Pakistan bans import of animals, birds amid coronavirus outbreak

• The ban was imposed by the Ministry of Commerce on the recommendation of Ministry of Health.
• Due to the imposition of ban poultry feeds imported from China will not arrive in Pakistan, whereas skimmed and meat products are also banned.

Pakistan has imposed ban on the import of all types animals and birds on immediate basis, as a precautionary measure against the novel coronavirus epidemic.

The ban was imposed by the Ministry of Commerce on the recommendation of Ministry of Health, and has also issued a notification.

As per details, a letter has also been issued to the quarantine department for the prevention of coronavirus. Due to the imposition of ban poultry feeds imported from China will not arrive in Pakistan, whereas skimmed and meat products are also banned.

The endangered pangolin may be the link that facilitated the spread of the novel coronavirus across China, Chinese scientists said Friday. At least 31,000 people have been infected and 630 killed by the novel coronavirus, which has spread to two dozen countries.

Researchers at the South China Agricultural University have identified pangolin as a “potential intermediate host," the university said in a statement, without providing further details.

The new virus, which emerged at a live animal market in central China's Wuhan city late last year, is believed to have originated in bats, but researchers have suggested there could have been an “intermediate host" in the transmission to humans.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office on Thursday informed in a weekly presser that so far only four Pakistani students had been affected by coronavirus in China and their condition was reported to be stable. FO Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui informed that the Chinese government was very active and providing all-out support to foreign nationals in their country.