ISLAMABAD: Beijing has offered to help treat Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, who tested positive for coronavirus on June 11, the PML-N said in a Twitter post on Saturday.
It follows a phone call between Lijian Zhao, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, and Shehbaz on Saturday, to inquire about his health.
“Sharif thanked the Chinese government, its leadership, and Zhao Lijian for offering treatment for COVID-19. Your concern and offer is a reflection of China’s love for Pakistan and its people,” the tweet read.
Shehbaz is the younger brother of former three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, with both siblings said to share an excellent relationship with the Chinese leadership.
After testing positive for the disease, which has infected nearly 1,40,000 people across the country thus far, Shehbaz had quarantined himself at his home in Lahore.
The infected include several lawmakers from the central and provincial governments, with former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani becoming the latest top politician to contract the virus on Saturday.
As of Sunday, Pakistan’s COVID-19 cases had soared to 139,230 with a record 6,825 new infections reported in a single day, while the number of deaths stood at 2,632, according to the Health Ministry’s COVID-19 portal.
To limit the spread of the outbreak, 29,546 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours, with the government closing down nearly 1,300 hot spots – including several areas in the capital Islamabad – in the past few weeks.
It follows an address by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday, expressing his regret for the indifferent attitude of the masses toward the pandemic.
He reiterated that the government would no longer tolerate laxity in compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“The people should realize the threat seriously, as an indifferent attitude can push the country into a disaster with the health care system crushing under the increasing number of patients,” he said after chairing a meeting in Lahore.
He added that it was now mandatory to wear face masks and warned that the infections could spread further.
