ISLAMABAD: The country recorded 3,344 new cases of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) in the past 24 hours, taking the countrywide tally to 231,817 and casualties to 4,762 with addition of 50 more deaths in the past 24 hours.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre, 3,344 new cases were detected when 22,271 tests were conducted in the previous 24 hours.
95,407 COVID-19 patients are undergoing treatment and 131,649 patients have recuperated from the disease.94,528 cases have been detected in Sindh so far, 81, 963 in Punjab, 28,116 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 10,814 in Balochistan, 13, 494 in Islamabad, 1,342 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and 1,561 in Gilgit Baltistan.
Worldwide coronavirus tally
The number of coronavirus cases across the world has surpassed over 7.5 million while the pandemic has so far claimed more than 536,000 lives.
The United States tops both in number of cases and deaths with over 2.9 million cases and more than 132,000 deaths followed by Brazil with over 1.6 million cases and more than 64,000 deaths.
Over 6.5 million patients have so far recovered from the disease across the world.
LAHORE, July 05 (DNA): Prime Minister Imran Khan Sunday said Pakistan attaches great importance to South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and remained committed to its principles and objectives of its Charter.
In his message, Prime Minister Imran Khan congratulated veteran trade leader Iftikhar Ali Malik assuming the office of President of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the span of two years and termed his appointment brought laurel for the country. He expressed the hope that Iftikhar Ali Malik is a seasoned veteran trade leader and would utilize his best abilities to bring closer the SAARC member states besides promoting regional trade.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan had always strived to make the regional body a vibrant vehicle for mutual cooperation based on the principle of sovereign equality.
Imran Khan said that SAARC had immense potential for strengthening the economies of the member countries and to promote collaboration in various areas of mutual significance.
“The organisation needs to work towards achieving economic, cultural and social growth of the region,” he said, calling for increased level of connectivity among the SAARC member states for a prosperous region.
Iftikhar Malik thanked Prime Minister for his congratulation and conveyed his message to Imran Khan that he would do his best to promote regional trade and Pakistan had advanced its belief that a secure and peaceful environment in South Asia was crucial for the advancement of region’s development and prosperity.
He assured that he would play a positive role in further strengthening regional cooperation.
He said holding position of President of SAARC CCI meant renewing impetus amongst the member states and therefore was significant.
Iftikhar Malik said Pakistan had all resources to become an economic giant but only need is to set directions with zeal, courage and sincerity. He said Pakistan’s huge mineral resources could help get rid of the economic ills.
Reiterating his earlier stance, he said Imran will utilize his best leadership flair and available resources for the promotion of trade and industry in South Asian region. DNA ==========
ISLAMABAD, July 05 (DNA): German Ambassador Bernhard Schlagheck advocating the adoption of cycling habit in Pakistan said the practice has diversified health and financial advantages for individuals in particular and a country’s environment at large.
“The habit of cycling provides an excellent opportunity to clear mind and thoughts, besides its other healthy and nature friendly benefits” the envoy who is in love with cycling shared his feelings in an exclusive interview with state-run media Sunday.
He said the reasons behind advocating to build the bike-habit here in Pakistan was certainly his love for cycling and its long lasting positive impacts on humans’ lives and it can also drive green development on earth.
Bernhard said, “I think there is a lot to be gained from a good bike ride. It’s also environmental-friendly and zero-carbon emission transport as well as a great practical and almost cost-free mode of conveyance.
On a query to how we can establish a bike-culture in Pakistan, he said, “I’m always somewhat skeptical about notions like bike-culture. I do not really think we need a bike-culture in Pakistan, but an appreciation of what is already here – so that a bike is not merely considered as a minus to a motorbike or a car, but valuable in itself.” It also encourages strong human connectivity as people on automobiles do not interact with each other on roads, he added.
To another question whether cycling can offer a solution to urban transport and traffic chaos, the envoy said, it was a long term perspective but certainly reducing private fossil fuel driven transport within cities to contest constant traffic gridlocks and environmental hazards it must be one of the near term targets of contemporary urban planning.
“And cycling here has an ever bigger role to play, no doubt about that,” endorsing the idea he remarked.
Schlagheck, stressing upon youth to adopt practical sport activities, said the COVID-19 pandemic has enhanced the significance of the cycling as the exercise helps build strong immune system which was imperative to fight against viral diseases and seasonal epidemics.
