Day: November 9, 2020

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Three more die in Sindh due to Covid; 665 new cases surface

KARACHI:Sindh Chief Minister said in a statement on Monday that coronavirus had claimed three more lives overnight in Sindh, lifting the death toll to 2,687 while 665 new cases emerged when 12,343 tests were conducted.

 

He said that the virus death ratio in Sindh was recorded at 1.8 percent. He added that 262 more patients recovered overnight, raising the number of patients recovered so far to 140,812 that constituted 95 percent recovery rate.

 

Shah said that currently, 7,335 patients were under treatment, of them 7,021 in home isolation, four at isolation centers and 310 at different hospitals. He added that the condition of 283 patients was stated to be critical, including 35 shifted to ventilators.

 

The CM said that out of 665 new cases, 503 have been detected from Karachi, including 190 from South, 166 East, 65 Central, 31 Korangi, 26 West and 25 Malir. Hyderabad has 40 cases, Badin 24, Shaheed Benazirabad 12, Jamshoro 11, Sanghar 10, Dadu, and Tando Allahayar six each, Khotki five, Khairpur and Shikarpur four each, Larkana, Kambar and Tando Mohammad Khan three each, Thatta and Matiari two each, Sukkur, Sujawal and Umerkot one each. Murad Ali Shah urged people of Sindh to follow SOPs.

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(CITY): Change of Guards ceremony held at Mausoleum of Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal

LAHORE:An impressive Change of Guards Ceremony was held at Mausoleum of Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal as the nation celebrates 143rd birth anniversary of National Poet, who with vision of independent state inspired the creation of Pakistan.

 

A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Navy clad in immaculate whites, assumed ceremonial guard duties with traditional spirit and enthusiasm. Meanwhile, the outgoing Rangers ceremoniously moved out of the Mazar lead by their Officer-in-Charge. Both the outgoing incoming Guards of Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Rangers were inspected by Station Commander (Navy) Lahore, Commodore Muhammad Neimatullah.

 

The ceremonial Guard mounting was followed by floral wreath laying at the Mazar of National Poet by Station Commander (Navy) on behalf of Chief of the Naval Staff, Officers, Sailors and Civilians of Pakistan Navy. Later on, Station Commander offered Fateha and recorded his impressions in the Visitor’s Book.

 

The ceremony was observed by military and civil officials, school children and general public.

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Minister: (PTI to emerge victorious in Gilgit Baltistan elections: Murad)

ISLAMABAD:Minister for Communications Murad Saeed has said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will emerge victorious in Gilgit Baltistan elections to be held on Sunday next.

 

Addressing a public gathering at Khaplu on Monday, he said problems of the region will be addressed under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

 

He said we have worked towards the establishment of special economic zone in the region under multi billion dollars China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. Murad Saeed said approval has also been given for upgradation of Karakoram Highway.

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KP: (KP Governor calls for promoting bilateral ties between Pakistan, Iran in different fields)

ISLAMABAD:Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shah Farman has called for promoting bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Iran in different fields including trade.

 

He was talking to Iranian Consul General Hamid Raza in Peshawar on Monday. Shah Farman was appreciative of Iran for always supporting Pakistan’s stance on Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

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Coronavirus test service resumes at Dr Panjwani center

KARACHI:Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi, has resumed performing high-quality coronavirus PCR-based tests in its high-tech Biosafety Level-III (BSL-III) laboratory.

 

This is based on the need for more testing in the recent increase in Covid-19 cases. The coronavirus PCR-based tests will be performed in a limited quantity in the BSL-III laboratory of the PCMD’s National Institute of Virology, as this time the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi will use its own resources as a public-spirited act.

 

Prof Dr Iqbal Choudhary, Director of International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, and Coordinator General COMSTECH stated this while speaking at the meeting of virology experts held at the National Institute of Virology on Monday.

 

Just after a break of a few days, the resumption of the coronavirus testing service at the BSL-III is a major step to support the nation against the ongoing pandemic, he said. He mentioned that the virology center will resume a large scale testing (2,00 test per day) once the necessary funding is received from the Sindh government.

 

The Sindh Government has not provided funds for free testing services recently. Earlier, Sindh Government had provided financial support for completion of the same laboratory, he maintained. He reiterated that Dr Panjwani Center had already proved its research excellence and capacity by performing more than 110,000 high-quality coronavirus PCR-based tests in the ongoing pandemic of Covid-19 in Sindh.

 

Dr Panjwani center showed its excellence and superiority by conducting coronavirus tests in such great numbers during a limited time period of a few months, he added.

 

He also expressed thanks to CM Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah and Sindh Provincial Minister for Health and Population Welfare Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho for their kind support and trust shown to Dr Panjwani Center that comes under the ICCBS.

 

Talking about the BSL-III, he said this facility was designed as per international standards set by WHO (Guidelines on Establishment of Virology Laboratory in Developing Countries). Being the largest biosafety facility in the country, the national virology center is a major step toward preparedness against viral epidemic and pandemics, he said.

 

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President: (President, PM urge to stand united for socio-country’s economic uplift)

ISLAMABAD:President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan in their separate messages on Iqbal Day today (Monday), have urged the need to stand united, set aside differences and work commitment for the socio-economic uplift of the country.

 

The President in his message underscored the need of following Allama Iqbal’s teachings on Islam and his philosophy of “Khudi” that believed in the promotion of self-respect and human dignity, to make Pakistan a prosperous nation.

 

He said Iqbal was a great benefactor of the Muslims of sub-continent, who envisioned the idea of a separate homeland for them and later his dream was translated into reality.

 

Prime Minister Imran Khan in his message also emphasized on individual and collective responsibility in the building of the nation while exploring thoughts of Allama Iqbal.

 

He said Allama Iqbal not only dreamt of Pakistan but also reflected upon the issues it would have to face after its creation.

 

The Prime Minister said Iqbal’s vision is still a guiding force to overcome issues like sectarianism and extremism. He urged the nation to concentrate their energies on transforming Pakistan under the visions of its forefathers.

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GB: (All necessary arrangements finalized to hold free, fair elections in region: CEC GB)

ISLAMABAD:Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Raja Shahbaz Khan has said all necessary arrangements have been finalized to hold free, fair and transparent elections in the region.

 

In an interview, he said election commission has dispatched ballot boxes and other relevant material to all districts. He said training of Returning Officers and Deputy Returning Officers will be initiated on Wednesday.