GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan government on Tuesday announced recovery of four patients of novel coranavirus in the region.
A spokesperson of the government has announced recovery of four patients from novel coronavirus, two each from Gilgit and Skardu.
Earlier, two patients from Gilgit were recovered at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, government spokesperson added.
It is to be mentioned here that the National Command and Control Centre for the novel coronavirus had announced 81 patients of the disease in Gilgit-Baltistan region.
The total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan has surged to 892 after new cases were reported in different parts of the country, the National Command and Control Centre earlier
reported.
Pakistan is reeling under rapidly increasing number of the patients of COVID-19 and provincial governments taking emergency steps including lockdown to control increasing
cases of the deadly disease.
ISLAMABAD: 892 known cases of the novel coronavirus infections all over Pakistan have been reported so far by Dr Zahar Mirza, Special Assistant to PM on Health.
Of these 37 per cent are women and the remaining 63 per cent are men, said Dr Mirza, adding that during last 24 hours, 89 patients have tested positive for the virus. Dr Mirza was addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Dr Mirza said that there are a total of 7,736 suspected cases of COVID-19 including the 1,262 suspected cases reported in the last 24 hours. He even gave a province-wise breakdown of the figures: Islamabad 15, Punjab 249, Sindh 399, Balochistan 110, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 38, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 1 and Gilgit-Baltistan 80.
Of the 392 confirmed cases, 78 per cent are people who have had a travel history from Iran, the special assistant said, adding that more than 3,000 people have been quarantined.
The national health policy to curb the spread of the virus is social distancing, he said. “All provinces, in their respective capacities, should reduce social gatherings as much as they can,” Dr Mirza emphasized.
He said that this was the only way they could contain the spread of the virus. According to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s orders, everything except essential shops and services should be strictly closed down and people should stay at home, Dr Mirza said.
“The National Disaster Management Authority is our lead agency during this pandemic,” he said. Everything that the health ministry needs from personal protective equipment for doctors to masks is provided by the agency, he explained.
The agency has, therefore, become a focal point for all those who want to donate equipment to Pakistan to fight the pandemic. “I want to thank all Pakistanis, both here and overseas, for their donations,” Dr Mirza remarked.
He said that a website will soon be launched where all these donations could be made. “In a few days, we will also launch a training program for doctors, nurses and paramedic staff treating coronavirus patients,” Dr Mirza announced.
We will not only equip the people with safety gears but will also train them, he said. Similarly, a voluntary program on a national level is also being prepared. “We will share the details with you as soon as it’s prepared,” Dr Mirza added.
ISLAMABAD: Toll of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 519 with three fatalitis, by Saturday morning after Sindh reported more positive patients of the virus in the province.
According to province-wise break up of cases on Saturday (March 21) morning, Sindh is topping the list with 267 positive infection were reported while in Punjab 96 cases, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 23, Balochistan 92, Islamabad Capital Territory 10, Gilgit-Baltistan 30 and AJK 01. So far three deaths were confirmed two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa an one in Sindh.
Pakistan has so far confirmed three fatalities from the pandemic, with latest casualty being a 77-year-old man in Karachi on Friday (yesterday). The first two deaths were reported in Mardan and Hangu of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The death in Karachi was verified by Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho. The victim had no travel history and was admitted to a private hospital on Thursday in critical condition. She urge masses to take preventive measures to avoid rise in the toll of patients.
Globally, 185 countries have been affected, more than 10,000 people have died and more than 250,00 infected by the disease as it spreads rapidly to new territories.
The epicentre of the outbreak has now shifted to Europe, which is recording a rapid rise in new cases every day.
ISLAMABAD: The universities in Islamabad have started online education on the direction of Higher Education Commission (HEC) in the wake of global epidemic coronavirus to protect students from the virus.
The online classes have been started after closing of the universities for indefinite period in the wake of the virus.
