As the deadly Coronavirus continues to claim hundreds of lives in China's Wuhan and rings emergency alarm across the globe. Pakistan has decided not to evacuate its nationals living in Wuhan despite several countries making urgent efforts to bring their citizens living in Wuhan back to their respective homes.



Approximately 500 Pakistani citizens, mostly students have been stuck in Wuhan, China, a city quarantined after the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus.



"We believe it is in the interest of our loved ones in China to stay there. Its in the larger interest of the region, the world, and the country that we don't evacuate them now", said Dr. Zafar Mirza, special assistant to the prime minister on National Health Services.



"This is what the World Health Organization (WHO) is saying, this is China's policy, and this is our policy as well. We stand by China in full solidarity. Right now the Chinese government has contained this epidemic in Wuhan city. If we act irresponsibly and start evacuating people from there, this epidemic will spread all over the world like wildfire", he added.



Dr. Mirza reminded that China has not allowed foreigners to travel out of China because of the same reason.



"That is the reason China has not allowed any foreigner to travel out. Only US diplomats have been allowed to fly out of China under the Vienna Conventions".



Pakistan's decision to not evacuate its citizens from Wuhan, came after repeated requests made by stranded Pakistani students demanding their immediate return went viral on social and electronic media.



So far at least five of the Pakistani students in China have been tested positive of the mysterious pathogen.



Around 30,000 Pakistani nationals are present in different cities across China, most of them are students.



Meanwhile China has been Wuhan city on a virtual lockdown and isolation from rest of the country and world since the outbreak of deadly virus .



Pakistan also maintains that China is the first country which has the necessary technology to diagnose Coronavirus and is best suited for treatment for anyone affected by it.

"Government cares about its citizens just as much as their own families. But we don't want to take an emotional decision and become a reason for spread of this disease. Our responsibilities include ensuring that our citizens, especially those in Wuhan, are being looked after properly", said Dr. MIrza.



Dr. Aisha Farooqui, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said that a high-level technical team committee has been formed to monitor and review the condition of students stranded in China.



"The Embassy and our Consulates have reached out extensively to all students, who are in the Embassy database, and have been in touch with Chinese officials. We have also appealed to all those Pakistani nationals and students who are not registered with the Embassy to contact the Embassy on hotline so that their concerns are addressed and they are properly looked after ", she said.



"Pakistan government is making an all-out effort for its citizens stranded in China and was doing everything to assist them", she added.



Pakistan has also suspended all flight operations to and from China in wake of the Coronavirus outbreak.



Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has directed all flight operations between Pakistan and China to be halted till February 2, 2020.



Special medical counters have already been set up at major airports where passengers are being checked for the virus.