Jahangir Khan

COVID positivity ratio highest in Gilgit Baltistan, Karachi, AJK

ISLAMABAD: Karachi and parts of Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have reported the highest COVID-19 positivity ratio in the country as the government fears that the fourth wave of the infection has begun in the country, ARY NEWS reported on Saturday.

According to sources in National Ministry for Health, the areas in Gilgit Baltistan have witnessed over 15 percent positivity ratio with Gilgit reporting an 18.60 positivity ratio, followed by 16.50 percent in Skardu, and 5.45 percent in Diamer.

Karachi, according to the ministry sources, has reported a ratio of 14.06 percent while its adjoining city Hyderabad has a positivity ratio of 4.33 percent.

Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, has reported a 12.38 percent ratio, followed by 2.41 percent in Mirpur.

The federal capital has witnessed a rising trend of COVID-19 cases with a ratio of 5.76 percent, while Peshawar, Nowshera, Swabi and Swat reported positivity ratios of 5.33 percent, 4.78 percent, 2.45 percent, and 1.52 percent respectively.

Six districts where the positivity ratio remained below one percent included Multan, Abbottabad, Jhelum, Faisalabad, Charsadda, and Mardan.

Moreover, Rawalpindi reported 3.81 percent positivity while Lahore, Gujrat and Gujranwala reported 1.84 percent, 2.38 percent, and 1.37 percent ratios respectively.

Pakistan’s COVID tally

Pakistan reported 1,828 new cases of the coronavirus (Covid-19) during the past 24 hours, taking the country’s virus tally to 971,304.

35 more people succumbed to the deadly disease in a single day, pushing the nationwide death toll to 22,555.

According to the latest National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) updates, as many as 36,454 tests were conducted in the previous 24 hours, out of which results of 1,828 patients came back positive.

The infection rate slightly increased to 3.79 percent from yesterday’s 3.65pc, it said.

July 10, 2021
CEC AJK urges PM to stop ministers from violating code of conduct

MUZAFFARABAD: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice retired Rasheed Sulheria has urged Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan to stop federal and provincial ministers from violating the electoral code of conduct for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) polls.

In a letter, penned to the premier after a video showing federal minister Ali Amin Gandapur distributing cash, the CEC has said that no government resources should be used against or in favor of any political party.

The minister should be barred from violating the code of conduct released for the legislative assembly polls. “The federal, AJK and provincial governments should ensure transparent and impartial polls.”

The candidate will be declared ineligible if the authorities find any violation in his constituency, the commissioner clarified.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the current ruling party of the AJK, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and other parties are currently running their elections campaigns in the valley.

Read more: AJK polls: Teams formed to monitor election campaigns

The elections for the legislative assembly of Azad Kashmir will be held on Sunday, July 25, 2021.

As many as 32,20,546 Kashmiris could cast their votes in the forthcoming elections, including15,19,347 male and 12,97,747 female voters.

The AJK elections will be held to elect 45 representatives of the legislative assembly, including 33 in Azad Kashmir and 12 for Kashmiri migrants.

July 9, 2021
Parts of Gilgit Baltistan, AJK witnessing highest positivity ratio nationwide

ISLAMABAD: Parts of Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) are among the 22 areas of the ‎country that have reported the highest COVID positivity ratio, ARY NEWS reported quoting ‎sources. ‎

According to sources in National Ministry for Health, Gilgit has reported the highest positivity ratio at ‎‎27.03 percent, followed by 13.79 percent positivity in Muzaffarabad. ‎

Karachi, the business hub of the country, has also reported a positivity ratio at 11.5 percent, followed ‎by 5.4 percent and 5.19 percent ratio in Islamabad and Peshawar. ‎

Multan reported COVID positivity at 4.35 percent, Nowshera 4.21 percent, Quetta 4.1 percent, ‎Rawalpindi 2.48 percent, Hyderabad 1.84 percent. ‎

The sources in the federal health ministry said that 10 districts have reported less than one percent positivity ratio and ‎included Abbottabad‎, Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, ‎and Jhelum. ‎

Pakistan’s COVID tally

Pakistan has reported 17 more COVID-19 deaths over the previous 24 hours, lifting the death toll from the disease to 22,469.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the country’s caseload rose to 966,007 after 1,517 new infections were detected during this period.

A total of 46,287 samples were tested, out of which 1,517 turned out to be positive for COVID-19. The positivity ratio of cases reported a sharp increase and was recorded at 3.27% in Pakistan.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease since the pandemic began climbed to 909,525 after 877 more recovered in the last 24 hours.

The active cases were recorded at 34,013

Thus far, Punjab has reported a total of 347,180 infections, Sindh 342,228, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 138,727, Islamabad 83,155, Balochistan 27,502, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 20,641 and Gilgit Baltistan 6,574.

