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ARY NEWS

Jahangir Khan

  • Pakistan reports 2795 dengue cases in last seven days

    Pakistan reports 2795 dengue cases in last seven days

    ISLAMABAD: Dengue cases are on the rise in Pakistan again as the country reported 2,795 fresh cases during past week, ARY News reported, citing sources within NIH.

    According to the sources within the National Institute of Health (NIH), dengue cases are increasing rapidly with the rise in temperatures in Pakistan.

    Balochistan remained the most affected province with 1,728 dengue cases during the past week. Punjab, 916, Sindh,116 and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 34 dengue cases.

    Azad Jammu and Kashmir logged a single dengue case, while no case of the virus was reported in Gilgit Baltistan and Islamabad during the past week, the sources reported.

    Dengue virus is a mosquito-borne viral disease that has rapidly spread in recent years around the world. Dengue virus is transmitted by female mosquitoes mainly of the species Aedes aegypti and, to a lesser extent, Ae. albopictus.

    Read more: Dengue larvae found in 600 spots across Islamabad

    SYMPTOMS

    Dengue should be suspected when a high fever (40°C/104°F) is accompanied by 2 of the following symptoms during the febrile phase:

    • severe headache
    • pain behind the eyes
    • muscle and joint pains
    • nausea
    • vomiting
    • swollen glands
    • rash.
  • Pakistan Polio Eradication Program chief Dr Shahzad Baig ‘resigns’

    Pakistan Polio Eradication Program chief Dr Shahzad Baig ‘resigns’

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Polio Eradication Program chief Dr Shahzad Baig has ‘resigned’ from the office upon ‘failure’ in containing the spread of the crippling virus, ARY News reported on Friday, citing health ministry sources. 

    Sources said Dr Shahzad Baig was asked to ‘quit’ as he failed to contain the spread of polio virus being the head of the Pakistan Polio Eradication Program.

    Shahzad Baig was appointed as the head of the anti-polio program during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government’s tenure and the incumbent government was not ‘happy’ with his performance.

    Baig has forwarded his resignation to the National Institute of Health (NIH).

    Pakistan has reported three cases of poliovirus in 2024 so far, while 153 sewage samples also tested positive for the poliovirus.

    Read more: Poliovirus found in five more sewage samples

    Yesterday, the National Polio Testing Laboratory released a report on sewage samples from 5 districts, confirming the presence of poliovirus.

    According to sources, the virus was found in sewage samples from Karachi, Quetta and Kohat. This year, 153 out of 39 districts’ sewage samples have tested positive for poliovirus.

    The sampling for polio testing was conducted from May 9 to 15 in 5 districts. Karachi East’s Rashid Minhas Road and Machhar Colony sewage samples tested positive for poliovirus, sources said.

  • Budget 2024-25: More tax ‘proposed’ on cigarettes

    Budget 2024-25: More tax ‘proposed’ on cigarettes

    ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government is considering making cigarettes more expensive in budget 2024-25, ARY News reported, citing sources.

    According to details, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has started receiving recommendations from the stakeholders regarding the increase in cigarette rates.

    Sources further revealed that NGOs have submitted recommendations to increase 26.6% increase in the Federal Excise Duty (FED) on tobacco.

    The Tobacco Control Cell has also finalised its recommendations for making cigarettes more expensive in budget 2025, sources say.

    The Ministry of Health will finalize these recommendations and forward them to the Ministry of Finance this week, sources state.

    There is a possibility of a 15% to 19% increase in FED on tobacco in the budget 2025, sources knowing the matter said.

    Read more: Further tax on tobacco products proposed

    Currently, the Pakistan government is levying a FED of Rs120 per cigarette pack, while local industry cigarettes are being sold at 90 rupees per pack.

    Multinational cigarette manufacturers paid Rs173 billion in taxes last year and local cigarette manufacturers evaded 240 billion rupees in taxes lat year.

    Pakistan faces a significant challenge with widespread tobacco consumption, with over 31.9 million adults aged 15 years and above identified as current tobacco users, constituting nearly 19.7% of the adult population.

    Smoking-related illnesses claim over 160,000 lives annually, representing a substantial 1.6% of the nation’s GDP each year. However, in the fiscal year 2022-23, cigarette taxes covered only 16% of these expenses, marking a decline from 19.5% in 2019.

  • Bushra Bibi unable to speak since ‘being poisoned’: lawyer

    Bushra Bibi unable to speak since ‘being poisoned’: lawyer

    ISLAMABAD: Bushra Bibi, wife of PTI founder Imran Khan, was unable to speak after being fed ‘poisonous food’ during her incarceration, her lawyer Intezar Panjutha said on Saturday.

    The medical examination of former first lady was conducted today in Al-Shifa Hospital, with the majority of reports declared clear. As per reports, Bushra Bibi was diagnosed with mild gastroenteritis.

    However, Imran Khan’s wife refused to give blood samples and insisted on conducting blood tests in Shaukat Khanum Hospital.

    Meanwhile, the doctors conducted former first lady’s Electrocardiography (ECG), Echo, endoscopy and ultrasound – which according to sources came out ‘normal’. Moreover, sources told that Bushra Bibi wasn’t diagnosed with stomach ulcer.

