"I haven't seen Wuhan dead like this," says Sohaib Manzoor, a Pakistani student who is currently studying at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan city of Hubei province in China.
"The streets are empty, there is literally no one on the roads. It is not the same Wuhan where I came in 2017. It looks like a haunted town." Sohaib tells SBS Urdu.
Sohaib Manzoor is a PhD student and president of the Pakistani community in Wuhan, the epicentre of the viral outbreak of coronavirus.
The government of China has locked down the city and shut down all the transportation connecting it to other cities. The decision was taken to control the outbreak of the virus to other cities.
A new hospital to tackle the pandemic attack is built in Wuhan. While talking about the help from the Chinese officials Sohaib was of the opinion that the Chinese government is doing whatever they can to stop the spread of the virus.
Source: SBS
The hospitals are taking care of the patients. "One of a very good friend of mine has got this virus and we are praying for his speedy recovery, but the government is also helping us out and they are in continuous contact with us," Sohaib explains the situation.
The Chinese embassy in Islamabad has assured the safety of Pakistani students.
“There is close coordination between Pakistan’s Embassy in Beijing and the Chinese government to facilitate the citizens in any way possible amid the viral outbreak,” Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Mr Yao said.
The foreign minister of Pakistan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi says that a total of 500 registered Pakistani students are in Wuhan and the number soars to 800 including unregistered students.
Earlier, a video on social media became viral of a group of Pakistani students appealing the government of Pakistan to evacuate them from China.
Sohaib says he checked about the evacuation from the Pakistani embassy but was told that currently, it was not possible.
"They were of the opinion that it will create panic and there are not that much sufficient health facilities in Pakistan where they can be evacuated until unless there is some isolation facility is present where they will be quarantined for a couple of weeks before going to their respective homes as otherwise, it will help to spread the virus.
"Some are a student from bachelors and are new to china they are feeling homesick. I will request them to please cooperate with Chinese officials. They are doing for our betterment." he added.
Special assistant to the premier of Pakistan on health, Zafar Mirza told the press that he has met Chinese ambassador in Islamabad and agreed to not allow any Chinese to leave Pakistan and vice versa. The civil aviation authority of Pakistan has also suspended its flights from China.