While appreciating the weather and scenic beauty of the federal capital Islamabad, he said “ It is a wonderful city, having a lot to see that offers sufficient places to the people to engage themselves in activities like cycling, jogging, hiking and tracking on the beautiful Margalla Hills, especially during this natural calamity of coronvirus”.
The ambassador also gave some expert tips for cyclists in hot summer and said, long distance pedaling be avoided and short to moderate trips were recommended in full sun light. “Sufficient intakes of nutrients and fluids to the body before and after cycling was a must to avoid season’s wrath” he stressed.
Commenting on the riding conditions here for the cyclists, he said, “I can hardly speak for the rest of the country since I am cycling basically only in Islamabad. Here, I think, the conditions are sufficiently good though, as with most things, there may be room for improvement.”
It was pleasing to know, he said, that the ICT administration and the Commissioner’s office were engaged in setting up dedicated cycling lanes in Islamabad which was a promising and welcome development.
He also praised the Federal Government and Special Assistant to the prime minister Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari for taking special interest in promoting environmental-friendly mobility models in Islamabad and elsewhere in Pakistan. “This realization and initiatives are certainly going to help enhance number of pedalers across the country” he hoped.
Replying to a question about how to motivate the people for cycling, the ambassador said, politicians had a particular responsibility here to create awareness among masses about the benefits of bicycling. The government and public administration’s hands should be strengthened to encourage people to adopt such activities for health reasons at least.
The envoy also pointed out limitation of using a bicycle as an official routine transportation mode, the idea pleaded in Pakistan’s social media and said, “If the President of Pakistan is receiving you for submitting Ambassadorial credentials, you would not appear at the President House on a bike, would you? There are also security aspects to be considered. And courtesy and hygiene require you won’t enter Parliament or Ministries with sweating body. So, it’s a matter of prudent consideration.”
Bernhard also shared his pride-ride, his grandfather’s 80-year old bicycle, which he owns and said “Whenever possible I take my bike to go to Foreign Ministry, located not that far from the German Embassy. It’s always both a bit cumbersome and funny to convince the MFA guards to let me in, but we usually share a good laugh and they used to inquire about my bicycle which is indeed quite old, whether it is from Pakistan and where I bought it. In fact, it’s from Germany. I have been owning this treasure for almost 40 years and used it in Moscow, Rome, Africa, and now in Islamabad. I think it’s great piece to link with my biography and responsibilities here as German Ambassador to Pakistan.” DNA
ATTOCK, JULY 5 (DNA) – WAPDA Authority has handed over the additional responsibility of General Manager and Project Director of Tarbela Dam to Jamil Akhtar, General Manager Power of Tarbela Dam.
Farid Ahmad Mughal, who was promoted to the post of General Manager of Tarbela Dam, is quarantined at his residence on suspicion of corona virus. Due to which Farid Ahmad Mughal could not take up his new responsibility yet.
Therefore, the General Manager Power has been given the said additional responsibility. It may be recalled that for the first time in the history of Tarbela, the WAPDA Authority has appointed General Manager Power as General Manager and Project Director of the entire project. Thus, this responsibility is no less than an honor for Mr. Jamil Akhtar.
Jamil Akhtar will assume additional responsibilities on Monday, July 6. Jamil Akhtar has been associated with WAPDA since 1985. He is an accomplished electrical power engineer and a kind officer. DNA
LAHORE, JULY 5 (DNA) – President, Pakistan Businesses Forum (PBF) Sahibzada Usman Zulfiqar on Sunday said there was no use talking to India on the restoration of trade unless it lifted curfew and restored the special status of Indian held Kashmir.
Talking to media, he said to India’s misfortune, it has been taken over by extremist and racist Hindus. Only a person with an extremist mindset would do what they have done in Kashmir by keeping it under curfew for the last 10 months. Now Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering Kashmir’s domicile to Indian business community in order to further deprived the Kashmir’s.
PBF President told since 70 years bilateral trade was largely favoured to India which even against the wisdom of SAFTA agreement.
Indian exports continued unabated at a monthly average of $150 million while Pakistan’s decreased from $30 million to $4 million. Pakistan’s decision to suspend bilateral trade has pulled the plug on this one-way trade.
Neither Pakistan nor India is critically dependent on each other’s market, though the suspension of bilateral trade might, in the medium term, affect the consumer welfare by increasing prices of a few agricultural and other products.
