Pakistan’s President Zardari tests positive for COVID-19, remains under medical care

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has tested positive for COVID-19, his personal physician Dr Asim Hussain confirmed on Wednesday.

A statement from the President House said medical tests confirmed the infection, and Zardari has been advised to remain in isolation. A team of specialists is monitoring his condition, which remains stable, Dr Hussain added.

Earlier, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon refuted reports that Zardari was being moved to Dubai for treatment. He said the president’s health was improving.

“The reports about President Asif Ali Zardari being shifted to Dubai for treatment are inaccurate,” Memon posted on X early Wednesday. “His health is improving, and Inshallah, he will be fine very soon.”

Media reports had suggested that Zardari was hospitalized in Karachi after falling ill during Eid celebrations in Nawabshah, where he had offered prayers.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed his concerns over President Zardari’s health and wished him a swift recovery.

According to a statement issued by the PM Office, he urged the nation to pray for the president’s well-being and directed that the best possible medical care be provided.

"May Allah grant him complete recovery and good health," the prime minister said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz had also contacted the president yesterday to inquire about his health and wished him a speedy recovery.

At 69, Zardari has faced multiple health issues in recent years. In October 2024, he fractured his foot while deboarding a plane and required medical treatment. In March 2023, he underwent eye surgery in the UAE.

He previously tested positive for COVID-19 in July 2022 but experienced only mild symptoms, according to his son, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. That same year, he was hospitalized for a week in Karachi with a chest infection, though his physician Dr Asim had assured the public he was in good health.

In 2021, Zardari was admitted to a private hospital in Karachi due to exhaustion from frequent travel.