The State Bank of Pakistan cut its key interest rate by 75 basis points to 12.50% on Tuesday. The central bank cited deceleration in domestic food prices as the reason for cutting the policy rate. SBP said that the outlook on the headline inflation, a measure of the total inflation including commodities such as food and energy prices, remains within its earlier forecast range of 11% to 12%
President of China Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit Pakistan later this year and in his itinerary is the inauguration of an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant, which will be the biggest private EV venture in the country. The initial production capacity of the plant is 30,000 units annually and will be located near Lahore.
The Ministry of Commerce, in collaboration with NADRA, has launched an e-Business Visa Invitation Letter System (E-BIL) in a bid to ease business. Chambers and Trade Associations can e-file applications for business visas on arrival for nationals of 190 countries. The applications will be processed in 48-78 hrs. The E-BIL is launched to facilitate all potential foreigners interested in exploring business opportunities in Pakistan.
Prime Minister Imran Khan met religious scholar and cleric Maulana Tariq Jameel on Monday. They discussed the coronavirus outbreak in Pakistan. PM Khan urged the ulema and religious personalities to educate people about the virus. He also asked them to tell the public about precautionary measures. They did not shake hands during the meeting.
Secondary examinations of students across Sindh will commence from June 1, Education Minister Saeed Ghani said in a press conference on Monday. Students studying in grade nine and matriculation will sit for their exams on June 15. Intermediate students, both grade 11 and 12, will have their examinations from July 6. All papers will be held in the afternoon shift, the minister confirmed.
All people entering the Supreme Court will be screened for the coronavirus. As part of the court’s measures to prevent the spread of the virus, all employees have also been stopped from using biometric attendance machines. Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed has issued safety guidelines in which he urged that all people entering the court must be screened by taking their temperature. Sanitisers have been installed across the court’s premises.
Foreign minister of Germany, Heiko Maas said Monday the rights to coronavirus vaccine research were not for sale. Followed by reports, Donald Trump wanted the US to buy exclusive access to a potential vaccine developed by a German biotech firm. According to Maas, researchers play a leading role in drug and vaccine development and they cannot allow others to seek exclusive results.
Saudi Arabia has allowed Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to bring back passengers and Umrah pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia till March 17. The national carrier can send its aircraft to Jeddah and Madina only for the purpose of bringing back those stranded in Saudi Arabia. The spokesman of PIA, Abdullah Hafeez said PIA had been granted special permission by the Saudi authorities to operate its flights to Jeddah and Madina till March 17.
The scientists at National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Attaur Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB) have successfully established Molecular Diagnostic Assays for the detection of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). These robust testing kits will cost one-fourth the current price for the kits used for detecting the COVID-19 and have been efficiently tested on laboratory controls and patient sample.
The Punjab government on Sunday imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), banning public gatherings in wake of a surge in novel coronavirus cases across the country. Section 144 of the CrPc allows the State to issue temporary orders in case of emergencies. The move was notified by Additional Chief Secretary Momin Agha.