DNA

ISLAMABAD – “People with comorbidity are at high risk of severe status of COVID-19. Elderly people particularly with heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, obesity, liver disease and any other ailment going on must be very careful. The current pandemic is an emerging infectious disease.

”This was stated by the famous Physician Prof. Dr. Wasim Jafri while speaking at the COMSTECH webinar titled, “COVID-19 Pandemic and Related Health Issues.

”The webinar was attended by more than 78 health professionals from the OIC member states. Coordinator General COMSTECH Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary also spoke on the occasion.Prof. Wasim Jafri pointed out that diabetes could not be ignored at all as diabetes made everything worse including this fatal disease.

The proportion of severe disease increases with age and so is the case of the death but must not neglect the younger population, he said, warning that even youth can get into a critical stage but current data shows that the old age population was more prone to get into the critical stage and ICU.

The Mortality rate of COVID-19 almost approaches one to three percent but it can be faster in the presence of other comorbidity, he said, adding that it spreads from person-to-person via respiratory droplets among close contacts.He said, “Being within around six feet of a patient for a prolonged period of time.

”With the air-conditioning and fans it can travel longer distances and be aware of this while caring for a COVID patient, he said, adding that healthcare professionals were at enormous risk of infection if they were not wearing all recommended PPE.Talking about the availability of drugs, he mentioned that Remdesivir is the only drug so far FDA approved, it is not a miracle drug, it does not reduce much of mortality, but reduces hospital stake from patients from 15 to 11 days.

He mentioned that patients with liver cancer deteriorate more rapidly than those without cancer, adding that long-term liver transplant patients have more severe COVID-19 status then the short-term liver transplant patients.He pointed out that liver patients can suffer severe COVID-19, while kidney patients can have serious complications from COVID-19.Fear, worry and stress are normal responses of perceived or real threats, he said, and observed that COVID-19 has changed our daily lives. It is important to care for our mental health along with our physical health, he suggested and further stressed the need to follow guidelines of WHO on mental health and draw our own guidelines to practice in hospitals that help us to achieve good mental health.

DNA

ISLAMABAD, July 11  – Pakistani and Chinese leaders agreed that Balochistan was important to both the all-weather friends and the province was a key part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Emerging Policymakers’ Institute (EPI) – an Islamabad based independent public policy think tank which conducts wide-ranging research & analysis on the issues of governance, security, social development, and regional connectivity – organized a webinar on “Balochistan’s Political Parties’ Dialogue: CPEC and China’s Global Leadership during COVID19.”

According to a report carried by Gwadar Pro on Saturday, the dialogue engaged speakers from most of the mainstream political parties of Balochistan to reiterate their commitment towards making CPEC a success and to discuss China’s achievements in tackling the Corona Virus pandemic at home and abroad.

The dialogue also aimed to discuss the opportunities for Balochistan under cooperation mechanism on COVID19 to uplift its health care system, among other important agenda items. Governor Balochistan Justice Rt Amanullah Khan Yasinzai and China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Mr. Yao Jing addressed the forum as keynote speakers.

Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing in his keynote address highlighted the importance of Balochistan to Pakistan and China. He explained the achievements of China in tackling COVID19 faced by and also appreciated the efforts of Pakistan in the war against the pandemic.

Moreover, he assured that china will stand beside Pakistan through thick and thin. China has helped Pakistan in establishing a 1000 bed isolation hospital and is continuing to help Pakistan.

Yao said CPEC is not all about China-Pakistan friendship rather it is just a small part. China Pakistan Friendship is much beyond the CPEC.

Governor Balochistan Amanullah Khan Yasinzai in his address said that both China and Pakistan need each other. “If they have the technology we have the resources. So we should use the technology to extract resources and get a mutual benefit.” He further added that CPEC is not being digested by India and other powers and they are trying to sabotage it.

Moreover, he said, “Balochistan needs much attention in all spheres of society. We, Bloch, are the true representatives of the Balochistan and not the BLA type organizations”

The Governor said the provincial government and the federal government were committed to making CPEC a huge success in the interest of Pakistan, China, and the region. “There have been issues (among the Baloch people) in the past but not anymore. We are united on CPEC,” he said.

Other participants believed CPEC was a lifeline for Pakistan and the region. They agreed that iron brother China had injected money to improve Pakistan’s economy.

All the participants acknowledged China’s help over the years to promote Pakistan’s economy and position on international issues.

They regretted that India had been trying to sabotage the CPEC and create confusion, and made a joint pledge that “We will not let India create misunderstandings. China is our friend. We love China.”

