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.
A Pakistan Air Force fighter jet crashed in Islamabad Wednesday morning during the rehearsals for the March 23 parade, the air force spokesperson confirmed. The PAF has identified the pilot as Wing Commander Nauman Akram. He did not survive the crash. The aircraft crashed near the Pakistan Museum of Natural History park, which is right next to the parade ground.
In a bid to help facilitate the people of Sialkot and Lahore as well as boost the economy, the 91.47-Km long motorway between these two cities is set to open for public on 30th March. As per sources, a total of Rs. 44 billion was spent on the motorway and it will help slash the travel time between the two cities to just 41 minutes.
PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah has assured that party founder Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan from London after a heart surgery, while his brother, Shehbaz Sharif, in March. Nawaz has been in London since October 2019 after he was granted an eight-week bail on medical grounds in the Al-Azizia reference. His brother and PML-N President, Shehbaz Sharif, is accompanying him.
The water being supplied to the citizens of Islamabad from Simly Dam, Saidpur and Shangla is not being chlorine-treated for bacteria and is unsafe. This was revealed in a letter written by the Water Quality Control Cell (WQCC) to the director water supply Municipal Corporation Islamabad (MCI). The letter highlighted that all attempts of the cell to divert the MCI’s attention towards this severe issue went unnoticed.