    Sources added that gastrointestinal inflammation in the alimentary canal is likely to be caused by diet, stress or use of medicine.

    Talking to journalists, Bibi’s lawyer Intezar Panjutha confirmed the development and said that her condition was not good even today. “The doctors have suggested that she [Bushra Bibi] may have a heart disease,” he claimed.

    He reiterated that Bushra Bibi’s health was fine before her arrest, adding that her uterus is also infected. “She isn’t able to speak after being fed poisonous food,” he added. Panjutha noted that her food was laced with poisonous toilet cleaner.

    Earlier, a medical report – released by the Pakistan Institute of Medical Science (Pims) – found no evidence of any poisonous substance being given to Bushra Bibi at the Bani Gala sub-jail.

    Read More: No evidence Bushra Bibi poisoned at Bani Gala: medical report

    The medical report was released after four senior doctors performed a medical examination of Imran Khan’s wife. The report said that Bushra Bibi’s appetite was not normal and she was suffering from stomach pain.

    PTI founder Imran Khan’s personal physician, Dr Asim Yousuf, also performed a medical examination of the former first lady and found no evidence of any poisonous substance.

    It is worth mentioning here that the incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan alleged that his wife was poisoned at the Bani Gala sub-jail. The former prime minister made the startling revelations during a hearing of the £190 million settlement case in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail.

    During the hearing, Imran Khan informed the accountability court judge that the former first lady had marks on her skin and tongue after “being poisoned”. “The court should pass an order for the medical examination of Bushra Bibi,” he said.

  • PMDC to upgrade its online portal soon

    PMDC to upgrade its online portal soon

    ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) announces the launch of its new upgraded portal, slated to go live within ten days, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

    The extensive upgrade is aimed at meeting the evolving needs of the medical community across Pakistan. With a focus on the increasing number of doctors, the initiative seeks to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accessibility.

    The redesigned portal will streamline registration procedures and improve the overall user experience for medical professionals and stakeholders nationwide.

    This enhancement underscores PMDC’s dedication to embracing technological advancements and modernizing its services for the digital age. Offering a range of innovative tools and user-friendly features, the portal will serve as a centralized hub for medical practitioners, students, and institutions.

    Professor Dr. Rizwan Taj, President of PMDC, expressed confidence that the portal will mark a significant innovation in the regulatory process, emphasizing the goal of leveraging technology to elevate service efficiency and effectiveness while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and accountability in the medical sector.

    He further stated, “The revamped portal represents a milestone in our ongoing efforts to modernize regulatory processes and support the medical community in Pakistan.”

    A PMDC spokesperson highlighted the importance of ensuring a user-friendly interface for the portal, prioritizing accessibility and convenience for users. Updates will also be made to online payment systems and bank challans for added convenience.

    To address queries and issues from the medical community, PMDC’s call system and operators will be available seven days a week.

  • Yousaf Raza Gillani elected unopposed as Senate chairman

    Yousaf Raza Gillani elected unopposed as Senate chairman

    ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and People’s Party stalwart Yousaf Raza Gillani was elected unopposed as the Chairman of the Senate, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

    PML-N’s candidate for deputy chairman Senate Syedal Khan Nasir was also returned uncontested in the election.

    No candidate of opposition parties had filed nomination papers against Yousaf Raza Gillani and Nasir, who were the ruling alliance’s candidates for the Senate presiding offices.

    Earlier today, 43 newly elected Senators took oath of office at the Parliament House in Islamabad.

    Presiding Officer Senator Ishaq Dar administered the oath.

    Yousaf Raza Gilani, Ahad Cheema, Anwaarul Haq, Hamid Khan, Mohsin Naqvi, Anousha Rehman, Ishaq Dar, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Allama Nasir Abbas and other prominent persons took oath of the office.

    When the session began today with Senator Ishaq Dar as the presiding officer, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members launched the protest and demanded adjournment of the house till the election of senators from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    Speaking on the floor of the house, PTI leader Senator Ali Zafar demanded the election be deferred as the process would be unconstitutional till the house is complete.

    He also blamed the Election Commission of Pakistan for making controversial decisions.

    In response to the objections raised by the opposition members, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said that nothing is unconstitutional happening here today and that the house is complete for all functional purposes.

    He also blamed the PTI for creating obstacles in the election of lawmakers from KP after which polls were postponed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

  • Poliovirus ‘found’ in sewage samples of eight cities

    Poliovirus ‘found’ in sewage samples of eight cities

    ISLAMABAD: Twelve environmental samples from eight major cities have tested positive for poliovirus, ARY News reported citing sources.

    According to sources, the virus of crippling disease was found in 12 sewerage samples of eight cities of Pakistan including, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Kohat and Mastung.

    The samples were taken from March 14 to 19 and tested positive for the wild polio virus, sources added.

    On February 26, a week-long nationwide anti-polio drive began in the country to administer vaccine drops to children under five years of age.

    Pakistan aims to vaccinate over 45.8 million children below the age of five during the second anti-polio campaign of this year.

