AfPak File: Is Pakistan Facing A Looming COVID Catastrophe?

In recent weeks, the number of new coronavirus cases and deaths has soared in Pakistan. Reports now abound that hospitals and other medical facilities are beyond capacity and are unable to keep up with the pandemic as it surges through the country.

Additionally, some of Pakistan's beleaguered doctors--already struggling with insufficient medical supplies--are getting physically threatened and even attacked by people when told there is no room in hospitals for their sick relatives.

The latest episode of The AfPak File discusses this troubling state of affairs with three Pakistani doctors, all of them provincial leaders of the Young Doctors Association of Pakistan.

The panelists are Salman Haseeb Chaudhary, head of the Young Doctors Association in Punjab Province; Rizwan Kundi, head of the association in KP Province; and Arslan Mahmood, head of the group in Sindh Province. Michael Kugelman, the Wilson Center's senior associate for South Asia, also joins the debate.

Muhammad Tahir, media manager for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, moderates the discussion.

This podcast originally appeared on RFE/RL.