Shehri Tv

By Mukhtar Alam (Pakistan News & Features Services) The Sindh health authorities, late on March 30, confirmed new Coronavirus infections in 31 members of a tableegi jamat in Hyderabad, which took the overall tally of the infection in Sindh to 526, with six relevant deaths since February 26 when the first patient of COVID-19 was detected in the province. According to the earlier reports, about 250 people including foreign nationals were staying in a mosque in Hyderabad, which was later declared a corona quarantine place as one of the foreign nationals tested positive for corona.  Earlier, about 20 of the people staying in the mosque were shifted to another quarantine centre established in Latifabad.  According to official data updated at 2245 PST, with the latest detection of positive cases, the total number of corona infected people in Hyderabad reached to 43. Karachi and Jacobabad reported 27 and one new case, respectively, on March 30.  According to the government d...

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi (Pakistan News & Features Services) The Metropolitan University Karachi (MUK), which was chartered by the Government of Sindh in 2015, awaits the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Islamabad-based Higher Education Commission (HEC), before opening admission at its spacious campus located on University Road near Safoora Chowk. By the look of things, the management of the MUK has started feeling burdened by the long delay as it has not been able to open admissions despite having invested heavily in the development of the various facilities at their campus during the last five years. Despite being chartered from the Sindh Provincial Assembly in 2015, they have been deprived of the opportunity to initiate their academic activities even after five years. The MUK is believed to have built facilities at the campus at an estimated cost of PKR 500 million, on a piece of land whose commercial value is thought to be around PKR two billion. The university complex app...

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi (Pakistan News & Features Services) Dewan Mohammad Yousuf Farooqui, an eminent industrialist and a former provincial minister, has advised Prime Minister Imran Khan to avail the existing infrastructure instead of creating a task force for ration distribution among the masses. Talking to PNFS in Karachi on March 30, he didn’t mince words in declaring that considerable resources will be required to build a new task force for the purpose of reaching out people affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19). “Both time as well as funds will be needed for carrying out this task of creating a new infrastructure for such an activity which makes little sense to me. Instead the government should utilize the information which is already in possession of area Deputy Commissioners. NGOs and welfare organizations could also be pressed into service to do the job with the collaboration of DCs,” he suggested.  Dewan Yousuf expressed confidence in the abilities of DCs and the social ...

By Mukhtar Alam (Pakistan News & Features Services) The Sindh Health Minister, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, on March 29, declared that Sindh had two more deaths due to Coronavirus infections in Karachi the previous day. “We received the lab reports of the two patients after they had passed away and we found out that the cause of death in both the cases was pneumonia along with COVID-19. The patients were 83 and 70 years old respectively,” she revealed.  Meanwhile, Sindh reported another 33 corona positive tests, all in Karachi, by 7 pm PST on March 29. According to the data, made available by the Sindh health department, the province, which reported its first Coronavirus positive cases on February 26, witnessed an increase of 19% in it's over all corona test tally.  The tally increased up to 5,945 on March 29 against 4,810 of the previous day. The overall corona infection rate came as 8.44%, which was 9.75% on March 28..  A source privy to the corona c...

By Mukhtar Alam (Pakistan News & Features Services) Anticipating that the testing for the Coronavirus will rise in the coming days in the city, the Karachi Mayor, Wasim Akhter, has urged the Sindh government to designate any of the public sector hospitals located in the central and western districts of Karachi for assessing the people against the virus, which has claimed three lives in the city so far.  According to sources in the health department, there at present are five health facilities, including two run by the private sector, which have been listed by the government as COVID-19 testing facilities in Karachi.  The Karachi mayor pointed out to the government that none of the centres in question were accessible by the common man, particularly due to enforcement of partial lockdown across the city, when public transport has come to a standstill following the provincial government’s directives.  "People of District Central and West were unable t...

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi  (Pakistan News & Features Services) The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) arranged for spraying of disinfectant on the roads and streets of Karachi in an effort to combat the spread of the deadly disease of Coronavirus (COVID-19).  The management of the KPT took the initiative of engaging trucks to spray the chlorinated water in and around the Keamari Road leading to the port.  The various portions of the port were also sprayed with disinfectant. The purpose of carrying out the exercise by the KPT authorities was to make the port and surrounding areas safe and free from virus.  Rear Admiral Jamil Akhtar, Chairman, KPT, in a brief statement, observed that their institution, standing with the people at this critical moment of lockdown, will continue the spraying of disinfectant to contain spreading of Coronavirus.

By Syed Sajid Aziz (Pakistan News & Features Services) The National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), following the directives of the central bank, starting from March 30, will now remain open for public dealing from 10 am to 3.30 pm until further orders.  The working hours at the selected branches will be observed from Mondays to Thursdays while the bank will be open from 10 am to 12.30 pm on Fridays.  The spokesman of the NBP, Ibne Hasan, informed PNFS that the digital banking services and ATM will remain functional round the clock, as usual, and the customers have been advised to ring 111-627-627 for complaints or assistance.  He further disclosed that the NBP management has ensured adequate safety measures at the branches and its offices for the customers as well as the staff in view of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. “All the necessary precautions are being taken with emphasis on social distancing in these times for the safety of people,” he ...

By Masood Sattar Khan (Pakistan News & Features Services) The fourth batch of Chinese government's medical assistance to Pakistan for anti-epidemic campaign arrived Islamabad on March 29. The Chinese Ambassador, Yao Jing, the Chairman of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Lt General Muhammad Afzal, and the representatives of the Pakistan government and the military were present in the handing over ceremony at the Nur Khan Air Force Base. On behalf of the Pakistan government, General Afzal thanked China for supporting Pakistan to fight the epidemic.  He stated that since the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government and people have adopted timely, decisive, scientific and effective prevention and control measures to successfully curb the spread of the epidemic.  Reflecting China's firm political determination and strong organizational response capabilities, Pakista...