    Related: Pakistan kicks off week-long anti-polio campaign

    According to details, polio workers visited door to door to vaccinate anti-polio drops to children below the age of five.

    Children were also given Vitamin A supplements to boost their immunity.

    It is to be noted that Pakistan has reported two polio virus cases this year so far. Last year, Islamabad reported six polio cases as Pakistan and Afghanistan remained the only two countries in the world where polio remains endemic.

    In Dec 2023, a nine-month-old child in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Orakzai district became the latest victim of the crippling disease. The Ministry of Health confirmed that the polio virus was found in a 9-month-old child in Orakzai district.

    Polio, a highly infectious and incurable disease, mainly affects children under the age of five. The virus invades the nervous system and can cause paralysis or even death in some cases.

  • Five-member medical board ‘formed’ for Parvez Elahi’s treatment

    Five-member medical board ‘formed’ for Parvez Elahi’s treatment

    ISLAMABAD: A five-member medical board formed for the treatment of former Punjab chief minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Pervaiz Elahi at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital in Islamabad, ARY News reported citing sources.

    According to sources, doctors related to heart, medicine, stomach, chest and general surgery including Dr Mumtaz Niazi, Dr Tashfeen, Dr Israr, Dr Akhtar Bandisha, and others are on board.

    The sources said that an echocardiogram (ECG) and other heart-related tests will be conducted on Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and the medical board will treat him as per the results of the test reports.

    Former chief minister Punjab was also complaining of breathing difficulty and chest pain due to the fractured ribs.

    Parvez Elahi, who was shifted to a private room at PIMS yesterday, has been suffering from diabetes and heart diseases for a long time.

    Earlier, Pervaiz Elahi was rushed to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) after his health deteriorated in Adiala jail.

    According to sources, the former PM was shifted to PIMS by Islamabad police when his health suddenly deteriorated. Pervaiz Elahi will be examined completely in PIMS hospital.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf President Pervaiz Elahi suffered bone fracture after slipping in Adiala jail’s washroom.

    Adiala jail deputy superintendent presented Elahi’s medical report in court during the hearing of a case against the latter related to illegal recruitment in the Punjab Assembly.

    The jail official apprised the court that Elahi slipped in the washroom on March 17 and suffered a slight fracture.

    Read more: Pervaiz Elahi suffers fracture after falling in Adiala Jail washroom

    Later, Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta deferred indictment against the PTI leader and adjourned the hearing till next month.

    Pervaiz Elahi is among several PTI leaders and supporters who have been apprehended as part of the crackdown on PTI leadership following the violent unrest in the country after Imran Khan’s initial arrest on May 9.

    It may be noted that Elahi has been arrested multiple times since June 1 in several cases.

  • JUI-F Senator Talha Mahmood Joins PPP

    JUI-F Senator Talha Mahmood Joins PPP

    ISLAMABAD: Senior leader and Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-F (JUI-F) Senator Talha Mahmood officially joined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Tuesday.

    In a press conference held in Islamabad, Talha Mahmood announced his departure from JUI-F and his decision to align with PPP, alongside other PPP leaders.

    Senator Talha emphasized his decision to join PPP amidst the country’s severe crisis, stating that it is incumbent upon all to contribute towards resolving the challenges faced by the nation.

    He highlighted during his 18-year-long political career, he did not take salary, perks and privileges and served the nation.

    Talha Mahmood said he was invited to join PPP during a long meeting with the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari.

    Read more: JUI-F decides to launch ‘protest movement’ against new govt

    He said the focus of his former party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) is on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, while there is no major contribution of the party in Punjab and Sindh.

    To a query, Mahmood said he did not mention anything about having differences with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman. However, he said, there was no better political floor than the PPP right now.

    Talha Mahmood also accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf of stealing his mandate in the general elections 2024.

  • Polio virus ‘found’ in THESE five cities of Pakistan

    Polio virus ‘found’ in THESE five cities of Pakistan

    ISLAMABAD: Polio virus has been found in sewerage of the major cities of Pakistan, citing National Institute of Health (NIH) sources, ARY News reported on Thursday.

    According to a technical report of polio-positive sewerage samples compiled by the NIH, the virus of crippling disease was found in nine sewerage samples of five cities of Pakistan including, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Chaman and Mastung.

    The samples were taken from February 21 to 27 and tested positive for the wild polio virus.

    Sources quoting the NIH report said that the polio virus was found in the sewerage of Karachi South and Korangi.

    In Peshawar, the virus was detected in the sewerage of Peshawar’s Shaheen Muslim Town, while in Quetta, the virus was found in the sewerage of Sir Pul, Taosabad.

    It is to be noted that Pakistan has reported two polio virus cases this year so far.

    Read more: Pakistan decides for special anti-polio drive: sources

    On March 16, sources said that Pakistan had decided to launch a special three-day anti-polio drive.

    The virus was found in the sewerage of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan’s big cities.

    The anti-polio drive will be carried out in 26 districts to immunize 8.2 million children under the age of five years. 11 districts of Balochistan, 8 of Sindh and seven of Punjab will witness the anti-polio drive.