A new entrant to the Pakistani aviation industry, K2 Airways, is all set to commence its operations later this year. Based in Karachi, the new airline will serve destinations across the country including Chitral, Skardu, and Islamabad with expansion plans likely to follow later as the company also aims to fly to international destinations soon.
At least 500 Pakistani students are reportedly stuck in the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan. In a recorded video, the students have requested the government to rescue them just like embassies of other countries are helping their citizens. “If even one of us gets affected, the others will be in danger,” said Hafsah Tayab, one of the students stuck in Wuhan.
Pakistan has started to manufacture commercial, environment friendly and fuel efficient electric rickshaws as the first manufactured electric three-wheeler was presented in a special ceremony held in Lahore. Advisor to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said on the occasion that the success of the project would depend on the financial benefits that the owner derived. He further said that if it was found suitable for its owner, more rickshaws could be converted into electric technology.
Pakistan’s overall economic freedom score has increased by 0.6 point, with higher scores for judicial effectiveness and property rights outpacing declines in monetary freedom and fiscal health, says a US think-tank report released on Saturday. The Economic Freedom Index 2019, compiled by the Washington-based Heritage Foundation, gave Pakistan 55.0 on a scale of 0 to 100, making it the 131st freest economy on a list of 186.
Another suspected case of Coronavirus has emerged in Multan, increasing the number of cases to five in Pakistan. Two samples from Multan have been sent to Hong Kong for confirmation as there are no laboratories in Pakistan equipped to diagnose the pathogen. Test reports are expected to arrive in the next 24 to 48 hours. One of the two suspected coronavirus patients in Multan is a Pakistani national.
Transparency International’s Pakistan chapter made a clarification regarding Pakistan’s three spot slip stating that it did not reflect an increase of decrease in corruption. A statement quoted TI Pakistan Chairman Advocate Sohail Muzzafar as saying that the score falling from 33 to 32 was “within the standard margin of error”. He pointed out that score lowered from 88 to 87 for Denmark, which was least corrupt country in 2018 and 2019.
As the threat of Coronavirus looms in Pakistan, there are no laboratories in the country equipped to diagnose the deadly virus. Special Assistant to the PM on Health DR Zafar Mirza has said that Pakistan has approached the authorities in China and The Netherlands to help confirm suspected cases of passengers arriving in the country. Pakistan has already started screening passengers at four airports of the country.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak in China, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has halted flights of China Southern Airlines to Pakistan until January 31. The decision was made in a meeting of the Lahore airport management with the Chief Operating Officer Chaudhary Nazir in the chair. The meeting decided that a fully equipped medical staff will check all the passengers coming from China with thermal scanners. A medical expert from Meo Hospital will oversee the operations.
The United Kingdom has allowed its citizens to travel to tourist spots in Pakistan’s northern areas, owing to the improved security situation of the country. The announcement was made by British High Commissioner to Islamabad Dr Christian Turner, who also praised the Government of Pakistan for providing improved security. The announcement is the result of a comprehensive review of UK travel advice for Pakistan, based on a wide-ranging assessment of the country’s security situation.
The Foreign Office has confirmed that US President Donald Trump will not visit Pakistan during his tour to India next month. President Trump “wants an exclusive visit to Pakistan which is not linked to any other visit in the region because Pakistan has its own distinct place,” FO Spokesperson Aisha Farooqi said at the weekly media briefing.