Earlier, Chairman EPI Ahsan Hamid Durrani gave the opening remarks by explaining the purpose of holding the dialogue. He said that the dialogue is an important effort by his organization to bring together the Chinese government and the political leadership of Balochistan to discuss the CPEC and COVID19.

Speakers from various political parties of Balochistan included Malik Sikandar Khan Leader of opposition in Balochistan Assembly, Sanaullah Khan Baloch Member Provincial Assembly, Balochistan National Party-Mengal, Abdul Khaliq Hazara Chairman of Hazara Democratic Party, Dr. Ishaque Baloch – Central Information Secretary of the National Party, Prince Agha Umer Member Central Executive Committee, Balochistan Awami Party, Jaffar Khan Mandokhel President – PMLQ Balochistan and Dr. Hayatullah Khan Khilji – Member of Provincial Council and CEC Awami National Party.

There were also Syed Ali Nawaz Gilani – Secretary General Pakistan China Friendship Association Pakistan, Bayazeed Kasi, and PTI advisor on cooperation with Chinese Communist Party.

All the speakers reaffirmed their commitment towards CPEC and appreciated the responsible role that China played in combating COVID19 at home and abroad. Speakers stressed for expanding the role of Balochistan and increasing opportunities for Balochistan in CPEC.

They also urged for conducting more such interactions with the Chinese Embassy to increase cooperation.

Representatives of Chinese Companies in Balochistan, Ding – Deputy Manager Sandark Chinese company, and Mr. Zhang Baozhong – Chairman and CEO and China Overseas Ports Holding Company Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd. also addressed the forum and highlighted the projects their companies have been undertaking in Balochistan.

DNA

ISLAMABAD, JULY 10 – Federal Minister Shafqat Mahmood & HE Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama of UAE, Minister for Artificial Intelligence amongst 60 international thought leaders

Beaconhouse launched its first fully virtual School of Tomorrow (SOT) Conference: A World of Tomorrow: Negotiating a Better Future with a special video message from the Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “It’s an honour to join the opening session of the School of Tomorrow Conference. I want to recognise the Government of Pakistan for its comprehensive response to COVID-19,” Dr Ghebreyesus said, acknowledging Pakistan’s efforts in countering the pandemic and saying that the WHO is working closely with the Government of Pakistan.

The opening session of the conference, moderated by Beaconhouse CEO Kasim Kasuri, included MrAndreas Schleicher, theOECD’sDirector General for Education & Skills,Mr Shafqat Mahmood, Federal Minister of Education, Dr Mishal Khan, a leading epidemiologist from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the UK’s leading public health institution, and The Baroness Mobarik CBE, member of the UK’s House of Lords.

Mr Shafqat Mahmood emphasized the importance of SOPs for students and faculty in evaluating school openings, which he suggested might take place on 15 September. He further addressed the issue of girls’ education and out of school children in Pakistan, suggesting that the same remote learning strategies that were being devised for Covid could address both other issues.

Dr Mishal Khan stressed that while COVID-19 is serious, it has been overly hyped, and that “more than 4,000 people die on a daily basis from other illnesses like Tuberculosis”. She stressed that there are many other diseases and viruses, some far more serious than Covid, that we have learnt to live with.

His Excellency Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama of UAE, the world’s first minister for Artificial Intelligence, addressed a separate session on issues pertinent to digitalization and artificial intelligence.

Panel discussions ran concurrently on topics such as freedom to privacy in information societies with rights activists Nighat Dad and Jibran Nasir alongside the UK’s Lord Jim Knight, student perspectives on learning during lockdowns, designing schools of tomorrow with award-winning international architects and more. Parliamentary-style debates explored the necessity of the lockdown and the effectiveness of online learning for younger children. Issues surrounding environment & climate change were emphasized in a discussion with nature conservationists like Hammad Naqi, CEO WWF-Pakistan, and other esteemed panellists.

The School of Tomorrow conference seeks to understand how Covid-19 is shaping important global conversations about safer and more balanced futures, as well as pushing educators to reimagine the future of education at both school and university levels. The conference continues to stream LIVE on July 11 and 12 on its website (www.sotevents.com) and the social media platforms Facebook and YouTube (Sot Events).

SOT Events are made possible by the generous support of corporate sponsors. The organisers acknowledge the support of United Bank Limited as the Lead Sponsor for SOT Edition XI.

The non-profit School of Tomorrow Event Series was launched in 2000 and is organised by Beaconhouse as part of its ongoing commitment to its social responsibility