Inbound passengers to undergo COVID test at airports as NCOC devises fresh protocols

ISLAMABAD: National Command Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday devised new protocols for the inbound passengers, imposing a condition of COVID testing at Pakistan airports, ARY NEWS reported.

The NCOC in its handout issued today said that in view of prevailing global and regional disease trends, Pakistan has decided to reduce inbound international travel from 5 May to 20th May by 20 percent.

In view of prevailing global and regional disease trends, Pakistan has decided to reduce inbound international travel from 5 May to 20th May. International flights to Pakistan will be reduced to 20% during this period. pic.twitter.com/wEQDqpkQpd

— NCOC (@OfficialNcoc) May 1, 2021

The restrictions would be reviewed on May 18 as category C would remain unchanged for the duration. The fresh protocols released on NCOC’s Twitter handle for the inbound passengers stated that people having Pakistani passports could return to the country and had to carry a negative PCR test report performed 72 hours before travel.

Besides this, the passengers will undergo rapid COVID testing at the Pakistani airports and would stay in quarantine for 10 days at their homes.

Read More: Stay home, stay safe: NCOC announces six-day Eid holidays amid COVID surge

In case of testing positive, the passengers will have to shift to a quarantine facility, where they would be re-tested for COVID 19 on the eight-day. The guidelines stated that the passenger would bear the expense of the isolation facility and in case of testing positive for the second time, the passenger would be shifted to a hospital.

All inbound passengers would be bound to register themselves on Track App while those deported would be exempted from it.

The post Inbound passengers to undergo COVID test at airports as NCOC devises fresh protocols appeared first on ARY NEWS.

from ARY NEWS https://ift.tt/3eOoatE

Brazilian, South African variants of Covid-19 found in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Brazilian and South African variants of Covid-19 have been detected in Pakistan, a spokesperson for the National Institute of Health (NIH) confirmed on Saturday.

He said both strains were found in samples the NIH received for testing, raising fears that these variants with a higher mortality rate could put a strain on the country’s already overwhelmed health facilities.

Also Read: 146 more die of Covid-19, 4,696 infected across Pakistan

The spokesperson said they were continuously monitoring different Covid variants. “The national health ministry and the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) have their eyes on various strains of the virus,” he added.

Stressing that following SOPs is the first line of defence, the spokesperson urged people to adhere to health guidelines, including wearing masks and social distancing, to keep the deadly disease at bay.

Also Read: Over 5,000 Covid-19 patients on oxygen in Pakistan: Asad Umar

Earlier, Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuhu said in a video message that at least 10 British, two South African, and one Brazilian virus variants have been detected in Karachi.

“The Brazilian and South African strains of the virus have a higher mortality rate, and the efficacy of the vaccine is not that significant against them,” Pechuhu said.

The post Brazilian, South African variants of Covid-19 found in Pakistan appeared first on ARY NEWS.

from ARY NEWS https://ift.tt/3nJN5mj

Five vaccination centres to be set up in Multan

The district health authority in Multan will set up five coronavirus vaccination centres to curtail the spread of coronavirus in the district. Sources said health department has decided to increase the number of coronavirus vaccination centres from two to seven after five new vaccination centres will be set up in the city with an aim to accelerate the vaccination process for the facility of citizens, said CEO District Health Authority, Dr Shoaib Gurmani on Friday. Gurmani also informed that the centres would be established at different places including Sports Gymnasium, Workers Welfare School, Lodhi Colony, Govt College for Women, Shah Rukn-i-Alam, Govt Home Economics College, Madni Chowk and at Govt Commerce College, Qasimpur Colony. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) DHA stated that the Deputy Commissioner notified the centres will start functioning soon, adding that the decision has been made to facilitate the citizens. He said that over 21,000 citizens have been inoculated with the first dose of coronavirus vaccination. Meanwhile, over 7,000 received the second jab as well. Over 10,000 health workers have been vaccinated with the first dose and 7,040 got the second dose so far. Dr Shoaib maintained that over 80,000 citizens have been registered for the vaccination so far. Meanwhile, DC Ali Shahzad along with ACs Umair Khawaja, Tayyab khan and DHO, Dr Ali Mehdi visited the proposed centres to inspect vaccination and observation rooms. The deputy commissioner instructed health department officials to make these centres operational at the earliest. 

from Punjab News Updates and Insights - The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/3t8VJfg