By Zaib Azkaar Hussain (Pakistan News & Features Services) The Halqaa-e Arbaab-e Zauq (HAZ), Karachi, created history of sorts by holding its first-ever online literary sitting in which writers from across the country discussed at length Urdu creations of three writers.  The Zoom Cloud video conference was prompted by the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in which social distancing is strongly discouraged.  The participants observed that the ‘Coronavirus factor' had compelled them not to hold a gathering but the tools of modern information technology provided them a good opportunity to hold an online literary meeting.  Famous writer Shaguftta Shafeeq, who presided over the meeting, titled a 'tanqeedi nashist’ remarked that the HAZ Karachi had done a great job to hold an online gathering to discuss latest creations of three writers that included Sarah Mehboob, Naaz Arif Naaz and Mutriba Shaikh.  She further said that Sarah Mahboob presente...

By Syed Sajid Aziz (Pakistan News & Features Services) The banks operating in Pakistan have been allowed to facilitate their customers in the wake of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, having rocked the world. The circular in this regard was issued by the country’s central bank on March 28.  The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), in an attempt to combat the potential spread of the pandemic, has advised for limiting person-to-person interactions and to provide ease of services to the customers of the various banks.  Now Direct Cheque Deposit Facility is being introduced under which a crossed cheque may be presented by payee/beneficiary directly into the paying/drawee bank instead of their bank branches as per the existing practice.  Doorstep Cheque Collection Facility has also been launched in which Banks/MFBs may make arrangements to collect cheque from registered addresses of their customers upon their request.  Drop box Cheque Collection Facility,...

By Mukhtar Alam (Pakistan News & Features Services) The overall rate of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Sindh was 9.50% on March 28 as compared to 9.43% the previous day while there was no change in the Sukkur pilgrims which stood at 7.76%.  People have been somewhat relieved to see the rate of infection getting flattened during the last couple of days.  In order to gain greater public confidence and support it has been suggested to the health data providers in Sindh to also provide details of 131 local transmission cases in Karachi as people will like to know if these new cases in question have been associated with the infected people coming from Iran or they contacted the infection through neutral persons, general crowd, workplace, market and transports.  It’s also being felt that now time has come to observe scientific and convincing approach, otherwise any prolonged lockdown may backfire. It’s being pointed out that there may be no use of t...

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi (Pakistan News & Features Services) Dewan Mohammad Yousuf Farooqui, a prominent businessman and a former provincial minister, has warned the government about the implications of lockdown if it was not properly defined before implementation.  Talking to PNFS in Karachi on March 28, he emphasized that the government should take into consideration all pros and cons before arriving at any decision regarding lockdown to combat Coronavirus (COVID-19). “Indeed it’s a complicated situation to handle but it’s a duty of the government to look at all aspects. They have to decide about the areas which require lockdown and which are the ones that could be spared. A total lockdown could mean colossal to the economy which could lead even to unrest and civil war,” he believed.  Dewan Yousuf appealed to the Government of Sindh that the industries, having labour colonies in their vicinity, should be allowed to work after meeting the safety requir...

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi (Pakistan News & Features Services) China delivered medical supplies to Pakistan on March 27 through the Khunjerab Pass, which is recognized as the highest land port on earth. In a tweet, the Chinese embassy declared that both sides braved the cold and prepared for the medical supplies which will help combat Coronavirus.  Earlier China had requested Pakistan to open the border for a day in order to have the supplies transported into the country.  Under a border protocol agreement of 1985, the Khunjerab border crossing remains closed from the end of November to April.  The embassy of China in Islamabad was also reported to have requested the Pakistan authorities to make due preparation before the delivery so that all materials could enter Pakistan smoothly.  According to the details shared by the Chinese embassy, two tons of supplies worth 67 million rupees included masks, test kits, ventilators and personal ...

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi  (Pakistan News & Features Services) Aziz Memon, the National Chair of Pakistan National Polio Plus Committee (PNPPC) and a former Governor of Rotary International in Pakistan, has urged the people to stay indoors and follow the advice of the government in order to control and eradicate Coronavirus (COVID-19). “The number of patients contracted by Coronavirus has exceeded one thousand in Pakistan and the number of cases is increasing every day which suggests that our preventive measures are not upto the mark. A lot of people are not staying at home. Many people are not following the instructions being advised to them. The safety protocols are being ignored,” he observed in a televised message.  “My dear friends it has become mandatory now to wash hands for more than 20 seconds regularly. It should be for a minimum of 20 seconds. The longer you are able to do it is more to your benefit,” he emphasized.  “Please don’t touch y...

By Masood Sattar Khan  (Pakistan News & Features Services) The Chinese government, upon the request of its Pakistan counterparts, has started preparations for sending a team of medical experts to Pakistan to fight Coronavirus (COVID-19).  The Vice Minister of China’s National Health Commission, Zeng Yixin, made the announcement in Beijing in a press conference on March 26. He made these remarks while briefing media on China's cooperation with the international community in fighting the COVID-19.  He revealed that China has immediately shared the COVID-19 related knowledge, prevention and control plan, and diagnosis and treatment plan with Pakistan since the virus outbreak in Pakistan.  China also has introduced its experience in preventing, controlling, diagnosing and treating COVID-19 and other issues to Pakistan via video conference.  At the press conference, Deng Boqing, Vice Chairman of the China International Development Cooperat...