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.
The missing cockpit voice recorder of the PIA PK-8303 that crashed on May 22 has finally been found, the airline confirmed Thursday. Ninety-seven passengers were killed and two survived aftert he plane crash. The recorder was found from the debris and has been handed over to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board.
Pakistan government is deploying secretive surveillance technology to hunt coronavirus patients and the people they come into contact with. The technology is usually used to locate militants. The government has turned to the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI) for help in tackling the virus. Details about the project have not been released.
A team of of foreign experts belonging to the manufacturer of the A320 plane that crashed last week near Karachi airport are examining the crash site. 43 of the 97 bodies have been identified and handed over to relatives while the DNA samples of others are being cross checked with those of their relatives. Airbus sent an 11-member team to Pakistan to provide full technical assistance to Pakistani authorities in charge of the investigation as well as the PIA.
Punjab government has tightened the smart lockdown changing timings of all markets, shopping malls and shops in the province as the Eid holidays come to an end. Confectionery shops will be allowed to remain open from 9am to 7pm. From May 27, malls and markets will resume their previous timings of 9am to 5pm. Only medical stores will be allowed to remain open round the clock.