ISLAMABAD : Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz has said protecting the health of the masses is the incumbent government’s priority.

Shibli Faraz in a tweet said coronavirus is an international phenomenon and not a product of any mind.

He said the opposition parties should show responsibility as the court has also issued its ruling. He said the opposition leaders and organizers of the public gatherings will be responsible in case of any human loss.

Earlier this week, spokesperson for Balochistan government Liaquat Shahwani held Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) responsible for the COVID-19 spread in the province.

“Coronavirus cases recorded threefold increase after PDM’s public gathering in Quetta”, Liaquat Shahwani had claimed while addressing a press conference.

ISLAMABAD : Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has taken special measures during the second wave of coronavirus pandemic by halting meal service on domestic flights and banned serving hot beverages in all flights.

Sources told  that pre-packaged box with cold beverages will be served to the passengers on domestic flights. Moreover, the PIA chief executive officer (CEO) approved changing meal service for international flights which will be implemented immediately.The management of the national carrier banned serving hot beverages on all flights as a pre-packaged box with cold beverages will be served in order to limit interaction between passengers and crew following the reviewed standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Following the changes in meal service, snacks, club sandwiches, check patties, one banana and muffin will be served to the passengers to Saudi Arabia sector, whereas, club sandwiches, check patties, one banana and biscuit will be served on return flights.

Only snacks will be served on flights of Kabul and Gulf countries.

ISLAMABAD : In light of the NCOC’s guidance in the wake of increasing COVID-19 cases, the foreign office has suspended document attestation services until further orders.

“It has been decided that attestation of all documents by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its Camp Offices, would be done through courier companies (Gerry’s, Leopards and TCS), from Monday, 23rd November 2020, until further orders,” according to a notification.However, for attestation of power of attorney and affidavit, the applicants would need to visit the ministry or its camp offices in person.

It may be noted that Pakistan reported 2,547 COVID-19 cases and 18 deaths due to the virus in the last 24 hours.

In the past 24 hours, 18 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 7,248. 886 patients have recovered from the virus during the last 24 hours.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), with fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 36,5927, whereas, the active cases stood at 32,005.

The positivity rate has increased up to 6.9 per cent in Pakistan. 1,535 patients are in critical condition.

A total of 36,899 tests were conducted across the country during this period. 326,674 people have recovered from the deadly disease while 5,055,382 samples have been tested thus far.

ISLAMABAD (DNA) – Islamabad Institute of Conflict Resolution (IICR) organized a One-day International Conference titled “Growing Ultra-nationalism in Contemporary World”.  The panelists included eminent speakers from various parts of the world.

Dr. Salma Malik, Assistant Professor Defense and Strategic Studies QAU, Islamabad moderated the session whereas other speakers included Prof. Dr. Nazir Hussain, Dean Social Sciences QAU, Prof. Dr. Hamit Erosy, Professor, Istanbul Zaim University, Turkey, Mr. Michael Kugelman, Deputy Director South Asia Program, Wilson Centre, Washington, USA and Dr. Waleed Rasool,Director Genaral at Institute of Multi-Track Dilougue, Development and Diplomatic Studies.

While commenting Dr. Nazir Hussain said that over the decade there has been a rise in Ultra-nationalism which has swept across many parts of the world including United States. Moreover, authoritarian civil rules in the United States, France, Spain, Russia, Turkey, China, and India manifested their brands of ultra-nationalist tendencies. Adding further he said thatDonald Trump’s ‘America First’ European ‘protectionism’ ‘Brexit’ and Indian ‘Hindutva’ has created insecurities and uncertainties among the minorities in the majoritarian rules. However, Globalization, Trans-national cooperation and peaceful coexistence were the major causalities of this rise.

While expressing his views Prof. Dr. Hamit Esroy’s discussion encompassed the interaction between the ultra-nationalism’s ideology, political movements, globalization and the implications of the first on the latter. He also touched upon the emergence of ultra-nationalism, its root causes and how it has become a threat for the nation states with the collapse of bipolar system at the end of the cold war. While reflecting on the future he recommended that Muslim countries should draw consensus and invent their own concepts to read the global politics. Moreover, he also said that leaders of the Muslim world should realize that nationalistic polices would lead to more division among them.

The next speaker on the panel was Dr. Waleed Rasool who reflected upon the growing ultra-nationalism in India and how it is affecting the Muslims in India. He said that every aspect of Indian society has been hinduised by Modi and BJP. Furthermore, he shared that it is not ultra-nationalism which Indian society is facing it is Modism which has been inflicted upon them. Adding further he said that the data of voters in the election of India from 2004, 2009,2014, and 2019, reveals an interplay of politics, religion, race, and science that has consolidated the new interpretation of hyper-nationalism in the Modi regime.

The last speaker on the panel was Michael Kugelman who shared his thoughts on the topic. While addressing the audience he said that nationalism is a term that has been with us for centuries. In earlier times, it was a principle that inspired hope and optimism—a force that unified people around shared ideals of nationhood and led to the formation of new countries. However, in more recent times, the term would take on a very different and more sinister connotation—one that conjured up thoughts of xenophobia, authoritarianism, and broader assaults on democracy. He further said that it has been visible and has impacted global politics and the world will have its lasting impacts.

Conference was then followed by Q & A session and concluding remarks by the moderator, Dr. Salma Malik. The conference ended with the vote of thanks by Ms. Sabah Aslam, CEO & Founder Islamabad Institute of Conflict Resolution (IICR).

Revised schedule would be announced later  

Islamabad, November 20(DNA) .  Allama Iqbal Open University has postponed ongoing examinations of spring 2020 semester including BS, B Ed, MA/ M Sc across Azad Jammu & Kashmir. The university has taken this decision keeping in view potential threat of lock down in AJK from November 22 – December 05 to restrict the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.  According to the Controller of Examinations, AIOU, revised schedule for these examinations would be announced later. However, examinations in other parts of the country would be held as per already notified schedule.Moreover, the university has announced the new schedule for an already cancelled paper of B Ed course code (6467). The examination for this course code will be held now on November 30, 2020. Previously, it was supposed to be held on November 06, however it was cancelled owing to some unforeseen reasons. Revised roll number slips are being dispatched to the students, however previously issued roll number slips would also be acceptable in the examination halls. No change has been made in timings and venue for this examination.