Home Blog Page 2835

Anti-polio campaign starts in KP under Covid SOPs

PESHAWAR, Mar 29 : A five-day anti-polio campaign was started here on Monday to vaccinate around 6.4 million children aged up to five years across the province.

According to the health department over 29000 teams have been constituted to achieve this set target and special emphasis would be laid on areas showing refusal cases besides ensuring strict implementation of Standard Operating Procedures against coronavirus.

The total 29000 teams including 25980 mobile, 1909 fixed, 1052 transit teams while 146 would be roaming teams for effective monitoring of the campaign. As many as 7133 area in-charges have been deputed. Foolproof security measures have been adopted to provide security cover to the anti-polio workers.

Concentrated efforts were needed to eliminate the polio from the society and everyone have to put his share in these endeavors, said an official of health department. With cogent efforts, he said, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be a polio-free province. Foolproof security measures have been adopted to provide security cover to the anti-polio workers, he informed.

Chief Secretary KPK, Dr Kazim Niaz said tangible steps were underway to wipe out polio virus in the province and the district administrations have been directed to utilize all available resources in this regard. He also urged upon the general public to vaccinate their children against polio to save them from the crippling disease and ensure a healthy society.

Honduras book Tokyo Olympics berth, deny United States

Guadalajara, Mexico, March 29  : Honduras reached the Tokyo Olympics football tournament on Sunday, denying the United States a place with a 2-1 semi-final victory in the CONCACAF qualifying tournament.

Mexico joined Honduras at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games after beating Canada 2-0 in the second semi-final to secure the second berth available from the North and Central America and Caribbean region.

Honduras and Mexico will contest the tournament final on Tuesday, but the real business was concluded when each advanced to the Olympics, due to begin in July after being postponed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, via semi-final victories.

Honduras’s Juan Carlos Obregon scored in first-half injury time and a second came in the 47th minute when US goalkeeper David Ochoa’s attempt to clear the ball rebounded off Luis Palma and into the goal.

Jackson Yueill pulled one back for the United States in the 52nd minute with a blast from outside the box.

But Honduras held on to qualify for their fifth Olympics and fourth in a row.

“We’re devastated,” US coach Jason Kreis said after a defeat that will see them miss their third straight Games since qualifying for Beijing in 2008.

It was the second consecutive time the United States had been denied by Honduras, who also derailed their bid for a 2016 Rio de Janeiro berth.

The US men’s team’s last major international tournament appearance was at the 2014 World Cup.

“I think it just comes down to general sharpness of players,” said Kreis, whose players didn’t have a shot on goal until Yueill’s goal.

“I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a game where we had players mis-control the ball so much — balls rolling under people’s feet, passing out of bounds. These are things you kind of scratch your head.

“At the end of the day it just wasn’t quite there from a confidence point of view.”

Mexico, the 2012 gold medallists, booked their 12th trip to the Olympic Games with two second-half goals against Canada.

Mexico dominated possession in the first half but were frustrated by Canada’s determined defense.

Uriel Antuna broke the deadlock in the 58th minute and Johan Vasquez added a second goal in the 66th to seal the victory that denied Canada a third Olympic appearance.

COVID-19 claims 41 lives, infects 4,525 more people

ISLAMABAD, Mar 29  : The national tally on Monday of total active COVID-19 cases recorded was 46,663 with 4,525 more people tested positive for the deadly virus and 2,268 people recovered from the disease during the last 24 hours.

Forty-one corona patients have died during past 24 hours, 38 of whom were under treatment in hospital and three out of the hospital in their respective quarantines or homes, according to the latest update issued by the National command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

During the last 24 hours most of the deaths had occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa followed by the Punjab.

Out of the total 41 deaths occured during last 24 hours, 12 of the deceased had died on ventilators during their treatment.

The maximum ventilators were occupied in four major areas including Multan 67 percent, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) 64 percent, Gujranwala 60 percent and Lahore 52 percent.

The maximum Oxygen beds (alternate oxygen providing facility other than ventilator administered as per medical requirement of COVID patient) were also occupied in four major areas of Gujrat 70 percent, Gujranwala 85 percent, Peshawar 78 percent and Swat 73 percent.

