The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has suspended international flights till midnight on May 15, according to a notification issued on Sunday. The new directives come as the number of confirmed cases in the country rose to over 12,700 with 269 deaths. On April 18, Pakistan had suspended all domestic and international flight operations till April 30 in a bid to contain the coronavirus.
China sent another team of doctors and medical aid to Pakistan that reached the Islamabad International Airport on Saturday. According to the ISPR, the team has an expertise in dealing with patients affected by the novel coroanavirus. The doctors will stay in the country for the next two months. They will also analyse Pakistan’s medical services and will advise doctors and paramedic staff working on the front line.
An anti-narcotics court in Lahore exempted PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah from appearing before it in a drug possession case on Saturday. A petition for exemption was submitted by Sanaullah’s lawyers. It said that the PML-N leader can’t attend court hearing in person because of the threat of the coronavirus. He said that it is unsafe for travel without security and he can’t travel with his security guard.
Doctors of PIMS Islamabad urged the government to tighten the coronavirus lockown in the upcoming weeks. All Employees Association Spokesperson Dr Asfand emphasised that the next few weeks were very crucial in controlling the deadly pandemic in the country. Dr Asfand pointed out that the doctors and paramedical staff working on the front line were aware of the actual situation caused by COVID-19.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt. Gen. Muhammad Afzal has said the country will start conducting 50,000 coronavirus tests per day starting next week. NDMA chairman said that the virus detection kits would be provided to all the concerned departments in the country to enhance testing capacity.He added that earlier only those people underwent a test that showed symptoms of the virus; however, randomised testing will be done now.
Pakistan has received $1.39 billion by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to shore up economy, according to the State Bank of Pakistan’s tweet. This is a loan under the Rapid Financing Instrument. It was approved by the IMF on April 17 to bolster the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is expected to meet urgent balance of payment needs that have arisen due to the pandemic.
There are 40 illegal housing societies in Islamabad, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) told the Islamabad High Court on Thursday. A bench, headed by Chief Justice Athar Minallah, was hearing a petition filed by a man challenging the CDA demolition notice of his farmhouse. Justice Minallah asked that CDA just issues notices to poor people but what about the illegal housing societies.
A Karachi court denied a group of traders bail in a case against them for violating the lockdown. District South judicial magistrate sent six traders to jail for 14 days on judicial remand. They were arrested for opening their markets without permission. One of the men who has been arrested is a traders’ representative. On Monday they appeared in court asking for bail but their request was denied.
Pakistan’s usage of petroleum products slumped 31% to 1.38 billion litres countrywide since the lockdown. The Federal Board of Revenue said this had the effect of eating into tax collection. Before the lockdown was enforced, Pakistan’s demand for petroleum products was 2 billion litres.
The FBR said that the global rout in oil prices will nonetheless benefit people here as oil products will be cheaper but tax collection targets may not be achieved.
The Punjab Food Authority disposed of vegetables grown in wastewater on Wednesday. The authority conducted tests of vegetables grown on 2,804 kanals of land in 14 districts. According to the test results vegetables on 96 kanals were being grown in wastewater from industries and municipals. These vegetables included onions, tomatoes, ladyfinger etc. being grown in Rawalpindi, Chakwal, among other areas.