As in absolute terms, India stands to lose a market of $2 billion compared with Pakistan’s loss of $0.38 billion. Pakistan’s exports of $383 million to India in 2018 constituted 1.6% of Pakistan’s global exports.
Since Pakistan’s value-added products are systematically excluded through NTBs, Pakistan’s exports to India are concentrated in a few primary and intermediate products — dried dates ($92 million), cement ($63 million), sugar ($23 million), gypsum ($19 million), sesame seed ($15 million), leather ($14 million), steel scrap ($13 million), disodium carbonate ($12 million) and surgical instruments ($11 million).
There is little dependence of Pakistan’s exports on the Indian market for these products except for dried dates, though the reliance has been reduced through an aggressive market diversification strategy since February 2019.
Though India’s level of trade restrictiveness under the Overall Trade Restrictiveness Index (47.6) is more than double the Pakistani restrictiveness (22.2), the concealed Pakistan-specific NTBs have been the most constricting. A hostile mindset (considered to be the most restrictive of the NTBs), limiting visa policies, long waiting periods at borders and, above all, the harassment of Indian importers doing business with Pakistan have greatly restricted trade.
Zulfiqar also told even in a recent report by the Indian Ministry of Commerce, acknowledged that Indian businessmen importing from Pakistan were subjected to surveillance by Indian intelligence agents and their import goods were subjected to multiple security screening”. Unsurprisingly, every round of trade liberalisation during the last two decades led to only one-side gains.
He also called upon President SAARC CCI to take up the Pakistan’s and Kashmir stance in front of indian business community loud and clear so that they know the real picture of New Delhi, who impressed with the ideology of RSS.DNA
FAISALABAD, JULY 5 — During the first five months of this year There were 41 police encounters in which 66 accused were arrested Forty-eight were killed On the other hand, last year As of June, there were only 19 competitions. But the crime situation has not improved To control criminal elements
Faisalabad police efforts continue this year The first five of the twenty-two
There have been 41 police encounters Out of which 66 accused were Arrested While forty-eight were killed And captured by bandits Exports of goods worth crores of rupees Delivering to the citizens even after tax They were rescued, While in the first five months of last year The number of police encounters is only nineteen Police criminal elements on the other hand Great actions against
Despite the overall Crime is on the rise. But the number of robberies remained low
According to the crime report issued by the police Five months in 219 While the number of robberies in 42 This year their number is 33 Only one case of kidnapping for ransom was reported Among the five accused involved Three were arrested Two thousand and nineteen in other crimes
624 cases of robbery, while 860 cases were reported this year , 391 motorcycles in two thousand nineteen While 718 motorcycles were stolen this year , 104 cars stolen in 2119
, And their number was seventy-two thousand two hundred and twenty
, In two thousand nineteen drug dealers 1928 while in 2000
About 2500 cases were registered One hundred and fifty one in two thousand nineteen
Civilian killings, while in 2000 their number was two hundred According to the police crime report
Five civilians were killed in the incident They lost about Rs 60 crore in a month This year compared to last year Incidents worth about Rs 90 million have increased 31005 accused were involved in these incidents. 20192 accused arrested While 1083 accused are still out of reach of the police
However, the police also need to make their strategy more effective CPO Faisalabad Sohail Ahmad Chaudhry Told We are honest Serving their people Whatever the criminal elements
I want to give them this message I love the people of my city very much It is my responsibility to protect them We will protect our people.
KABUL, JULY 5 – The NATO called on the Taliban group to decrease violence as the country is going towards an intra-Afghan peace dialogue. NATO Senior Civilian Representative to Afghanistan, Stefano Pontecorvo in a video message published on his twitter account has said that the Taliban violence has to go down as it creates an issue for the ongoing peace efforts.
“Taliban violence has to go down, it is simply unacceptable and it is creating an issue, a problem for getting to the peace talks”, Stefano said in a twitter message.
ISLAMABAD: An accountability court of Islamabad has declared Shahidul Islam, former managing director of the Pakistan State Oil (PSO), a proclaimed offender in a case pertaining to the LNG scam that also involved former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.
The accountability judge ordered the authorities concerned to block his national identity card.
The decision to start the proceedings of proclamation of the accused was taken after a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor informed the judge that the accused had fled abroad.The prosecutor said the accused had intentionally flown out of the country to avoid the trial proceedings.
Meanwhile, the bureau has decided to move an application in the accountability court seeking its permission to seize all moveable and immoveable assets of the former PSO MD in the country.