The rector of COMSATS University, Professor Dr Raheel Qamar informed in this regard that we should adopt the modern technology and the online classes started after considering seriously saving students from losing their precious time due to the virus and with this initiative the future of the students will not effect from the virus.
Dr Raheel Qamar said that all the lectures have been uploaded on the websites besides continuation of the online classes and the students will continue their education from their home.
The professor added that the online test can also be conducted in the given situation.
KARACHI: Two passenger planes of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) narrowly escaped a mid-air collision due to the error caused in the system of air traffic controller on Thursday.
According to Sources, two Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft came very close to each other after the error caused in the system of the air traffic controller.
A PIA flight PK-352 was heading towards Islamabad from Karachi, while the other PK-785 flight was moving towards London from Islamabad.
The pilots’ mental alertness averted the impending crash, saving hundreds of lives on board both jets.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) took note of the near-miss and ordered an inquiry.
Earlier in January, two passenger planes narrowly escaped a mid-air collision in the Karachi airspace.
The PIA flight en route from Islamabad to Karachi was at an altitude of 40,000 feet while the foreign airliner on a transit route at a 35,000 feet altitude. The two planes were less than five miles apart, the sources said.
Terminal Access Controller Access-Control System (TACACS) got activated in the PIA Boeing-777 alerting its pilot about the other plane being in close proximity to it. He then descended to 4, 000 feet in no time to avoid a crash.
The source said the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) took note of the near-miss and dismissed the on-duty air traffic controller for being remiss.
ISLAMABAD: The Republic of Korea is donating US$200,000 to help the Government of Pakistan respond to the worst locust infestation in more than two decades.
“Sympathizing with Pakistani farmers’ suffering and damages from desert locust, the Korean government has decided to participate in helping Pakistani government’s relief effort.” said Korean Ambassador Mr. Kwak Sung-Kyu. “I hope this support will serve as a good momentum to upgrade bilateral agricultural cooperation between Korea and Pakistan including currently on-going project to establish KOPIA center in Pakistan.”
The contribution will be channeled through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and goes towards supporting smallholder farmers who are most at risk of food shortage due to the crisis.
“Concerted efforts will help address the imminent threat of desert locust to ensure food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture,” said Minà Dowlatchahi, FAO Representative in Pakistan.
“We are grateful for the timely support from the Republic of Korea,” said Chris Kaye, WFP Representative and Country Director. “Our priority is not only to help communities protect their crops and livelihoods, but also build their resilience so that they withstand such shocks better in the future.”
WFP and FAO will work together under the ‘critical support for Desert Locust prevention and control operations in Pakistan’ project to build the capacities of the relevant government departments and local farming communities living in locus-prone and affected areas.
The project will be implemented in close collaboration with the Departments of the Plant Protection and Agriculture, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs).
PESHAWAR: The ongoing anti-polio campaign has been suspended in five districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday.
According to KP Emergency Operations Center (EOC) coordinator, the campaign which was scheduled from March 16 to 20 and its target was to administer polio drops to over 1.3 million children.
It has been learnt that polio drops could be administered to only to 1.188 million children. The anti-polio campaign was continuing in Charsadda, Mardan, Nowshera, Swabi and Mohmand Agency.
The decision has been taken after KP reported Pakistan’s first two deaths from the novel coronavirus on Wednesday. 310 COVID-19 patients have been infected with the disease across the country.
Sindh remains the worst-hit province by the pandemic as 211 patients have been tested positive for coronavirus in it. 33 cases have been confirmed in Punjab, 23 in Balochistan, 19 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 15 in Gilgit-Baltistan, eight in Islamabad and one in Azad Kashmir.
PESHAWAR: Pakistan reported two deaths of COVID-19 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while death of a 90 year old in Gilgit Baltistan was not due to Coronavirus and the infections took the toll to 307 rounf the country.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) reported Pakistan’s first two deaths from the novel coronavirus, as according to KP Health Minister one of the patients, a 36-year-old resident of Hangu, being treated at LRH Peshawar has passed away.