Pakistan reduces inbound international flights to 20%

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) announced on Saturday that inbound international flights to Pakistan will be reduced to 20 per cent from May 5 to May 20 amid prevailing global and regional disease (Covid-19) trends. In view of prevailing global and regional disease trends, Pakistan has decided to reduce inbound international travel from 5 May to 20th May. International flights to Pakistan will be reduced to 20% during this period. pic.twitter.com/wEQDqpkQpd — NCOC (@OfficialNcoc) May 1, 2021 According to a notification issued by the NCOC, there would be no change in existing Catagory C list countries. "Pakistani passport holders (stranded / short term visa) are allowed to travel to Pakistan subject to exemption by the committee as per procedures in vogue," the communique stated. Read more: Govt to import 6,000 tonnes of oxygen: Umar The NCOC further listed testing and quarantine protocols for inbound flights to Pakistan which require a mandatory negative RT PCR test, conducted a maximum of 72 hours before travelling to Pakistan. There would be also a requirement of Rapid Antigen Testing on arrival at airports in the country whereas negative cases would undergo 10 days of self-quarantine at home with stringent TTO protocols. "Positive cases will be shifted by Provincial/ District Administration to the self-paid facility for 10 days quarantine with TTO of contacts (if any)," the NCOC added. "RT PCR test will be conducted on the 8th day of the quarantine period. In case of a negative result, the passenger will be allowed to proceed home. However, in case of a positive result, the passenger will either undergo an additional quarantine period or will be shifted to hospital as per the advice of health authorities." The NCOC would review the travel restrictions on May 18.

from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | eTribune https://ift.tt/3eHBVKU

World’s heaviest mango makes it to Guinness record

A pair of farmers in Colombia broke Guinness World Record after they grew the world’s heaviest mango.

German Orlando Novoa Barrera and Reina Maria Marroquin grew the mango at San Martin farm in the Boyaca area of Guayata.

The mango weighed 4.25 kilogrammes (9.36 pounds) and was certified as an official Guinness World Records title. The previous record was held by a mango found in the Philippines that weighed 3.435kg (7.57 lb) in 2009.

The pair said they could tell early on that the mango was growing much larger than the other fruits on their tree. Barrera said his daughter, Dabegy, suggested the mango could be a new world record after it was harvested and weighed.

“Our goal with this Guinness World Records title is to show to the world that in Colombia we are humble, hardworking people who love the countryside and that the land that is cultivated with love produces great fruits. In addition, this represents in times of pandemic a message of hope and joy for our people,” Barrera told Guinness World Records.

“It was very delicious and healthy inside, but before that, we made a mold out of it to make a replica and donate it to the municipality to be recorded in history,” Barrera said.

The post World’s heaviest mango makes it to Guinness record appeared first on ARY NEWS.

from ARY NEWS https://ift.tt/3aSKv8p

PM commends FBR on 57% growth in tax collection in April

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday commended the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on achieving growth of 57 per cent in tax collection in April, 2021.

Taking to the popular microblogging site Twitter, Prime Minister Khan said, “I commend FBR efforts on achieving growth of 57% in April 2021 with collections recorded at Rs.384 bn compared to Rs.240 bn in April 2020.”

During July-April, tax collections reached Rs3780 billion, which is 14% higher than the same period last year, he said, adding the growth in tax collection shows “our policies have led to broad-based econ[omic] revival.”

I commend FBR efforts on achieving growth of 57% in April 2021 with collections recorded at Rs.384 bn compared to Rs.240 bn in April 2020. During Jul-Apr collections reached Rs.3780 bn – 14% higher than same period last yr. Shows our policies have led to broad-based econ revival.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 1, 2021

According to the tax authorities, the FBR surpassed its revenue collection target by Rs34 billion to Rs384bn in April.

The net collection for April was Rs384bn against a target of Rs350bn, an increase of 9.7 per cent. Revenue collection posted growth of 57pc compared to the collection of Rs244bn in April 2020.

The post PM commends FBR on 57% growth in tax collection in April appeared first on ARY NEWS.

from ARY NEWS https://ift.tt/3nBChGR

PM Imran commends FBR on record tax collection of Rs384b in April

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday commended the efforts of The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on achieving a record tax collection of Rs384 billion during the month of April. "I commend FBR efforts on achieving growth of 57 per cent," the prime minister said in a tweet comparing the collection of Rs240 billion during the same month in 2020. PM Imran added that the current government's policies had led to " broad-based econ[omic] revival." "During July-April, the collections reached 3,780 billion rupees, 14 per cent higher than the same period last year," the premier added. I commend FBR efforts on achieving growth of 57% in April 2021 with collections recorded at Rs.384 bn compared to Rs.240 bn in April 2020. During Jul-Apr collections reached Rs.3780 bn - 14% higher than same period last yr. Shows our policies have led to broad-based econ revival. — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 1, 2021 Earlier it was reported that the tax collection body maintained a steady momentum and received Rs3.78 trillion in taxes in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year but its dependence on indirect taxes further increased to 64% of the total receipts. Read more: Indirect taxes drive FBR revenues Provisional results for July-April showed that FBR collected Rs143 billion more than its revised target. The collection was almost equally made at the import stage where nearly one out of every two rupees was collected. The FBR collected Rs3.78 trillion in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year as against Rs3.32 trillion in the same period of last fiscal year, registering a growth rate of nearly 14%, according to the provisional results. The collection was Rs460 billion higher as compared to the same period of last fiscal year. The FBR managed to exceed the sales tax and customs duty collection targets, but missed the targets of income tax and federal excise duty.

from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | eTribune https://ift.tt/3xBaNFP