US to provide over $8m for combating coronavirus in Pakistan

The United States has announced to provide over eight million dollars to Pakistan in combating the coronavirus pandemic.

In a video message released today (Saturday), US Ambassador to Pakistan Paul Jones said that Washington is a partner with Islamabad to combat coronavirus and announcement of over eight million dollars contributions is a step in this regard. He said his country is collaborating with the Government of Pakistan to help stop the spread of coronavirus nationwide and to care for afflicted people. 

The ambassador further said that all of these contributions are identified as top priority needs by the Pakistani authorities and they are fully paid by the American people. Giving details, he said out of eight million dollars, three million dollars will be utilized in providing three new mobile labs so Pakistanis living in virus hotspots can be tested, treated and monitored to stop the spread.  

One million dollars will be spent for funding high-tech emergency operations centres in Islamabad, Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan while two million dollars is allocated to train community healthcare workers to assist people in their homes to lessen the burden on hospitals. He said 2.4 million dollars will be spent for conducting life-saving activities in Afghan refugee and host communities in Pakistan through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.