Journalist Fakhruddin Syed passes away in Peshawar due to Coronavirus

Senior journalist Fakhruddin Syed died due to the novel coronavirus at Peshawar’s Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) on Thursday morning.

While confirming the news, HMC spokesperson Toueed Zulfiqar, said the journalist had been in self-isolation after he contracted for COVID-19 but was shifted to the hospital five days ago after his condition worsened.

He added that Syed was being treated with plasma from recovered patients. “His health condition improved after plasma therapy.”

However, Zulfiqar said Syed’s condition deteriorated on Wednesday night, following which he was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and put on a ventilator. He leaves behind a widow and two daughters.

Earlier this month, a report released by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) said that the novel coronavirus has claimed the lives of three media persons in the country and infected 156 others.

The report highlighted that cameramen and photojournalists have been the biggest sufferers since the outbreak of Covid-19.

Adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ajmal Wazir paid tribute to Syed and added that “we will never forget his contributions to journalism.”

Moreover, senior journalist Zafar Rasheed Bhatti passed away due to the coronavirus. It was the first such death reported from the disease in the country.