July 7, 2021
Covid vaccination centres planned at union council level in Islamabad

KARACHI: In a bid to expedite the vaccination process in Islamabad, the health authorities have decided to open centres for the administration of COVID jabs in every union council of the federal capital, ARY NEWS reported.

The vaccination centres will be established in the urban and rural union councils of the capital and are aimed at facilitating the public and improving the rate of COVID-19 vaccination.

The vaccination centres will be established in basic health units (BHUs) and rural health units and government schools.

According to sources privy to the matter, there would be four vaccinators at every centre as 92 vaccinators would be hired in total on a temporary basis.

“They will receive Rs45,000 monthly stipend,” they said adding that those recruited would be assessed on the basis of their experience as a medical or nursing assistant.

They further said that so far 700,000 people have been vaccinated in the federal capital.

It is pertinent to mention here that the federal government commenced administering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine donated by the United States in Islamabad.

According to National Command and Operational Centre (NCOC), the administration of the Moderna vaccine has started at Mass Vaccination Center F-9 Park Islamabad.

Read More: MODERNA’S COVID-19 VACCINE SHOWS PROMISE AGAINST DELTA VARIANT

“Moderna Vaccine will be available in selected CVCs across the country from Monday onwards,” it added.

Moreover, the forum also shared details of vaccination centers where the Moderna vaccine would be available from Monday.

July 6, 2021
Pfizer to resume Covid vaccine supply to Pakistan this month

ISLAMABAD: US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has decided to resume Covid-19 vaccine supply to Pakistan this month, ARY News reported.

Sources said Pakistan has purchased 13 million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine.

The firm will provide the vaccine to Pakistan in phases with a consignment of 100,000 shots to reach Pakistan this month. The country would get a vaccine consignment every month.

The sources said around 15 million more doses of different Covid-19 vaccines, including Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, will arrive in Pakistan this month. They said 90 per cent of the vaccines to be flown in in July have been purchased by the Government of Pakistan.

The country will likely receive more shots of AstraZeneca vaccine through Covax, they said, adding raw material for production of the homemade vaccine PakVac will also be imported from China’s CanSino this month.

As many as 4.5 million doses of different vaccines have reached Pakistan over the past four days, the sources said, detailing 2.5 million shots of Moderna vaccine were received through Covax on July 2 and another two million doses of Sinopharm vaccine were flown in during the previous 24 hours.

Two million doses of Sinovac vaccine will reach Pakistan in the next two days while its another consignment will arrive after July 20.

July 5, 2021
15m doses of Covid vaccines to reach Pakistan this month

ISLAMABAD: Around 15 million more doses of different Covid-19 vaccines, including Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, will arrive in Pakistan this month, ARY News reported, quoting informed sources.

They said 90 per cent of the vaccines to be flown in in July have been purchased by the Government of Pakistan.

The country will likely receive more shots of AstraZeneca vaccine through Covax, they said, adding raw material for production of the homemade vaccine PakVac will also be imported from China’s CanSino this month.

Also Read: CITIZENS TRAVELLING ABROAD TO GET MODERNA VACCINE: MINISTER

As many as 4.5 million doses of different vaccines have reached Pakistan over the past four days, the sources said, detailing 2.5 million shots of Moderna vaccine were received through Covax on July 2 and another two million doses of Sinopharm vaccine were flown in during the previous 24 hours.

Two million doses of Sinovac vaccine will reach Pakistan in the next two days while its another consignment will arrive after July 20.

On Friday, Pakistan received 2.5 million doses of Moderna vaccine from the US. “The United States Mission to Pakistan is pleased to share these safe and effective vaccines with the people of Pakistan,” said U.S. Embassy Chargé d’affaires Angela P. Aggeler.

Also Read: ANOTHER SINOPHARM SHIPMENT LANDS IN ISLAMABAD CARRYING 700,000 DOSES

“These vaccines will save lives and help Pakistan emerge from this crisis, which has devastated so many families and communities in both our countries. A vaccinated public will also help bring back the economic and social interactions.”

July 5, 2021
Govt takes decision on COVID-19 risk allowance to health workers

ISLAMABAD: The health ministry has decided to disburse COVID-19 risk allowance only to front line health workers in federal hospitals and institutions, ARY News reported on Saturday.

In a letter to federal-administered hospitals and institutions, the health ministry asked the administration to provide data of health workers for the provision of COVID-19 risk allowance to them.

It read that coronavirus risk allowance will be applicable from April 1, 2020, for front line health workers. It has been directed to provide the list of health workers till July 5, otherwise, the hospitals or institutions will not get the risk allowance.

It further said that the finance ministry had already issued directives for the disbursement of COVID-19 risk allowance to the health workers.

In June last year, the federal government had approved the COVID-19 risk allowance for the health professionals performing coronavirus duties as a token of recognition of their dauntless bravery.

The government had allocated Rs480 million for the special risk allowance to encourage the frontline warriors in the fight against the COVID-19.

