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.
Around 48 Pakistan-made ventilators of different designs have been waiting for approval from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). DRAP had previously suggested a few changes, including the addition of artificial lungs. Federal Science Minister Fawad Chaudhry has confirmed that the country will begin manufacturing ventilators for commercial purposes from next week.
People who don’t wear masks in Islamabad will be fined Rs3,000 and may also face jail time. A tweet by the office of Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat announced on Sunday that the local administration would be enforcing the rule strictly. Dr Zafar Mirza, the premier’s aide on health, said on Twitter earlier in the day that masks were mandatory for everyone in Pakistan.
According to the Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani all students of Sindh from classes 1 to 11 will be passed and promoted to the next grade. He added that each and every student will also be given extra 3% marks and the students who had failed their classes will be passed via grace marks. This way, no student in the province will be failed or left behind.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has recommended a reduction in petroleum product prices. Cut in petrol price by Rs7.06/litre, kerosene Rs11.88/litre and light diesel oil (LDO) price by Rs9.37/litre for June 2020. The regulatory body has, however, suggested that the price of diesel should remain unchanged. If the government accepts the suggestion of the authority, petrol price will come down from current Rs81.58/litre to Rs74.52/litre.
The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) police arrested a suspected Daesh terrorist in a combined operation, having input from the federal intelligence agency. During the operation, the SIU recovered weapons and other material from the possession of the suspect. Police said that the alleged Daesh terrorist has been identified as Sikandar Khan. Khan also confessed to his association with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan before 2019.
Pakistan Army has downed another Indian spy drone close to the Line of Control (LoC) for violation of airspace. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has confirmed that the Indian drone intruded about 650 meters in side Pakistan’s territory near the Rakhchikri sector at LoC. The drone was engaged in aerial photography when it was brought down in a swift retort by Pakistan Army, the military wing said.