Around 387 ventilators were occupied elsewhere in the country while no COVID affected person was on ventilator in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit Baltistan (GB) and Balochistan.

Some 40,369 tests were conducted across the country on Sunday, including 9,140 in Sindh, 15,780 in Punjab, 8,196 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 5,359 in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), 758 in Balochistan, 377 in GB, and 759 in AJK.

Around 598,197 people have recovered from the disease so far across Pakistan making it a significant count with over 90 percent recovery ratio of the affected patients.

Since the pandemic outbreak, a total of 659,116 cases were detected that also included the perished, recovered and under treatment COVID-19 patients so far, including AJK 12,484, Balochistan 19,525, GB 5,010, ICT 56,450, KP 85,531, Punjab 215,227 and Sindh 264,889.

About 14,256 deaths were recorded in country since the eruption of the contagion. Around 4,491 have perished in Sindh.

6,246 in Punjab had died with 17 deaths occured in past 24 hours. 16 of them in the hospitals and one out of hospital. 2,301 in KP where 17 of them died in hospitals and one out of hospital on Sunday, 561 in ICT among two deaths in hospitals during past 24 hours,  206 in Balochistan, 103 in GB and 348 in AJK among three of them succumbed to the deadly virus in hospital and one out of hospital on Sunday.

A total of 10,107,095 corona tests have been conducted so far, while 631 hospitals are equipped with COVID facilities. Some 3,648 corona patients were admitted in hospitals across the country.

However, the past 24 hours positivity  ratio with higher magnitude in various districts across the country was also issued highlighting increasing disease prevalence.

The districts with high positivity ratio as on 28th March including Gujrat 7 percent, Bahawalpur 8 percent, Faisalabad 15 percent Gujranwala10 percent, Lahore 17 percent, Mandi Bahauddin 11percent, Multan 12 percent, Okara 9 percent, Rahim Yar Khan 9 percent,Rawalpindi 15 percent, Sargodha 12 percent, Sialkot 12 percent, Toba Tek Singh 9 percent, Peshawar 22 percent, Swat 23 percent, Nowshehra 19 percent, Dir Lower 8 percent, Malakand 12 percent and Swabi 12 percent.

It may be mentioned here that the Covid positivity ratio was the percentage of actual positive cases appearing in every 100 tests performed to identify infected individuals.

According to John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the percent positive will be high if the number of positive tests is too high, or if the number of total tests is too low. A higher percent positive suggests higher transmission and that there are likely more people with coronavirus in the community who haven’t been tested yet.

Tajik and Uzbek Travel Agencies Develop New Tourist Routes

DUSHANBE, 29.03.2021 : Tajik and Uzbek travel agencies have decided to develop new tourist routes. This was noted at a meeting of the heads and representatives of travel agencies of the two countries, which was held during Navruz celebration days in Dushanbe.

The meeting was also attended by officials of the Committee for Tourism Development and the Tourism Department of Tashkent.

The parties exchanged views on the development of bilateral relations in the field of tourism and, while considering the reduction of the COVID-19 risk, made useful proposals for the reception and departure of Uzbek and Tajik tourists.

The officials noted the expedience of developing new tourist routes and organize meetings of travel companies of both countries in the future.

Russia to Resume Flights with Tajikistan from April 1

DUSHANBE, 29.03.2021 : Russia will resume flights with six countries, including with Tajikistan.

On April 1, Russia will resume air traffic with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Germany, Venezuela, Syria and Sri Lanka. The decision to resume flights was approved by the Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

Flights to Tajikistan will be carried out once a week. The planes will depart from Moscow to Dushanbe.

Russia stopped international passenger flights at the end of March 2020. An exception was made only for flights carrying export products, mail, and flights for returning citizens.

NAB RECOVERED RS 714 BILLION FROM CORRUPT ELEMENTS, SAYS CHAIRMAN

DNA

ISLAMABAD, MAR 28 – National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Honourable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal has said that NAB is the focal organisation of Pakistan under United National Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) which is a pride for Pakistan.

He said that NAB has recovered Rs 714 billion directly or indirectly from corrupt elements and deposited in the national exchequer besides handing over of thousands of acres State land to concerned provincial government as well as returned billions of looted money among the thousands of affectees of Housing and Cooperative Societies as per law.

