Chinese envoy says 500 Pakistani students, citizens in Wuhan 'safe and sound'

The Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, Lijian Zhao, on Monday issued a public statement assuring the safety and health of Pakistani citizens in the neighbouring country after the recent deadly coronavirus outbreak.

The mystery virus, which is said to be linked to Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), has so far taken 81 lives, with hundreds of new infections reported. China has confirmed a total of 2,744 coronavirus cases as of yet.

"Since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China, the Chinese government and Pakistani government are working closely to manage the situation," China's ambassador to Pakistan, Lijian Zhao, said.

Read more: China coronavirus death toll reaches 81

"So far, more than 500 students and citizens of Pakistan in Wuhan are safe and sound. They are well attended and looked after by the local government of the province as well as the central government," assured the ambassador.

The ambassador also added that the two countries are working together to cater to Pakistanis currently in the city of Wuhan, where the virus is suspected to have emerged from.

Also read: China to build hospital within 10 days to treat coronavirus patients

"The Chinese Government and the Pakistani government are in close coordination to extend all the due and necessary assistance for their life, study and stay in China.

"We are also following the Chinese community in Pakistan. We have found three suspicious cases but there is no confirmed case of this virus in Pakistan," Zhao added.

A day earlier, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health, Dr Zafar Mirza, also confirmed that no case of Coronavirus had been detected so far among the 500-plus Pakistani students in Wuhan, which has been quarantined following an outbreak of the deadly virus.