Google and Netflix have helped Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to lower burden on its telecom network by sharing some steps they have taken. Google has introduced new features and resources which links to the National Institute of Health (NIH) to provide locally relevant information to Pakistani users such as expansion of COVID-19 SOS Alerts and Knowledge Panels on Google Search, as well as YouTube Information Panels.
J.K. Rowling is hoping a dash of Harry Potter will help homebound families during the coronavirus pandemic. The author has launched an online initiative, www.harrypotterathome.com, which features quizzes, games and other activities. Rowling’s British and American print publishers, Bloomsbury and Scholastic, will contribute materials to the Potter web site and to their own web sites.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has halted several universities’ online classes after receiving various complaints from students. The decision was taken due to the low-quality content, delivery, and connectivity on various subjects.The commission will now directly intervene, as announced by the chairman Dr. Tariq Banuri. The May 31 deadline is for universities that need time to establish an online learning management system.
Higher Education Commission (HEC) has asked for detailed information on the courses from universities in order to inspect the quality of the content, delivery and connectivity of the online classes. The decision was taken in response to a number of complaints regarding the classes conducted online in some universities. If a university is found unable to deliver good quality online lectures, they will be directed to halt such lectures until the requisite conditions are met.
UAE lifted the ban on various Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services to encourage the citizens to stay home amidst the coronavirus outbreak. Last week the government made Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, Zoom, and Blackboard available in the country. A week after that, the government, realizing the importance of working from home in these testing times, has lifted the ban of Google Hangouts Meet, Cisco Webex, Avaya Spaces, BlueJeans, and Slack as well.
All airplanes have to be thoroughly disinfected before boarding passengers, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority announced. The authority issued an advisory for all national and international airlines operating in Pakistan. It ordered the companies to add coronavirus in their health declaration forms. It also stated that during the flights, all passengers and flight attendants should be provided face masks.
Punjab has decided to close all its shops and markets by 5pm to intensify the lockdown to curb the coronavirus spread in the province. The decision was taken by CM Usman Buzdar. All shops and markets have been instructed to operate from 9am to 5pm. This restriction, however, won’t be placed on medical stores and pharmacies.
The Punjab government has completely locked down Raiwind over fears that the coronavirus may spread from there. The Raiwind Tablighi Centre has been declared a quarantine centre for foreigners. Multiple members of the Tablighi Jamaat have tested positive for the coronavirus, with 94 cases being confirmed in Sindh, 32 in Punjab and 16 in Islamabad. Members of the Jamaat are being tested.
Asia Cup 2020 is the latest sporting event expected to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. A Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official mentioned that it can be assumed that Asia Cup is not a possibility for now as the extent of the COVID-19 is unknown. Similarly, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is also not optimistic on the fate of the regional cricketing tournament.
Punjab is all set increase its coronavirus testing capacity to 2,500 test per day by Thursday (April 2), revealed Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid. She further added that the government is utilising the lockdown to increase the number of hospitals in the province and also shared the aim of the ministry to bring the figure to 5,000 tests per day in order to identify more people.