Pakistan

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

Published

1 year 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.

ISLAMIC

Indus Highway multi-vehicle incidents result in eight deaths and twenty injuries.

Published

19 hours ago

Farwa

A passenger bus, an oil tanker, and a mini-truck collided with one another during the early hours of Wednesday. The unfortunate traveler was traveling from Karachi to Larkana.

Police and rescue teams arrived at the accident scene and began a rescue operation after receiving information.

Eight deaths were verified by SSP Jamshoro Muhammad Tariq Nawaz, who also said that twenty injured individuals had been moved to a neighboring hospital in Manjhand.

While more investigation into the accident was being conducted, the police stated that overtaking was the cause of the tragedy.

On April 14, an accident involving a passenger bus and coaster on the M9 Motorway near Nooriabad, Jamshoro area, resulted in four fatalities and twenty injuries.

The coaster, according to the police, was transporting a wedding party from Karachi to the Kambar-Shahdadkot district’s Nawan Jatoi hamlet.
Ali Jan Magsi, Ghulam Shabbir Chandio, 8-year-old Sadia Magsi, and an unidentified woman were named among the deceased.

Latest News

CM Marryam advises MPAs to keep an eye on naan and roti costs.

Published

19 hours ago

Farwa

The MPAs have been instructed by Punjab Chief Minister Marryam Nawaz Sharif to keep an eye on the cost of naan and roti in their respective regions.

The duty of keeping an eye on roti and naan prices falls on the District Monitoring Committees.

The MPAs were instructed by the CM to uphold the official prices in their respective regions.

She threatened to take tough measures against Punjab’s extortionate naan and roti sales.

She finished by saying that public officials should assume a prominent role in guaranteeing the public’s relief from naan and roti pricing.

Business

Huge investment potential exists in the telecom and IT sectors. Shaza Fatima

Published

19 hours ago

Farwa

According to Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication, there are numerous investment prospects in Pakistan’s IT and telecom sectors.

She noted that the current administration is dedicated to fostering foreign investment in the nation, in line with the Prime Minister’s goal.

According to a news release, CEOs Wateen Adil Rashid and Muhammad Shahbaz Khan of Taavun (Pvt) Limited, who paid her a visit on Tuesday, spoke with Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja.

She declared that the private sector would receive complete support because it is essential to growing our exports.

Regarding youngsters, she stated that they are our greatest asset and that efforts are being made to further their growth.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates was thanked by Shaza Fatima for his particular interest in promoting additional investment in Pakistan’s telecom industry.