as well as with the missions abroad.

"As a focal point for all coordination with Diplomatic Corp in Pakistan and with all our Missions abroad in the wake of the rising threat #COVID19, @ForeignOfficePk has established Crisis Management Unit (CMU)," she wrote on Twitter.

Pakistan urges India to lift blockade in Kashmir

With respect to occupied Kashmir, which has entered its 228th day of the lock-down, Farooqui said Pakistan condemned the inhuman and brutal repression of the Kashmiri people by Indian security forces.

"In view of the outbreak of COVID-19 and reported cases of affected people in IOJK, Pakistan urges India to lift the blockade in the region in order to obtain full information on affected people and provision of essential items and medical supplies to the affected people," she said.

She added that given the depth and breadth of Pakistan-China ties and the finest traditions of both countries to always stand by each other, particularly in such challenging times, President Dr Arif Alvi’s first visit to Beijing was a singular expression of Pakistan’s solidarity with its "iron brother".

The spokesperson mentioned that the two sides reaffirmed their resolve to further strengthen the China-Pakistan All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership aimed at building a community of shared future in the new era.

Diaspora unhappy with new conditions

The Pakistani diaspora in the UK, however, objected to the new restrictions placed on passengers travelling to any airport in Pakistan after a notification from the national carrier — widely shared on social media earlier this week — attracted criticism.

The notification had indicated that entry within Pakistan’s territorial limits would not be allowed without an authentic COVID-19 negative test result. It meant that all passengers — including Pakistani expatriates — would have to get a COVID-19 test result certificate before they travel to Pakistan.

With Easter fast approaching and people having booked their tickets for Pakistan in some cases more than six months ago, it seemed to be a difficult task to cope with new restrictions.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has published travel advice information in light of the spread of the novel coronavirus. The UK's National Health Service (NHS), however, was only testing patients showing symptoms.

Private patients, on the other hand, could be tested and given a certificate with their passport details at a cost of £375 but arranging all of this within 24 hour was very difficult.

Passengers arriving in Pakistan without the COVID-19 test certificate would be deported at the expense of the airline they travelled on. The test result must include the name and passport number of the passenger.

—Additional input from APP