Pakistan Ignores Criticism Over Not Evacuating Students in China

(Bloomberg) -- Pakistan’s government ignored criticism over the delay in evacuating its students from China and its lawmakers found unanimity in an otherwise divided parliament to praise its key economic partner and ally Beijing’s response to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The nation’s Parliament on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution appreciating “the leadership of President Xi Jinping, who is a great friend of Pakistan, in strongly leading what will be a very successful operation to combat, contain and finally eliminate the coronavirus.” The move comes a week after Zafar Mirza, a special assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan on health, said that Pakistani students in China won’t be evacuated in the “best interest of the region.”

While Pakistan’s conciliatory attitude is driven by Islamabad’s increased economic dependence on Beijing, which was the country’s biggest source of foreign loans and investment last year, the stranded students and their relatives have been increasingly vocal in their criticism of the government’s delaying evacuation.

The government says at least five Pakistani students, out of hundreds studying in the Hubei province, are infected with the virus.

”Our foolish government is showing solidarity with China by sacrificing sons/daughters of others,” said one reply on health official Mirza’s Twitter handle. “Are you waiting for the infection to the healthy students. All healthy students will be infected due to your delaying tactics,” said another reply.

Pakistan secured 45%, or $4.7 billion, of its loans up to June last year from China, according to official data. Islamabad has been one of the largest beneficiaries of China’s Belt & Road Initiative with about $60 billion of projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

--With assistance from Faseeh Mangi.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ismail Dilawar in Karachi at mdilawar@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Ruth Pollard at rpollard2@bloomberg.net, Khalid Qayum, Muneeza Naqvi

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