Pakistan moves to save face as coronavirus hits Belt and Road

Government's order for work to resume a bid to foster China ties, analysts say

Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, greets Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in Beijing, in November 2018. Khan must balance ties with Beijing and acting to protect public health in Pakistan. © Reuters

ADNAN AAMIR, Contributing writer

April 22, 2020 14:39 JST

KARACHI -- The government of Pakistan has ordered the resumption of all infrastructure and energy projects that are part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, but experts believe the move is a matter of face-saving.

Work on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a major piece of the Belt and Road, stopped when the novel coronavirus started to spread in Pakistan in February. According to Johns Hopkins University data, Pakistan has confirmed 9,216 cases as of Tuesday, including 192 deaths.