A fresh outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus has flared up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country that was already contending with the world’s largest measles epidemic, as well as the coronavirus. Congo’s health ministry said that the new Ebola outbreak has killed four people, and infected at least two more, in Mbandaka, a city of 1.2 million people.
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday announced the reopening of tourism industry, a decision taken after the National Coordination Committee (NCC) meeting. While addressing a press conference, Mr Khan said that tourism industry will be reopened because coming months are essential for people associated with tourism. The governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan would sit together and make Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
As number of Coronovirus patients grow exponentially in Pakistan, veteran actors Rubina Ashraf and Sakina Samo have also tested positive for the infectious disease. The two have isolated themselves and their families are also expected to be tested. Actors such as Nida Yasir, Yasir Nawaz, Alizeh Shah, Naveed Raza and Abrarul Haq have also tested positive for Covid-19.
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has stated that foreign dramas will have a ‘devastating’ long-run effect on Pakistani productions. The show that was allowed to be broadcast on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, gained massive popularity in the country. The federal minister used a Tweet to exclaim his ‘surprise’ at the PTV for “taking pride on other countries productions”.
The Pink Bus Service started in 2018 to facilitate women in Mardan and Abbottabad in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has already been shut down. The Japanese government donated 14 pink buses for the cause and KP government had intentions to gradually expand this project to other cities. However, the service was not making profits and closed within an year.
Rapidly rising COVID-19 cases in Pakistan means the country is headed towards the third phase, known as the ‘Lag Phase,’ claimed Pakistan Infection Control Society president Prof Rafiq Khanani. Lag Phase is characterized by an exponential increase in number of cases. With the public exhibiting constant carelessness towards SOPs and a weak healthcare system, Pakistan would continue to witness severity in the pandemic until September.
Two officials of the Pakistani High Commission in Delhi were expelled by India, after being accused of espionage by Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Abid Hussain Abid, 42, an assistant in the Pakistani mission, and Mohammad Tahir Khan, 44, a clerk, were accused of obtaining documents about the Indian security establishment from a local person. Pakistan as was quick to reject the claims as “false and unsubstantiated”.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has directed petrol pumps to maintain a minimum supply of 20 days. In order to ensure the quantities OGRA has asked Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) to physically inspect the availability of petrol and high speed diesel at depots, retail outlets (petrol pumps) and refineries of all oil companies.
There is no shortage of beds, ventilators and medical facilities for COVID-19 patients, said the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health Dr Zafar Mirza. He said only 28% of available ventilators are being used for patients with COVID-19, according to Radio Pakistan. The minister added that around 723 patients were in critical condition while 201 of them were on ventilators.
Model Sadaf Kanwal and Shahroz Sabzwari tied the knot Sunday in an intimate ceremony, revealing the news on their Instagram accounts. News of the couple’s nikah did not settle well with fans of Shahroz’s ex-wife Syra Yousaf, who bombarded accounts of the new couple with hateful comments. Both the celebrities in return turned off the comments.