Pakistan closes Taftan border crossing with Iran over coronavirus deaths

ISLAMABAD: As the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak rose to eight in Iran, Pakistan temporarily closed its border with the neighboring Islamic country at Taftan.

Thousands of Pakistani Shia pilgrims and traders travel to Iran via Taftan border on a daily basis.

The Balochistan government imposed a ban on the travel of pilgrims from Pakistan into Iran by road and has asked the provincial home department to coordinate with other provinces in this regard, Dawn reported.

Chief Minister Jam Kamal Alyani has also directed the provincial disaster management authority to establish a 100-bed tent hospital at the Pak-Iran border crossing in Taftan to cope with an emergency situation.

On the other hand, Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri spoke to Iranian authorities and requested them to take urgent steps to protect pilgrims from the deadly virus.

The outbreak in Iran has centred on the holy city of Qom, where officials say travellers from China brought the new coronavirus.