In a rather embarrassing development for the government, the Information Ministry has shared fake claims regarding Chinese help for Pakistan amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus — COVID-19 — and later deleted its tweet.
As per the details, the Information Ministry, which is responsible to release government information to the public and international communities, on Sunday in a now-deleted tweet claimed that 200 Chinese doctors had reached Islamabad to help the country fight the coronavirus pandemic.
It also said that China was providing Pakistan with $34 million for treatment of the infected.
The same was tweeted by Radio Pakistan as well.
Since the the national public broadcaster for radio also deleted its tweet, an archived version of it can be viewed here.
Speaking to The Current, an official, on the condition of anonymity, confirmed not only that the two claims were fake, but also that the tweets had been deleted after it was pointed out.
They, however, said that China had given Pakistan $4 million in aid and the claim pertaining to the provision of 300,000 medical face masks besides 10 ventilators was also true.
This was confirmed by Economic Affairs Minister Hammad Azhar as well.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote:
“They have also undertaken to arrange for much greater number of ventilators,” the minister added.
