The Islamabad High Court has rejected a petition filed against the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) for ordering educational institutions across Islamabad to reduce their monthly fees by 20%. On April 8, the PEIRA issued a notification instructing private educational institutions to cut their tuition fees for April and May by 20% due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Shops in Faisalabad are still operating with their shutters down for the police but open for people. A lockdown has been imposed in the city to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus across the country. Section 144 has been imposed in Faisalabad, which means that there is a restriction on gatherings of more than five people and movement has been restricted too.
Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that he will start a campaign to mobilise overseas Pakistanis for funds to fight against the novel coronavirus in the country. A series of tweets by the Prime Minister’s Office said that the premier along with the support of his Special Assistant on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari will personally handle the matter. He will address Pakistanis abroad as well.
The Civil Aviation Authority has ordered thermal scanners to be installed at the domestic lounge of the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. The airport management has been ordered to implement the order before domestic flights in the country resume. It has also been instructed to ensure all precautionary measures are taken. The CAA confirmed that the machines will be installed at airports in Peshawar, Lahore, Islamabad, Multan and Faisalabad by April 13.
A total of 13 areas in Lahore have been sealed because they have reported a higher number of coronavirus cases. Raiwind had already been sealed and 12 other areas were sealed Saturday. These are Sikandria Colony, Bhatta Chowk, Bedian Road, China Scheme, Mughalpura, Samnabad, Shahdara, Small Industries, Bahria Town and some areas in Saddar, Gulshan-e-Ravi and Rustam Park.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked eight mobile phone numbers over Ehsaas programme fraud. Many people filed a complaint with the PTA that they received messages from these numbers asking for their details to register for the Ehsaas Emergency Cash programme. The PTA has sent these numbers to the FIA to investigate who is behind these scams.
The Out-Patient Departments (OPDs) of all major hospitals in Peshawar remained closed despite orders by the Supreme Court. According to residents, all entry spots leading to the OPD at Lady Reading Hospital were blocked with tents. The management of the hospital said that they decided to keep the OPDs closed as they had multiple coronavirus patients.
The Islamabad administration decided on Thursday to de-seal Bhara Kahu and Shahzad Town after almost three weeks. A notification, issued by the district magistrate, says that the step is being taken on the advice of the district health officer after “detailed survey, contact tracing, ground surveillance and testing of suspected individuals”.
The Islamabad district magistrate has lifted the ban on people visiting out-patient department of the hospital. The ban was imposed on March 24 to curb the spread of the coronavirus. According to an April 9 notification, the ban has been lifted but hospitals have to adhere to a set of SOPs given to them. They also have to make sure people are practising social distancing.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), has extended Pakistan’s deadline from June to October to take steps to avoid being placed on its blacklist. The deadline has been extended because of the outbreak of COVID-19. It will now meet from October 21 to October 26 in Beijing. In February 2020, the FATF expressed concerns over “Pakistan’s failure to complete its action plan in line with the agreed timelines.