BEIJING Apr. 2 (INP): Pakistani students stayed in China, many of them even worked as volunteers when the country was stricken by COVID-19 and this was highly valued and appreciated by the Chinese at the grass-root level, says a report published by the Gwadar Pro App.

It is high time that we lend a hand to our iron-clad friends since they’re in trouble now,” the report said quoting Zhu Min, a Chinese volunteer who offered to collect Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Pakistanis.

Virus does not care borders. As Pakistan and more countries have come together to fight the COVID-19 outbreak, a common enemy of mankind, Chinese at grass roots wished to support their Pakistani friends at this difficult time.

Ali Qadir, a Pakistani student studying in south China’s Nanjing City, recently posted a WeChat Moment for help, saying that he wants to collect epidemic prevention supplies for his fellow countrymen in Quetta.

“My elder sister phoned me that my uncle was infected by the coronavirus,” mentioned Ali, adding that many of his fellow countrymen have returned from Iran since March 5, and PPE is far from enough. “Nanjing is my second home. I hope people can help us purchase some PPE,” he said.

Noticing Ali's appeal, Chinese volunteer Zhu Min lent a hand to collect epidemic prevention materials for him the moment she knew it. Goggles, gloves, surgical masks, protective clothing… “We are aware that Quetta reports many COVID-19 cases, so we reposted Ali’s Moment and collected some PPE for our Pakistani friends,” Zhu noted.

"Hello, friends in Pakistan! Thank you for donating masks to us before, now it’s time to help you back. Welcome to Xiamen when you have time off!” Yao Yang, an 8-year-old girl from southeast China’s Xiamen City, recently spent her pocket money to buy 80 masks for children in Pakistan and wrote a thank-you note to them.

Yao Yang was told by her parents that Pakistan donated all of its inventory masks in hospitals nationwide to China when it was hard-hit by COVID-19.

Hearing this, little Yao offered to buy masks and donate them to children in Pakistan with her ¥100 pocket money without hesitation.

To encourage the little girl, Mr. Yao and his wife gave her ¥200 more to buy 80 masks in total. Together with the letter of thanks, the masks were sent by express mail to the Pakistani Embassy in China.

In addition to those warm words, Yao also drew three children holding hands and wearing masks on the note, one of whom was herself. Yao wishes children in Pakistan a good health.

Aid is also seen in the land of Pakistan. A Chinese girl distributing masks in Islamabad was seen roaming around in the streets of the federal capital and won hearts with her kind gesture in a time of need.

In an interview with an international news outlet, Niyu Chung, a Chinese girl working with an IT firm in Pakistan, said that she noticed several people were not taking precautionary measures against the deadly disease. Therefore, she decided to present surgical masks to every passerby and encourage them to observe social distancing.

In a video on the Internet, Niyu can be seen handing face masks to pedestrians, bike riders as well as traffic sergeants. “We all in this together and by being united we will definitely bring the pandemic under control soon,” she said on Twitter.

INP/JAVED