Pakistan

People advised to mask up in ‘crowded’ places amid rise in COVID-19 cases

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

As the positivity ratio of coronavirus cases in the country closes to 3%, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Thursday advised citizens to mask up in “crowded tightly enclosed spaces”.

“Mask wearing is recommended at crowded tightly enclosed spaces including healthcare facilities,” the National Institute of Health (NIH) quoted the NCOC.

Amid the current COVID-19 disease trends across the country, NCOC recommended following guidelines for the period up to 30 April 2023.
"Mask wearing is recommended at crowded tightly enclosed spaces including healthcare facilities"
— NIH Pakistan (@NIH_Pakistan) March 16, 2023

The NIH said the decision was taken by the NCOC due to the current COVID-19 disease trends across the country. It added that the guidelines will remain in place till April 30.

The guideline comes after the countrywide positivity ration climbed to 2.98%. At least 14 patients are in critical care.

As per the NIH, 4,334 test were conducted countrywide in the last 24 hours and 129 returned positive.

COVID-19 Statistics 16 March 2023
Total Tests in Last 24 Hours: 4,334
Positive Cases: 129
Positivity %: 2.98%
Deaths: 00
Patients on Critical Care: 14
(shared by NCOC-NIH)
— NIH Pakistan (@NIH_Pakistan) March 16, 2023

In January this year, Pakistan confirmed the presence of one of the three dominant strains of COVID-19 in China and Omicron’s subvariant XBB’s presence.

“Genomic surveillance is underway at NIH Islamabad. However, due to low positivity, only a few samples are available for sequencing. Our last batch showed increased cases of Omicron XBB,” an official of the NIH Islamabad said.

NIH officials also reiterated that there is no imminent threat of any major COVID-19 wave in Pakistan. However, we are continuously monitoring the situation and prepared for any situation, they added.

On the other hand, scientists at Aga Khan University also confirmed to The News that they had detected and reported the XBB sub-variant of the Omicron variant to the authorities in the country but added that they had not yet seen other two sub-variants, including BF.7 in the country.

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SCO Summit Preparations: Interior Minister Examines SCO Summit Arrangements

Published

3 days ago

Farwa

The preparations for the Shanghai Corporation Organization Summit, which will take place in Islamabad next week, were reviewed by Federal Minister of the Interior Mohsin Naqvi during his tour of the Federal Capital.

D-Chowk, Constitution Avenue, Murree Road, and the Islamabad Expressway were all thoroughly inspected by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

The Minister gave the authorities instructions regarding the optimal setup for the next summit after reviewing the refurbishment and cleaning plans for the SCO Summit.

The minister stated that while ensuring that all of Islamabad is clean, particularly the VVIP routes and the red area, the construction and restoration projects should be finished as quickly as feasible.

Mohsin Naqvi stated that the SCO Summit will showcase Islamabad’s natural beauty on this particular occasion.

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Elahi Bakhsh Soomro Dies; Karachi Will Hold Funeral Prayer Today

Published

3 days ago

Farwa

After a lengthy illness, Elahi Bakhsh Soomro, the former Speaker of the National Assembly, passed away. At ninety-eight years old.

Today at 1:00 PM in Karachi, there will be a funeral prayer for him.

In the Jacobabad District of Sindh, Soomro was born in 1926. He was a member of the Shikarpur-based Soomro family, who for a long time dominated Sindh. He was the brother of Ahmad Mian Soomro and the son of Maula Bakhsh Soomro. His degree is in engineering.

The federal minister is now Elahi Bakhsh Soomro. In 1985, he was elected without opposition to the national legislature.

He was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Pakistan Muslim League in the 1990 and 1997 elections. Additionally, he was repeatedly elected to the Senate at various points in time.

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SIFC Supports Shanxi Coal Initiative: China to Finance Coal-to-Chemicals Project in Pakistan

Published

3 days ago

Farwa

The Shanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group of China intends to invest in technologies for the production of chemicals derived from coal reserves in Sindh, Pakistan. This project, supported by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), seeks to improve collaboration between Pakistan and China in energy and industrial advancement.

Shanxi Coal and Chemical, one of China’s major state-owned firms, has made substantial investments in the coal and energy sectors. This project illustrates the increasing cooperation between the two nations.

Pakistan aims to fulfill its energy requirements by augmenting coal-fired production, thereby lowering electricity generation expenses. Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik stated that “Pakistan possesses extensive coal reserves, and this initiative demonstrates our dedication to the effective utilization of our natural resources.”

Pakistan now extracts roughly 7.6 million tons of coal annually from the Thar region, with intentions to augment this to 11 million tons within three years. The efficient utilization of these resources can stabilize the nation’s economy.