Pakistan extends help to coronavirus-hit Italy

Pakistan has announced donating 500,000 tablets of Chloroquine to Italy.

The medicine was made available by the armed forces. The decision was formalised after Minister of Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi visited Italy Embassy in Islamabad to express friendship and solidarity with Italy and support for the commitment made by the government in these difficult circumstances, stressing that it will "inspire its action" in the light of the growing spread of the epidemic also in Pakistan.

"Italy, even more, appreciates the Pakistani contribution of medicines used for the treatment of COVID-19," stressed Minister Di Maio, "at a time when Pakistan is also gradually experiencing a severe increase in the number of infections (up to about 900 in a few days, with 6 deaths so far). The surge in contagion has led to the closure of large areas of the national territory in the last few hours and the precautionary closure of many activities".