Second victim of coronavirus, 50-year-old Sadaat Khan, who was receiving treatment at Mardan Medical Complex (MMC) passed away. The patient had returned from Saudi Arabia a week ago.
Meanwhile, Director of Mardan Hospital Dr Javed Iqbal also confirmed that a coronavirus patient named Saadat Khan has passed away.
The coronavirus cases in Pakistan have surged to 288 as 208 patients have been tested positive for the epidemic in Sindh, 28 in Punjab, 19 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 16 in Balochistan, four in Islamabad and 13 in Gilgit-Baltistan, Dunya News reported.
Death of suspected patient not due to coronavirus: Gilgit-Baltistan govt, according to spokesperson of Gilgit-Baltistan government Faizullah Firaq said that death of a 90-year-old man who passed away was not due to coronavirus.
Faizullah Firaq said that government has received the individual’s test reports and cause of his death was pneumonia not COVID19.
Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman has confirmed 10 new coronaviurs cases in the region among pilgrims who returned from Iran. Gilgit-Baltistan has reported 13 total cases.
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar confirmed 28 cases and announced Rs 5billion fund to combat coronavirus.
Talking to media in Lahore, CM Buzdar said that as many as 28 people have been tested positive for the COVID-19 in Punjab, while there are 189 suspected cases of the virus.
Buzdar said that the provincial government has allocated funds worth Rs5 billion in order to curtail the risk of the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Sindh government spokesman and advisor on law and environment Barrister Murtaza Wahab has requested the people to stay at home for fourteen days.
During a press conference held in Karachi, Barrister Murtaza Wahab asked people to self-quarantine for 14 days for the prevention from deadly coronavirus in the province. If you want to help the government, just quarantine yourself instead of going on vacations, he asked.
Earlier Sindh government spokesman and advisor on law and environment Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Wednesday has said that the number of coronavirus cases in Sindh has escalated to 181 while two patients have also been discharged from the hospital after full recovery.
ISLAMABAD: Government on Wednesday postponed all examinations including those of boards and the Cambridge system till June 1, due to the situation emerged after coronavirus.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood announced that the foreign institutions, as well as domestic boards, are bound to implement the government’s decisions. He said if the situation improves, the examination boards may conduct the postponed exams between 1st June and 15th July.
All schools including public, private as well as seminaries have been closed till 5th of next month as per the decision of the National Security Committee. He said it will be decided on the 27th March whether or not the educational institutions are reopened.
Shafqat Mahmood said arrangements are also being made to engage the students in their homes through online lectures in case if the schools are further closed. In this regard technology support and content, committees have also been set up.
“Federal government is working in cohesion with the provinces to take all possible measures to contain the spread of coronavirus,” he added.
It may be noted that the National Security Committee (NSC) which met with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair in Islamabad last week decided to keep all educational institutions closed across the country till April 5 to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
Taking to Twitter shortly after the meeting, Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood said: “In a meeting of the National Security Committee presided over PM Imran Khan, it has been decided to close all educational institutions in the country till April 5.”
“This includes all schools and universities, public and private, vocational institutions and madaris.”
ISLAMABAD: Accountability court in Islamabad has on Wednesday rejected the acquittal pleas of former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and other suspects in the Nandipur reference.
Accountability Court Judge Azam Khan conducted the hearing and turned down the petitions of the erstwhile premier, Shumaila Mehmood, Riaz Kiyani and Masood Chishti under the National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance.
The accountability court ordered to continue the trial while remarking that the accused do not deserve to get any relief under the NAB (Amendment) Ordinance. The NAB had also opposed to approve the acquittal pleas of the suspects.
It is pertinent here to mention that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Babar Awan was acquitted in the case before the approval of the NAB (Amendment) Ordinance.
The reference was filed after the national exchequer suffered loss worth billions of rupees due to delay in the Nandipur Power Project.
