Faisal Edhi responds to critics, says consensus needed to defeat coronavirus

Faisal Edhi, the head of one of Pakistan's largest charity groups Edhi Foundation, refuted criticism surrounding the donation to the Prime Minister's Coronavirus Relief Fund and said the organisation could not "operate without the government's help — be it federal or provincial".

In a video message shared with Independent Urdu on Thursday, he said: "I am glad that we [Edhi foundation] are working with the government."

Faisal had received flak after he donated Rs10 million to the Prime Minister's Coronavirus Relief Fund a day earlier.

"Edhi foundation has been working with governments since day one after the emergence of coronavirus [in the country]" he said, adding: "If all the stakeholders don't work synchronously and maintain gaps, then the public will face problems."

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"I urge all critics, opposition, Centre and other parties to forget their differences, stop criticising each other and come on the same page," said Faisal.

"If we don't form a consensus then it will benefit the coronavirus, not us," he added.

So far, the COVID-19 has killed 128 with over infected 6,800 people in Pakistan. Globally, officials have recorded more than two million cases and as many as 136,000 deaths since the virus emerged in China in December.