China's growth rate is projected to decline as a result of the outbreak of the Coronavirus and if prolonged it would hurt economic activities in Pakistan.
This was the crux of background discussions with senior officials at the Ministry of Planning and Development here on Monday.
"Bilateral trade between China and Pakistan is around US$15 billion and if economic activities in major parts of China come to a standstill for a long period it would affect economic activities and production in Pakistan as well", said officials adding that Pakistan would therefore be vulnerable.
Large parts of China are in a lockdown; besides thousands of Chinese nationals working on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects on leave to celebrate the New Year have been advised to extend their vacations.
Officials said that it is a tricky situation: in the event that the Chinese employed under CPEC return there is a danger that some may be potential carriers of coronavirus and if they do not return soon, progress on CPEC projects will be affected.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar during a media briefing last week said that it was too early to comment on the impact of the virus on the pace of CPEC projects.
The Ministry of National Heath, Services and Regulations officials however confirmed that no one is allowed to leave China without 14 disease-free days, and nobody from Hubei province or the city of Wuhan, has been allowed to travel domestically or internationally.
The coronavirus outbreak which intensified in mid-January has deepened, killing more than 900 people in China; the numbers infected with the virus has risen to 40,550 so far.
The government is monitoring all arrivals through a screening system at airports, the official maintained.
All possible steps are being taken to deal with the coronavirus and the government is ready to tackle any emergency situation, and the ministry has been observing the situation. Separate wards have been set up at hospitals to deal with possible coronavirus patients, he added.
Chinese President Xi Jinping in a state television broadcast said China will strive to meet its economic and social targets for the year, and reiterated that Beijing would win the battle against the outbreak.
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