The Lockdown Diaries - Series One - Episode One
Hajira Maryam
Sharing her story as an international student who spent most
of the pandemic studying remotely in her home city of Karachi, Pakistan
Maz Zaman
Sharing his experience as an expat key worker in Doha, Qatar, host of one of the biggest international sporting evens on the calendar - the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Find out more about Qatar
Qatar's first case was reported in February last year in a citizen who had returned from Iran.
The government acted fast, closing schools, restaurants and gyms, mosques and those who could began working remotely. Hamad International Airport, one of the world's busiest transit hubs, also shut down.
By May, the government rolled out a track and trace App "EHTERAZ" which came under some criticism from rights groups, but worked to help get the transmission under control.
With social distancing measures in place, the airport reopened for transits a few months later, but only citizens were allowed to enter Qatar.
Expats, who out number Qataris were eventually allowed to re-enter, but only after obtaining a return visa and a 14 day quarantine at designated hotels.
Some who left before the lockdown, were unable to get the visas in time and subsequently lost their jobs, this caused many to think twice before traveling.
As the world's largest liquid natural gas producer, Qatar managed to avoid the financial impact of a two and half year blockade imposed by three of its neighbours and Egypt, but it was not spared by the pandemic. Major international companies were forced to make cuts and some commercial rents were put on hold.
A vaccination campaign started in December as the Pfizer vaccine was approved.
The Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was among the first to receive it.
As other countries are now rolling out vaccines to their citizens, Qatar is looking ahead to hosting a safe and COVID free, FIFA World Cup next year.
* figures accurate as of 24th January 2020
Find out more about Pakistan
Pakistan's first COVID 19 case was reported on 26th February 2019. Since then it has spread all over the country.
Just under a month later, the government closed all airports to domestic and international flights.
Schools, restaurants, gyms and non essential business closed down as a lockdown was imposed, following the example of its neighbours Iran and China.
It was the only Islamic nation to keep mosques open, a move that caused much controversy.
The Pakistani developed track and trace App 'COVID Track' was launched in May but was only available to a privileged minority who could afford a smart phone.
World Bank figures from 2015 showed that one in four Pakistanis lived below the poverty line and the nation has a debt of almost $113bn.
A large proportion of the population are self employed making a daily wage. It is this part of the country's society that has suffered the most, as a result of the lockdowns.
Two vaccines, the Chinese manufactured Sinopharm, and the UK's Oxford-AstraZeneca have recently been approved by the government for emergency use.
Prime Minister Imran Khan is facing growing criticism from opposition parties and the public for the response to the pandemic.
The challenge ahead for Khan is not only to get the pandemic under control but also to find a way to win more support and implement a strategy for economic recovery.
* figures accurate as of 24th January 2020