CPEC-related shipments not affected: Chinese workforce faces reasonable movement curb

Chinese engineers and labour working on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects have been advised to extend their vacations till precautionary measures to limit the spread of coronavirus are in place.

This was revealed by senior officials of Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives while talking to Business Recorder here on Thursday. They said the matter was raised at a diplomatic level and in response the Chinese government has provided medical kits to help forestall the spread of this deadly virus.

China has been screening passengers to limit the spread of the coronavirus, however, the government of Pakistan has also developed standard operating procedures (SOPs). Thermo scanners have been provided to health staff at airports in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad to screen all passengers. Sources said that after the outbreak of the coronavirus in China, Pakistan has initiated screening at 19 entry points of those coming from China.

To a question, Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Siddiqui, said the movement of Chinese officials working on the CPEC projects is temporarily suspended as many of them were already on holidays due to Chinese New Year celebrations, adding that the Chinese authorities are taking precautionary measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus. "The suspension is temporary and it is not affecting CPEC-related shipments," she added.

Sources revealed that most of the engineers as well as labourers deployed at CPEC projects are Chinese. The movement of all those engineers and labourers who recently returned from China has been restricted as all are required to be screened till the situation improves.

Another official of the Ministry of Health said that they have advised the Chinese engineers and labourers currently in China to prolong their stay in their country.

Senior Customs officials told Business Recorder that the coronavirus spreads through human contact and not through shipment of goods, plant machineries and equipment. Therefore it is not necessary to do additional scanning of goods and machinery coming from China. Sources further said that the Khunjrab Pass (Pak-China) is already closed due to heavy snowfall and is expected to reopen by April.

Sajid Shah, the spokesperson for National Health, Regulation and Services Ministry, said that Pakistan has issued SOPs to manage the inflows of international passengers and started isolating those suspected of having contracted the disease and placing them in designated healthcare facilities.

"In view of the rapid spread of the coronavirus, human-to-human transmission and considering that Pakistan is China's neighbour with potential risk of cross-border transmission of the coronavirus, the government of Pakistan is taking necessary measures in compliance with the International Health Regulations (IHR-2005) for prevention and preparedness for this public health event at points of entry. In this regard, advisories, guidelines, standard protocols were issued by the Ministry of Health," he added.

The government has reinforced its facilities for screening at the ports of entry. "We are on high alert and have taken measures we needed to have taken as a responsible government as there are clear instructions from the prime minister in this regard," he said, adding that an emergency operation cell at the federal health ministry is monitoring the situation round-the-clock.

Replying to a question, he did not rule out the delay in passengers' arrival while saying screening is mandatory to avoid any outbreak of this virus in Pakistan.