It had been announced to provide a special risk allowance, equal to one-month basic salary, to over 3,000 health professionals performing coronavirus duties at the federal government’s hospitals.

July 3, 2021
Moderna Covid vaccine to be available in 16 cities from July 05: sources

ISLAMABAD: The Moderna Covid vaccine received by Pakistan from the United States will be available in 16 cities of the country from July 05 for Pakistanis travelling abroad, ARY NEWS reported quoting sources.

According to sources in National Ministry for Health, the nationwide distribution of the vaccine is in the last stages and the process would be completed today.

“In the first phase, the provinces will receive limited doses of Moderna vaccine and will get doses as per their need in the second phase,” they said.

The doses, according to sources, would be available in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Swat, Hyderabad, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, and Gilgit.

“The vaccine will be stored in ultracold chain refrigerators in 16 cities as it needs to be placed in minus 80 degrees centigrade,” they said.

On Friday, Pakistan received 2.5 million doses of Moderna vaccine from the US. “The United States Mission to Pakistan is pleased to share these safe and effective vaccines with the people of Pakistan,” said U.S. Embassy Chargé d’affaires Angela P. Aggeler.

Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar earlier in the day said that overseas workers and students travelling abroad will be administered Moderna vaccine.

In a message on his official Twitter handle, the minister said: “Received 2.5 million doses of moderna sent by US govt. This will [be administered to] particularly those who have to travel for work or study to countries which are only accepting certain vaccines.”

Umar, who also heads the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), appreciated US President Joe Biden’s “progressive policy” on Covid-19.

July 3, 2021
Inbound int’l flights increased after improvement in Covid situation: NCOC

ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has said that the number of inbound international flights was increased after recording improvement in COVID-19 situation in the country, ARY News reported on Friday.

The NCOC said in a statement that the cancellation of flights by some foreign airlines has created difficulties for passengers which led the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to issue warning to the air carriers.

According to the centre, the number of inbound passengers was increased up to 8,000 on a daily basis from 4,000 from June 15. Following the betterment in Covid situation, the authorities allowed increasing flights from Britain, Europe, Canada, China and Malaysia up to 40 per cent.

READ: TWO INT’L AIRLINES CANCEL US-PAKISTAN FLIGHTS AFTER CAA ADVISORY

Moreover, the NCOC established a comprehensive system for curbing the import of novel coronavirus by rapid testing and quarantine of the inbound passengers arriving in from different countries.

Pakistan has conducted coronavirus tests of 280,000 passengers so far besides the detection of 600 positive cases among the travellers who were immediately quarantined.

It was learnt that the airlines were expecting relaxation from Pakistan about the number of onboard passengers, but after the latest CAA travel advisory, both the airlines suddenly cancelled their scheduled flights.

READ: PAKISTAN ISSUES TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR INT’L INBOUND FLIGHTS

Reacting to the situation, the spokespersons of the CAA, said that both the airlines did overbooking on the Pakistan-bound flights.

It is to be noted that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had issued a travel advisory on Wednesday for international flights amid the coronavirus pandemic, stating that only 20 flights would be operated in Pakistan till July 15.

The aviation authority had stated in its order that 80 per cent of inbound international flights would be banned except the operations up to 20 per cent in accordance with the Summer 2021 schedule.

July 2, 2021
New shipment of Covid vaccine to end troubles of overseas Pakistanis

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is likely to receive 2.5 million doses of Moderna’s mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine doses on Friday (tomorrow), citing sources, ARY News reported on Thursday.

Pakistan will receive a shipment of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine through COVAX — the World Health Organisation’s global shared vaccine programme on Friday.

The new shipment will end the troubles of overseas Pakistanis for getting US-made COVID-19 jabs prior to travelling abroad.

READ: IMMUNE CELL “FACTORIES” WORK LONGER AFTER MRNA VACCINES LIKE PFIZER

The shipment will arrive in Islamabad which will be administered to overseas Pakistanis and people who are suffering from chronic diseases on a priority basis, sources told ARY News. The US-made Moderna vaccine is also approved by Saudi Arabia, Gulf states, Europe and the United States (US).

The Covax had also provided stocks of Pfizer-BioNTech and Astrazeneca vaccines including 100,600 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and 1,238,000 doses of Astrazeneca vaccine. A shipment of 18 million doses of coronavirus vaccine had also arrived in Pakistan, sources added.

READ: MODERNA’S COVID-19 VACCINE SHOWS PROMISE AGAINST DELTA VARIANT

On June 29, the United States (US) had announced to send 2.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine to Pakistan, confirmed White House press secretary Jen Psaki. He had said the doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are being sent to Pakistan to help Islamabad in the fight against the pandemic.

Pakistan has primarily used Chinese vaccines – Sinopharm, CanSinoBio and Sinovac- in its inoculation drive.

July 1, 2021