World Health Organisation (WHO) has said countries need to careful as they prepare to ease coronavirus travel restriction as there is no “zero risk” strategy.

In a long-awaited update to its guidance on travel, the United Nations global health agency said cross-border trips for emergencies, humanitarian work, the transfer of essential personnel and repatriation would constitute essential travel.

“There is no ‘zero risk’ when considering the potential importation or exportation of cases in the context of international travel,” it said in the updated guidance posted on its website on Thursday.

A surge of new infections in many parts of the world has prompted some countries to reintroduce some travel restrictions, including testing and quarantining incoming passengers.

The WHO had said in June it would update its travel guidelines before the northern hemisphere summer holidays.

The WHO’s guidance can be used by governments and industries to help shape policies, but is not enforceable.

The updated travel advice is little changed from previous guidance, which also included infection control advice applicable to other settings such as social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands and avoiding touching the face.

The WHO urged each country to conduct its own risk-benefit analysis before lifting any or all travel restrictions. Authorities should take into account local epidemiology and transmission patterns, it said, as well as national health and social distancing measures already in place.

Countries that choose to quarantine all travellers on arrival should do so after assessing the risks and consider local circumstances, the WHO said.

“Countries should continuously plan for and assess their surge capacities for testing, tracking, isolating and managing imported cases and quarantine of contacts,” it said.

The WHO said this week that international travel bans cannot stay in place indefinitely, and countries will have to do more to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus within their borders.

DNA

ISLAMABAD, July 31: Pakistan and China should focus on promoting direct business linkages between their entrepreneurs to further enhance bilateral trade and explore JVs in potential areas of mutual interest between the two countries.

This was stated by Muhammad Ahmed Waheed, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry while delivering his message to China.

Gwadar Pro reported on Friday that Fujian – Pakistan Two-Way Trade Online Promotion Conference that was organized by the Department of Commerce of Fujian Province of China in collaboration with the Consulate General of Pakistan in Guangzhou and Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Ahmed Waheed added, organizing such online video conferences between the private sectors of both countries was very important to explore prospects for business matchmakings and trade promotion, especially at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic has restricted international travels.

Huang Dezhi, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Commerce of Fujian Province in his address said that Pakistan and China were strategic partners and the leadership of both countries was determined to further strengthen economic ties.

Fujian Province wanted to diversify cooperation with Pakistan to further expand bilateral trade. The CPEC was creating new opportunities for long-term cooperation between the two countries, he further said added Fujian was ready for increasing industrial cooperation with Pakistan in technology transfer to further develop its industrial sector.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Diyar Khan, Consul General of Pakistan in Guangzhou said that organizing online conferences between the entrepreneurs of Pakistan and Fujian Province of China in post-Covid-19 scenario was a good initiative to explore bilateral trade and investment cooperation.

He said Fujian was a gateway for southeast China and Pakistan could achieve beneficial results for its economy by strengthening cooperation with it.

Pak-Fujian Province bilateral trade was around USD 1 billion, which could be further enhanced by more efforts from both sides. He said that China-Pakistan Joint Business and Investment Council should be activated to further strengthen trade and investment relations between the two countries.

Muhammad Irfan, Trade and Investment Counsellor of Pakistan in Guangzhou gave a presentation on trade, investment, and tourism opportunities in Pakistan.

He identified construction, food processing, automobile, textiles, logistics, information technology, and tourism as priority sectors for Chinese investors in Pakistan.

Muhammad Shakeel Munir, former Senior Vice President ICCI highlighted the potential of Pakistan’s marble and granite sector and stressed that Chinese investors should explore JVs and investment in Pakistan to produce valued added finished marble products that have great potential for exports around the world.

Representatives of Nan’an and Fu’an Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Nan’an Stone International Trade Enterprises Association and Fujian Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Mechanical and Electrical Technology Products also spoke at the occasion.

They highlighted the need for promoting mutual cooperation between Pakistan and Fujian Province.

The Saudi King, custodian of Islam’s holiest sites, left King Faisal hospital on Thursday after undergoing surgery to remove his gallbladder earlier in the week.

The king, who has ruled the world’s largest oil exporter and close U.S. ally since 2015, also prayed for an end to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I congratulate everyone on the occasion of Eid al-Adha,” the Tweet said.

“I ask God almighty …. to lift the pandemic from our country and the world with his grace and mercy.”

Friday marks the first day of Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice, one of the two most important festivals of the Islamic calender.

King Salman had been admitted to hospital on July ‮‮20‬‬ suffering from inflammation of the gall bladder.

The king could be seen walking steadily out of hospital, followed by several aides and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, wearing a face mask. The king was walking with a cane, as he usually does.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, or MbS as he is widely referred to, is Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler and next in line to the throne.

The king had chaired a meeting via video from hospital last week before his surgery. In a video aired by state media outlets, he could be seen reading and leafing through documents.