Sindh registers 7 pct positivity ratio, Covid-19 Task Force briefed

KARACHI: Sindh has overall seven percent coronavirus positivity ratio, a session of Sindh Coronavirus Task Force was briefed on Thursday, ARY News reported.

The Task Force meeting, chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, was informed in a briefing in a week from April 22 to 28, the ratio of Covid-19 positive cases in Karachi was recorded 10.75 percent.

“In Hyderabad positive cases rate remained 20 percent and in Sukkur 9.48 pct in the week,” according to the briefing. In other districts of Sindh the positivity ratio recorded 2.79 percent.

“The situation is not good, we have to take strict measures against the coronavirus,” Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said.

“The administration should ensure enforcement of business hours schedule from 6:00 in the morning to 6:00 PM in the evening.

CM Shah urged for implementation of the decisions taken in the previous session of the task force.

He also constituted a ministerial committee comprised of Syed Nasir Shah, Saeed Ghani and Awais Shah, which will take strict steps after taking traders and transporters into confidence.

“We have to follow the SOPs, if avoiding a complete lockdown,” the chief minister warned.

The session was informed in the briefing that some private offices were not following the decision of lesser staff and the SOPs.

“The offices failing to enforce SOPs should be sealed,” chief minister directed.

“The inter-provincial public transport has been banned and from tomorrow inter-district transport will also be halted in Sindh,” Murad Ali Shah said.

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PM orders high-powered investigation into misconduct of staff at Saudi embassy

Prime Minister Imran Khan announced on Thursday that a high-powered investigation has been ordered into the misconduct of the embassy staff in Saudi Arabia with the Pakistani laborers and workers.  Speaking at a ceremony to inaugurate Roshan Apni Car and Roshan Social Work services under the Roshan Digital Account, he said those found involved in extorting and mistreating Pakistani laborers will be given exemplary punishments. The premier expressed to overseas Pakistanis for sending in record remittances of $1 billion through the Roshan Digital Account, saying an enormous potential still needs to be tapped. "Pakistan's problem is that no one paid attention to increasing the exports, and that became the biggest obstacle in the country's progress." Terming the lack of long-term planning ironic, the premier said that until our exports surpass our imports, we only have one option and that is to tap the enormous potential of overseas Pakistanis. "We should brainstorm on how to close in on the gap through the remittances," he maintained. LIVE #APPNews : Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI addressing a ceremony to thank Pakistani expatriates on significant milestone of $1Billion deposits in #RoshanDigitalAccount . #Islamabad #1billionRDA https://t.co/YWKPK7qwnm — APP 🇵🇰 (@appcsocialmedia) April 29, 2021 "Although we have broken all records related to remittances, it is just the tip of the iceberg as a lot still needs to be done." PM added that the strategy should be to not let the current account fall in deficit as it pressurises rupee and affects the growth rate, foreign investments, and economic growth. He observed that incentivising the construction sector and low-cost housing was picking up pace. "Banks will have to impart training to lend out loans to the people," he added. Read Farmers being strengthened to bring agricultural revolution: PM Imran Overseas Pakistanis’ confidence in the domestic economy is on the rise, as the volume of their foreign currency deposits with local banks and their investments in a number of schemes through the initiative surpassed a major milestone of $1 billion. These inflows have played a significant role in strengthening Pakistan’s foreign currency reserves to around four-year high of over $16 billion, improving the country’s capacity to make international payments, including the import bill as well as foreign debt repayments, and stabilised the rupee-dollar parity at around Rs153.

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German foreign minister arrives in Pakistan on official visit

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas arrived in Islamabad on Thursday on an official visit. The European diplomat was welcomed by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on his arrival at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In a meeting, the two ministers discussed issues of mutual interest including the challenges posed by the coronavirus, bilateral relations, situation in the region and the Afghan peace process. “When I met with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Berlin, we had a detailed discussion on bilateral relations,” said Qureshi. Read FM’s trip rejuvenates ties with EU powerhouse “Before leaving for Afghanistan, the German foreign minister deems it necessary to know Pakistan's point of view,” he said. “We discussed in detail the situation after the Biden administration announced the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.” “Pakistan wants a peaceful and stable Afghanistan,” the FM reiterated. “Peace in Afghanistan will bolster ties in the region and make construction and development possible,” said the minister. “We, under Afghan leadership, want a lasting political solution to the Afghan problem through a comprehensive dialogue acceptable to the Afghans.” The foreign minister also appreciated the visit from his German counterpart to Pakistan during the coronavirus pandemic. Qureshi also thanked the visiting minister for sending extra doses of the coronavirus vaccine to Pakistan. Read more Pakistan to receive 15m Covid-19 jabs under Covax by May: Qureshi The visit comes merely weeks after Foreign Minister Qureshi’s own official visit to Germany from April 11 to April 13. During the visit, the two ministers carried out delegation-level talks. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas last visited Pakistan in March 2019. This year, Pakistan and Germany are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Both countries are planning to undertake a number of activities in this context. Pakistan and Germany have been collaborating closely on regional matters and at the multilateral fora. Germany is the largest trading partner of Pakistan in the EU. Germany is also home to more than 100,000 Pakistani diasporas.

