Geo to pay tribute to doctors fighting coronavirus at 6pm today

Geo News, on March 27, will pay tribute to the nation's heroes: the doctors, nurses and paramedics battling the coronavirus epidemic in the country.

Citizens are encouraged to wave white flags on March 27 at 6pm and sing "Humay Tumsay Pyar Hai" (we love you), to pay tribute to doctors, nurses and paramedic staff fighting the epidemic.

Sung by Jawad Ahmed, “Humay Tumsay Pyar Hai" pays tribute to the medical staff.

Doctors and other paramedic staff have been at the forefront of the fight since the virus emerged in a market late last December in China’s Hubei province.

Since then, 200 countries have been affected, more than 21,000 people have died and more than 470,000 infected by the disease as it spreads rapidly to new territories.

The epicentre of the outbreak has now shifted to Europe, especially Italy, which is recording a rapid rise in new cases and deaths every day.

Pakistan has reported more than 1,000 cases with eight deaths in the country.

Read also: US diplomat Alice Wells condoles death of Pakistani doctor

Gilgit Baltistan’s Dr Osama Riaz was the first doctor in the country who lost his life after contracting the virus while screening pilgrims returning from Iran.

According to The News, Dr Riaz was part of a 10-member team of doctors tasked with screening patients returning from Iran via Taftan. The doctor’s colleagues told The News that Dr Riaz had ignored his health and served the patients till late night as the patients had never been provided with any services before.

The information department of the region declared the doctor a martyr and said he will officially be remembered as a national hero.