After Edhi Foundation, More People From Pakistan Come Forward To Help India Amid COVID Crisis

As India continues to battle the unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases, some help is coming from across the border in Pakistan.

On Friday, Edhi Foundation, Pakistan's largest charity group wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering a fleet of 50 ambulances and services to address the Covid crisis. For providing services, the Karachi-based humanitarian group wants permission to enter the country as well as necessary guidance from local administration and police departments. “We are ready to deploy our team in any critical area of concern at your direction without hesitation,” the letter states.

It is not just the Edhi Foundation, there is a growing call on social media in Pakistan asking the government to help India at the time of crisis.

Hashtags trending on social media

Hashtags like #IndianLivesMatter, IndiaNeedsOxygen and #PakistanstandswithIndia have been trending on Pakistani cyberspace.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday expressed support to the people of India and said the COVID-19 crisis is yet another reminder that humanitarian issues require responses beyond political consideration.

"We express our support to the people of India in the wake of the current wave of #COVID19 infections that has hit our region hard. On behalf of the people of Pakistan, I extend our heartfelt sympathies to the affected families in #India," Qureshi tweeted.

Pakistan continues to work with the SAARC countries to foster cooperation to tackle the pandemic, he said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan also tweeted saying "We must fight this global challenge confronting humanity together."

Pakistan is coming forward to help its neighbour even as the country is also witnessing a spike in new COIVD-19 cases.

Pakistan on Saturday reported its highest COVID-19 death toll in a single day.

Authorities reported 157 deaths, bringing the overall fatalities to 16,999. A total of 5,908 additional cases pushed the toll to 790,016, as authorities complain of routine violations of social distancing and mask-wearing rules.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday announced that military troops will be called to help police enforce the restrictions in public places.