During the hearing on July 3, the court had directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file a supplementary reference against Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and other accused in the LNG scam on next hearing.
The bureau’s prosecutor informed the judge that a supplementary reference is in the final phase as the anti-corruption watchdog has got its hand on some new relevant record of the LNG contracts in question, which is being examined.
US President Donald Trump has used an Independence Day address to vow to defeat the “radical left” as protests sweep the country. Striking a combative tone, Mr Trump said he would “fight… to preserve American way of life”, while railing at “mobs” targeting historical monuments.
Ahead of his speech, Black Lives Matter protesters gathered nearby.
Mr Trump’s 2020 election rival Joe Biden said everyone deserved “a full share of the American dream”.
The 4 July holiday marks the nation’s declaration of independence from Britain in 1776 and is one of the most important days in the national calendar.
Historically presidents have used the occasion to deliver speeches extolling the virtues of unity. Last year Mr Trump spoke of the “extraordinary heritage” of the country at an event with a militaristic theme that involved Air Force flyovers and tanks parked on display.
This year, Mr Trump’s address was again followed by a flyover involving various aircraft, including B-52 bombers and F-35 fighter jets.
Speaking from the White House lawn on Saturday, Mr Trump took aim at protesters that he sees as anti-patriotic who have taken to the streets in the wake of the death in police custody in May of African-American George Floyd.
“We are now in the process of defeating the radical left, the anarchists, the agitators, the looters, and the people who, in many instances, have absolutely no clue what they are doing,” he said.
“We will never allow an angry mob to tear down our statues, erase our history, indoctrinate our children.”
Statues and monuments of historical figures associated with racism or slavery have been pulled down or removed amid the wave of protests – drawing Mr Trump’s ire.
“The patriots who built our country were not villains,” he said. “They were heroes.”
After he spoke, protesters in Baltimore, about 40 miles (65km) north of the capital, pulled down a statue of explorer Christopher Columbus – whom Mr Trump had mentioned in his speech – and rolled it into a harbour.
Many people in the US celebrate the memory of Columbus, who in textbooks is credited with discovering “the New World”, the Americas, in the 15th Century.
But Native Americans have long objected to honouring Columbus, saying that his expeditions to the Americas led to the colonisation and genocide of their ancestors.
Meanwhile, in a videotaped address for 4 July, Mr Trump’s Democrat challenger for the presidency in November, Joe Biden, said Americans “have a chance now to give the marginalised, the demonised, the isolated, the oppressed a full share of American dream”.
Mr Biden, who has accused Mr Trump of fuelling racial tensions, said: “We have a chance to rip the roots of systemic racism out of this country.”
Trump touts US ‘progress’ against virus as cases surge
Flanked by his wife Melania, President Trump spoke to a crowd at the White House that included US soldiers and frontline medical staff.
Despite a nationwide spike in coronavirus cases, Mr Trump touted the country’s “progress” against the Covid-19 disease.
Amid criticism of his handling of the pandemic, he said China – where the virus originated – must be “held fully accountable”.
Praising America’s “scientific brilliance”, Mr Trump said the US “will likely have a therapeutic and/or vaccine solution long before the end of the year”.
The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned in June that scientists may never be able to create an effective vaccine against the coronavirus.
“The estimate is we may have a vaccine within one year,” the WHO said. “If accelerated, it could be even less than that, but by a couple of months. That’s what scientists are saying.”
The US has the world’s highest number of coronavirus deaths and infections, and confirmed more than 43,000 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours on Saturday, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University. Florida, where the outbreak is especially acute, saw 11,458 new cases.
The president made no reference to the nearly 130,000 US deaths linked to the pandemic. He said the US had tested almost 40 million people, adding that 99% of coronavirus cases were “totally harmless” – a claim for which he gave no evidence.
America holds a muted Independence Day
Many 4 July events were cancelled on public health grounds, with beaches in Florida and California closed, city parades cancelled and firework displays curtailed.
Joe Biden tweeted that “this Fourth of July, one of the most patriotic things you can do is wear a mask”.
Firework displays are a traditional highlight of 4 July, but an estimated 80% of cities and towns have cancelled their shows.
New York City usually holds an hour-long extravaganza, but this year it was replaced by five-minute displays through the week, organised by Macy’s department store, with a final televised one on Saturday – all at undisclosed locations.
Major League Baseball cancelled its 2020 All-Star Game for the first time since World War Two.
