(MENAFN - Gulf Times) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan yesterday appealed to Pakistanis working abroad for financial donations to help the government mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

He asked for donations 'so that we can cope with the fallout of coronavirus lockdown, PM said in a video message.

He said that poverty was on the rise due to the closure of businesses, with hundreds of thousands of workers on daily wages being put out of a job.

More than 18mn jobs in Pakistan have been estimated to be at risk from the current anti-coronavirus restrictions, which include a curfew enforced by the military in some areas.

A decision on loosening or extending the restrictions is expected after an assessment by the civil and military leaders today.

Pakistan has so far recorded 5,374 cases of the virus, with 93 deaths.

Khan had already appealed to world leaders to launch an initiative that will give debt relief to developing countries to combat the coronavirus.

Pakistan has announced a $7.1bn rescue plan and was hoping for up to $3bn from donors in aid and new loans.

On Thursday, the government launched its largest social protection initiative ever to pay around $1bn to the country's poor.

The PM also expressed the confidence that with the help and co-operation of Pakistani youth, Corona Tiger Force, and overseas Pakistanis we will succeed in the fight against coronavirus.

Repatriating of overseas Pakistanis from today: Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said yesterday that next phase of repatriating overseas Pakistanis from abroad will begin on Tuesday.

Speaking at the meeting of the Special Committee of the Parliament on coronavirus in Islamabad, he said these stranded Pakistanis will be brought back through nine special flights.

He said so for 39,7478 Pakistanis are waiting for their repatriation to their homeland, adding that a number of Pakistanis have become jobless in the UAE due to coronavirus outbreak and they too want to come back.

He said 2,248 Pakistanis relating to Tablighi Jamaat are wishing their repatriation from Indonesia, Kenya, Uganda and Sudan.

He said Pakistani citizens, including students, living in the United States and Canada, are also desirous of coming back to Pakistan which can take the tally to 40,000 people, wishing their repatriation.

The foreign minister informed the committee that 14 Pakistanis are in Nepal, while four are in Maldives who will be moved to a common station from where they will be brought back.

Qureshi said so for 1,640 Pakistanis have been repatriated through 12 special flights and now efforts will be made to bring back more Pakistanis in the next flight operation starting from tomorrow.

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