NAB is performing the national anti corruption duties and determined to achieve the target of corruption free Pakistan. NAB was established to recover the looted amount and bring the corrupt to justice as per law. The overall conviction ratio of NAB in learned Accountability Courts is about 68.8 percent which best among fellow anti corruption institutions. The aim of NAB is corruption free Pakistan.


The performance of NAB, has been lauded by reputed national and International organizations like Transparency International Pakistan, World Economic Forum, PILDAT and Mishal Pakistan.
According to a survey of Gillani and Gallup Pakistan 59 people have confidence in NAB.   

NAB had been unanimously elected as Chairman of SAARC Anti Corruption Forum which was great achievement of Pakistan due to NAB’s efforts. 


NAB is considered a role model among the SAARC countries due to its effective anti-corruption strategy of Awareness.Pakistan was the only country to whom China has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for eradication of corruption.

He directed NAB officers to double their efforts in eradication of corruption which is our national duty, so that the country could be put on road to progress and prosperity.


In order to further improve the quality of investigation, a combined investigation Team (CIT) system has been introduced consisting of one senior, one junior Investigation officer, Additional Director as case officer, legal counsel, financial expert and forensic expert under the supervision of director and director general concerned to benefit from collective wisdom.

National Accountability Bureau has established  training academy for NAB officials here on pattern of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Academy.


NAB has established its own Pakistan Training and Research Academy in which specialized training has started to impart investigation officers on modern lines in order to conduct investigations of cases of money laundering and white collar crime cases besides establishment of state of the art Forensic Science Laboratory in NAB Rawalpindi for scrutinizing documents and fingerprints, analysis of digital data etc.

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in collaboration with Higher Education Commission (HEC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to make collaborated efforts to root out corruption from the society to enhance awareness about bad effects of corruption among students.


The performance of regional bureaus are being monitored for enhancing performance.
NAB has established special cells at its headquarter and regional bureaus for addressing the complaints of the business community related to NAB.

Bureau respects business community which is playing important role in progress of the country.
He said that NAB has no affiliation with any political party, group and individual.It has only affiliation with the state of Pakistan.
He directed regional bureaus to respect the visiting suspects as NAB is people friendly institute.

HASHOO GROUP OBSERVES EARTH HOUR AT MARRIOTT & PEARL-CONTINENTAL HOTELS NATIONWIDE

DNA

ISLAMABAD, MAR 28 – Switches off major power sources to join global movement to conserve energy from 08:30 PM to 09:30 PM on Saturday, 27th March 2021

In a bid to participate in the global movement to conserve energy and protect the environment against the harmful effects of global warming, Hashoo Group observed the Earth Hour at all of its hotels across Pakistan.

Hashoo Group are the owners and operators of the five-star Pearl-Continental Hotels, Marriott Hotels, as well as the Hotel One brands in Pakistan.

In solidarity with worldwide efforts to conserve on energy and protect the environment, the hotels switched off major power sources from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm on Saturday, 27th March 2021.

Earth Hour first began in 2007 in Australia in an attempt to conserve energy and combat global warming. Only 2 million residents and local businesses in Sydney took part in it. The next year 35 countries took part in it, and now over 100 countries participate in this globally.

In 2019, 188 countries participated in it. The observance of Earth Hour is important, although many wonder how just 1 hour makes any difference. But believe it or not, it makes a lot of difference.

It creates awareness, to show people that it is possible to survive without all the electronic gizmos and energy-consuming gadgets we have grown so accustomed to. By cutting back, people can make a huge difference and can take part in the battle against global warming. And millions of tons of energy is consumed worldwide when at this hour, all the world, unites to observe and celebrate Earth Hour 2021.

QURESHI HOLDS TELEPHONIC CONVERSATION WITH FOREIGN MINISTER OF SAUDI ARABIA

DNA

ISLAMABAD, MAR 28 – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held telephonic conversation today with the Saudi Foreign Minister, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud.

Conveying his profound regards for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Foreign Minister Qureshi reaffirmed Pakistan’s abiding fraternal ties with Saudi Arabia.

