The Torkham and Chaman borders connecting Pakistan and Afghanistan are going to be opened for three days to allow Afghan nationals to exit Pakistan. The Foreign Office announced the news in a statement on Saturday. It is being opened at the special request of the Afghan government on humanitarian considerations. The Torkham and Chaman border crossings will be opened for a specific period from April 6 to 9.
Murree Brewery has gotten the go-ahead from the Punjab excise and taxation department to start making hand sanitizer. According to the company’s CEO, they have been given permission to make 10,000 gallons of sanitizer per month till June 2020. Earlier this week, the brewery offered to mass produce and sell hand sanitizer with 70 percent alcohol to help fight the coronavirus outbreak in Pakistan.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has suspended all passenger flights till midnight on April 11, according to a notification issued. The only exception would be the diplomatic, special/cargo flights and flights of national carrier to/from Pakistan holding special approval from the competent authority for transporting stranded Passengers. However, domestic flight operations to/from Islamabad International Airport for Gilgit and Skardu Airport would continue as per normal operations.
All airplanes have to be thoroughly disinfected before boarding passengers, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority announced. The authority issued an advisory for all national and international airlines operating in Pakistan. It ordered the companies to add coronavirus in their health declaration forms. It also stated that during the flights, all passengers and flight attendants should be provided face masks.
Punjab has decided to close all its shops and markets by 5pm to intensify the lockdown to curb the coronavirus spread in the province. The decision was taken by CM Usman Buzdar. All shops and markets have been instructed to operate from 9am to 5pm. This restriction, however, won’t be placed on medical stores and pharmacies.
The Punjab government has completely locked down Raiwind over fears that the coronavirus may spread from there. The Raiwind Tablighi Centre has been declared a quarantine centre for foreigners. Multiple members of the Tablighi Jamaat have tested positive for the coronavirus, with 94 cases being confirmed in Sindh, 32 in Punjab and 16 in Islamabad. Members of the Jamaat are being tested.
Punjab is all set increase its coronavirus testing capacity to 2,500 test per day by Thursday (April 2), revealed Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid. She further added that the government is utilising the lockdown to increase the number of hospitals in the province and also shared the aim of the ministry to bring the figure to 5,000 tests per day in order to identify more people.
Chairman and Printer Publisher Jang Group, Mir Javed-ur-Rahman passed away on Tuesday. He was the eldest son of Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman, and brother of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman. Mir Javed-ur-Rahman was being treated at a private hospital in Karachi. According to the hospital, he was suffering from lung cancer and was in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital.
Sindh police has launched “Citizen Monitoring App” in its attempt to ensure curfew in the province to put reins on the spread of the novel coronavirus. The app is designed to keep tabs on citizens roaming around the city and will be installed on mobile phones used by officers deputed at police checkpoints. So far, around 500 officials have been given access to the application.
A Baloch journalist Sajid Hussain has been missing since March 2 in Uppsala city of Sweden and his whereabouts are unknown yet. Swedish Police have also been informed about Hussain’s disappearance. Law enforcement agencies have been probing his disappearance and will give his family further details on the completion of the investigation. However, Hussain’s family and friends are showing concerns regarding Swedish authorities’ slow progress in locating his whereabouts