All people entering the Supreme Court will be screened for the coronavirus. As part of the court’s measures to prevent the spread of the virus, all employees have also been stopped from using biometric attendance machines. Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed has issued safety guidelines in which he urged that all people entering the court must be screened by taking their temperature. Sanitisers have been installed across the court’s premises.
Saudi Arabia has allowed Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to bring back passengers and Umrah pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia till March 17. The national carrier can send its aircraft to Jeddah and Madina only for the purpose of bringing back those stranded in Saudi Arabia. The spokesman of PIA, Abdullah Hafeez said PIA had been granted special permission by the Saudi authorities to operate its flights to Jeddah and Madina till March 17.
The Punjab government on Sunday imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), banning public gatherings in wake of a surge in novel coronavirus cases across the country. Section 144 of the CrPc allows the State to issue temporary orders in case of emergencies. The move was notified by Additional Chief Secretary Momin Agha.
Saudi Arabia has permitted special flights to take Pakistani Umrah pilgrims back home until March 19. These special flights could take Pakistani pilgrims from the Jeddah and Madina airports, according to the Saudi aviation authority. Ferry flights from Pakistan will be able to land at these two Saudi airports. Earlier, Saudi Arabia announced suspension of all flight operations froim Pakistan for two weeks.
Twenty new cases of the coronavirus were reported in Pakistan on Sunday, taking the country’s tally to 53. Five new COVID-19 cases were reported in Karachi, the Sindh health department confirmed. Thirteen others returning from Iran via Taftan tested positive for the virus in Sukkur. This brought the total number of cases in Sindh to 35, the health department said. One coronavirus case was reported in Islamabad, according to PIMS spokesperson Dr Waseem Khawaja.
People across the country crowded offices of the Pakistan International Airways after Saudi Arabia imposed a 72-hour deadline for iqama holders (residents) to return to the Kingdom. The decision was taken a precautionary measure after the global coronavirus outbreak. PIA was ordered by the federal government on Friday to only operate international flights from Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad.
One new coronavirus case was confirmed at PIMS in Islamabad on Saturday. The patient is a 30-year-old woman who has been put on the ventilator after her condition deteriorated. Earlier she was under treatment at a private hospital where she was tested for COVID-19. After her test came out positive she was referred to PIMS on Friday, said PIMS Spokesperson Dr Waseem Khwaja.
Gas companies have asked OGRA to increase gas prices while Sui Northern Gas Company (SNGC) has asked for a 100% increase. According to the national regulator, the gas companies have asked for an increase in the 2020-21 financial year, which is next year. SNGC has asked for a Rs670.75 increase per MMBTU , taking their rate to Rs1,334.99 per MMBTU. This would result in a Rs290 billion burden on consumers.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has arrested Jang Group and Geo TV owner Mir Shakilur Rehman in Lahore. A NAB spokesperson has confirmed the arrest. He has been arrested because he was reportedly given illegal concessions by Nawaz Sharif, the former Punjab CM, on 54 plots in Lahore’s Johar Town in 1986. NAB was conducting an inquiry against him in the case.
Pakistan’s 20th coronavirus case was confirmed on Wednesday in Skardu. The patient is a 14-year-old boy. The Gilgit-Baltistan Health Department said that the boy arrived home from Iran on March 5. He has been isolated. The federal health ministry has confirmed the case, which is the second in Gilgit-Baltistan. The patient is under treatment at City Hospital in Skardu.