Foreign Minister Qureshi appreciated the steps taken by the Kingdom’s leadership in resolving differences among the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as the recent initiative for promoting resolution of issues in Yemen through dialogue and diplomacy. The Foreign Minister underscored Pakistan’s continued support for Saudi efforts aimed at promoting peace, security and prosperity in the region. He also reiterated Pakistan’s support for the Kingdom’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. The Saudi Foreign Minister acknowledged Pakistan’s continued and steadfast support to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Praising the “Saudi Green Initiative” and the “Green Middle East Initiative” announced by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Foreign Minister Qureshi termed it as a major initiative for reducing global carbon emissions. The Saudi Foreign Minister lauded Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ground-breaking measures already taken in Pakistan, in the same arena.

Foreign Minister Qureshi expressed Pakistan’s commitment to augmenting cooperation with the Kingdom in all spheres. Appreciating the two countries’ collaboration in multilateral organizations, he hoped that this mutual support and partnership will further strengthen in future. Reciprocating positively, His Highness Prince Faisal expressed readiness to further fortify bilateral cooperation with Pakistan.

The two Foreign Ministers agreed to maintain steady momentum of high-level exchanges between the two countries.

GOVT HAS NOT GIVEN ANY RELIEF TO HOTEL INDUSTRY IN CURRENT PANDEMIC SITUATION: AKRAM FARID

Indoor services in hotels with SOPs should be allowed immediately. Hotels Owners

ISLAMABAD, MAR 28 – The government has not given any relief to the hotel and service industry in the current Covid-19 pandemic.  The hotel industry has borne the burden of 15,000 foreign travelers and temporarily accommodated foreign travelers in its hotels.

The spread of the corona virus over the past year has also severely affected the hotel industry, leaving millions of hotel and restaurant workers unemployed and their stoves cold, but due to the government’s inconsistent policies. This very important sector related to tourism is dying on its own and there is no department of the government is ready to listen their grievances. There is a need for the government and concerned agencies to take sensible steps and take immediate practical steps in this regard. These views were expressed by the President of Hotels and Motels Association Islamabad Rawalpindi and Northern Areas.

M. Akram Farid made these remarks during an emergency meeting. While speeking he said that government should give relief package to the Hotel industry and create facilities. M Akram Farid further said that until the Covid-19 epidemic can be controlled, the government should give all tax exemptions on the income of Three star and Four star hotels. He said that like other business sectors, the hotel industry has also been affected but it is unfortunate that the government has not given any relief to this industry. Due to credit sale, sales tax and bed tax are being paid by the hotels out of their pockets. Due to Covid-19, business activities in hotels have been reduced to 30 percent.

Senior Vice President(SVP) Haji Gul Afridi said that 5 to 6 million people in Pakistan are associated with hotel industry but the government is cracking down on this sector with various measures which are intolerable in all respects. Vice President (VP) Tariq Javed Malik said that tourism sector and hotels are inseparable. Where Covid-19 has shaken the country’s economy, people have become unemployed but the government has forced the sector to its knees which contributes more to GDP which is not encouraging.

Finance Secretary Haji Naeem Afzal said in his opinion the hotel industry urges the government to reduce the sales tax and bed tax rates in the current situation so that the industry can survive, as hotel users move to flats and guest houses due to the 21 per cent tax. In addition, hotels that have not yet been able to file taxes should be given a respite until conditions improve. Chaudhry Tassaduq Hussain said that sales tax should be levied on hotels like restaurants at 7.5 percent and bed tax which was earlier one rupee per bed has been increased to five percent of room rent in July 2019 for hotels in Islamabad.

 In addition, property tax and water bills of 2019 and 2020 should be waived. Senior member Chaudhry Riaz said that relief should be given in electricity and gas bills. He said that hotels have sided with the government in difficult times and in this regard, a very important sector is being overlooked. Meanwhile, Senior Joint Secretary Yousuf Awan said that foreigners are welcome in Pakistan for the tourist season from May to August. The process of booking and reservation of tourists is completed by March, but this time due to the Corona Emergency, the booking of foreign tourists is almost non-existent and what was already done is now being canceled. In the meeting, members of the Hotel and Motels Association, members and people associated with the hotel industry also presented their valuable views and expressed hope that their problems will be addressed. Ű”

Stay Connected

64FansLike
60FollowersFollow

Latest Reviews

Exchange Rates

USD - United States Dollar
EUR
1.14
GBP
1.34
AUD
0.69
CAD
0.71