The recent coronavirus outbreak is also a respiratory disease, much similar to the flu, which still claims thousands of lives each year. The seasonal flu kills around 0.1 per cent of patients as compared to two per cent of the 1918 flu strain, which had a huge fatality rate. But the more contagious coornavirus, is estimated to have the death rate at 1.4 per cent now based on 1,099 cases.
Hamza Ali Abbasi has said that he just took a long break from acting to give more time to religion and will make and may act in projects made within boundaries Almighty Allah has set for us. The former actor was responding to a fan on Twitter when she said “Really wish Hamza hadn’t quit acting.”
Prime Minister Imran Khan launched the multi-billion Islamabad Blue Area commercial project. Taking to Twitter, the prime minister announced that the project will provide jobs and attract investment from overseas Pakistanis. The commercial auctions will be held from April 14-16 and the funds will be used to rehabilitate the city, in the provision of services and to improve the environment.
The federal government has imposed a ban on the export of onions and red chillies with immediate effect till May 31, as revealed in a notification. The decision to impose a ban was taken by the cabinet in the Economic Coordination Committee meeting on February 19. However, the decsion would cost millions of dollars to fruit and vegetables exporters.
The government of Sindh has decided to close all private and government educational institutions till March 13 as a precautionary measure to protect students from coronavirus. The news was confirmed by provisional minister Sindh. According to a statement issued by the Sindh CM house, at least 738 people have arrived in Karachi from Iran and over 13,000 people are still at the Taftan border. Their families will also be screened by the health authorities.
Wedding bells are finally ringing for actors Sajal Aly and Ahad Raza Mir as the couple began handing out wedding invites. One of the guests is British Deputy High Commissioner Mike Nithavrianakis who later tweeted sharing pictures with the couple and said that it was wonderful meeting Aly and Mir to receive an invitation to their wedding.
After multiple reservations from the Asia Internet Coalition, the government has halted the implementation of its law to regulate social media. In a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan, the coalition expressed its disapproval over the law. It threatened that if the regulation is not taken back, services of social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Google will no longer be provided in the country.
Two new coronavirus cases have been reported in Pakistan, taking the total number of cases in the country to four. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza confirmed this in a press conference on Saturday. One of the patients is from Karachi while the second case was confirmed in the federal areas. The health department said this new case is unrelated to the previous case reported in Karachi of a 22-year-old male.
The European Union (EU) has agreed to provide a €13 million grant to Pakistan to improve its fiscal policies and budget preparations. The agreement was signed in the presence of Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar, who added that the grant will help Pakistan with macro-fiscal policies, budget processes, and forecasting. Azhar said that the public financial support would be utilized at Sindh, Balochistan and at a federal level.
The United States and Taliban leaders have reached a peace deal after 18 years of bloodshed in Afghan war. Both parties praised Pakistan for its role. The United States will begin withdrawing thousands of forces from Afghanistan after signing a peace agreement with Taliban militants aimed at ending America’s longest war.