Pakistan to export 5 million chloroquine tablets to UK

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Firdous Awan has said the cabinet has approved the export of millions of chloroquine tablets to friendly countries to help them “in their time of need”.

US President Donald Trump has touted chloroquine as a groundbreaking treatment against Covid-19, generating widespread demand

for the drug.

At a post-cabinet press briefing on Tuesday, Awan said Pakistan has around 40 million tablets in stock, more than sufficient for domestic needs, and possesses raw material to make the drug in greater numbers, Radio Pakistan reported.

She said one million chloroquine tablets each will be dispatched to Saudi Arabia and United States, half million each to Turkey and Italy, five million to the United Kingdom, 700,000 to Kazakhstan and 300,000 to Qatar.

This comes as the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Pakistan exceeded 9,500 on Tuesday, with the death toll breaching the grim tally of 200.

Awan added that the leaders of various countries had called the Prime Minister and expressed a desire to import chloroquine tablets from Pakistan following some encouraging results in treating the coronavirus. She said Pakistan has always been asking these countries for something or the other and for the sake of humanity and to improve Pakistan’s credibility and face value, this is a good chance to help them in this time of need.

Later, at his Covid-19 media briefing on Tuesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said the government would be left with no choice but to act if the 20-point agreement with ulema about safety precautions at mosques were not followed by people in Ramadan.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan is a “free nation”, so it cannot force worshippers to stay away from mosques. “First of all, we are a free nation. I deplored that the police were striking people flouting the lockdown,” the Prime Minister added.

“Ramadan is a time of worship. People want to pray. Do we force them to stay away from mosques? Will the police arrest them? We are a free nation. Everyone must freely decide to fight with coronavirus,” he stressed.

Khan said while mosques will be allowed to remain open in Ramadan, he urged people to pray at home. “I would urge my Pakistanis to stay at home and pray,” he said. “Other Muslim countries have urged their citizens to do the same. But if you have to go to mosques, keep this in mind. You will have to obey these conditions,” he added.

The Prime Minister warned if people did not follow the safety precautions and coronavirus cases surged among people who pray in mosques during Ramadan, the government would have no choice but to “take back its decision”. “No one wants to see mosques empty,” he added.

Special Assistant on National Security Moeed Yusuf said Torkham and Chaman crossings had been opened and a specified number of Pakistanis had started returning from Afghanistan. He said the border with India was closed and some Pakistanis had returned. He said as soon as the border with India opens, more Pakistanis will be able to return.