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PIA aircraft carrying COVID vaccine doses from China lands in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: One of three special airplanes of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) carrying 300,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses from China on Thursday landed in Islamabad.

Three Boeing 777 PIA airplanes were sent to China by the Government of Pakistan and the Ministry of Health, yesterday, in a bid to accelerate the delivery of vaccines to combat the coronavirus epidemic.

As per details, the second plane of PIA with more doses will reach Pakistan today afternoon while the third flight is expected to land at 12:00 midnight.

Read more: ‘People are not coming for Covid vaccination despite availability of stocks’

Earlier on April 25, three PIA planes carrying a consignment of one million COVID-19 vaccine doses had landed in Islamabad as the country sees a sharp increase in new coronavirus cases.

The aircraft had left for China on Saturday. Two special planes and a PIA regular flight were used to airlift the Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine doses from Beijing.

Pakistan had purchased another 30 million doses of COVID vaccine from China that will soon arrive in the country to help in a drive to vaccinate its over 220 million population.

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TikTokers’ murder: Key suspect arrested after court rejects bail

KARACHI: A court on Thursday dismissed a pre-arrest bail plea of the key suspect in four TikTokers’ murder case and ordered the police to arrest him.

The district and sessions court (South) rejected the bail plea of Abdul Rehman alias Shooter, after which he was taken into custody. The court sent him to prison on judicial remand.

Rehman, who had been on the run, approached the court the other day seeking pre-arrest bail.

Also Read: Karachi TikTokers’ murder case: Police probe comes up with startling revelations

Earlier, on April 21, the judicial magistrate (South) ordered an investigation officer (IO) to start process of proclamation and attachment of property of the main suspect.

The IO submitted a compliance report stating that non-bailable warrants issued for the arrest of suspect Abdul Rehman alias Shooter couldn’t be executed for his whereabouts are not known.

The court directed him to initiate the process of proclamation of the absconding suspect and attachment of his property.

Also Read: IO ordered to start proclamation process of key suspect

On February 1, four TikTokers identified as Muskan Sheikh, Amir Khan, Rehan Shah and Saddam Hussain were killed by unidentified armed men near Anklesaria Hospital. A female suspect, Sawera, who too is a TikToker, was arrested in the case but was later released on bail.

According to the police, Sawera was arrested on the basis of call data record (CDR) and location of her mobile phone. She was in contact with the main suspect, Rehman.

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PM Imran lauds overseas Pakistanis’ contribution to country’s economy

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Thursday has lauded the contribution of overseas Pakistanis in uplifting the country’s economy, ARY News reported. 

This he said while addressing overseas Pakistanis in connection with Roshan Digital Account reaching a milestone of one billion dollars.

He also congratulated Governor State Bank of Pakistan Reza Baqir over the milestone achieved by the Roshan Digital Accounts.

PM Imran Khan expressed his wish to take the services of Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin in the project. “As far as I know, Tarin has vast experience of marketing.”

It is unfortunate that Pakistan approached International Monetary Fund (IMF) 20 times in the last 30 years and added that his government was compelled to start a new program with the fund over decreasing exports and low preservation of US dollars.

The prime minister Imran Khan said he has summoned an envoy in Saudi Arabia over not facilitating the Pakistani labors there and allegedly demanding money from them.

Read more: With $194m March deposits Roshan Digital crosses $1b mark

Under Roshan Digital Accounts, two initiatives ‘Roshan Apni Car and Roshan Samaaji Khidmat’ were launched by the prime minister.

Under Roshan Apni Car, the Roshan Digital Card Holders can avail financing at very attractive terms to purchase a car for their loved ones in Pakistan. Banks are offering both conventional & Islamic modes of financing at attractive mark-up rates starting from 7% with priority delivery.

Under Roshan Samaaji Khidmat, the Roshan Digital Account holders can give donations and Zakat very conveniently. They will also be able to make donations directly to the government’s landmark Ehsaas program.

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WATCH: Women have lucky escape after balcony collapses on them

Two women narrowly escaped being crushed by debris after a part of a balcony at an apartment building they were entering suddenly collapsed.

The incident that occurred in Russia’s Izhevsk city was caught on camera.

The footage shows the two women walking up a flight of steps in front of the building. As soon as they reach the door, sheets of slate come crumbling down above them from one of the floors of the high-rise building.

They immediately rush down as the slabs crash inches away from where they were standing a few seconds later.

Watch the video here:

One of the woman seemingly had her ankle hurt as a large piece of slab brushed past her leg as the two hurried down the stairs.

The incident occurred on April 23, just months after a similar accident was witnessed in Vladivostok when a man who was clearing ice from the windscreen of his car in the port city had to scurry after a concrete slab fell from 100 ft from a residential building.

In 2017, a similar crash killed a woman in St Petersburg, Russia.

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