Prime Minister Imran Khan’s telephone call with President of Nigeria

DNA

Prime Minister Imran Khan held a telephonic conversation with President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, today.

The two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest including the unprecedented socio-economic challenges arising out of the Covid-19 Pandemic. They agreed that Pakistan and Nigeria faced similar circumstances.

The Prime Minister conveyed Pakistan’s solidarity with the Government and people of Nigeria, and commended their effective measures to contain the spread of Covid-19. The Prime Minister also highlighted the steps taken to contain the spread of Coronavirus in Pakistan.

The Prime Minister highlighted exceptional challenge faced by developing countries to save lives from Covid-19 as well fighting poverty and hunger. While noting encouraging response from the UN, IMF, the World Bank and other stakeholders, the Prime Minister underscored the need for additional measures and resources imperative for regenerating growth and livelihoods.

In this context, the Prime Minister highlighted his call for “Global Initiative for Debt Relief” for developing countries. President Buhari expressed support for the initiative.

The two leaders agreed that both sides would work closely in New York alongside the UN Secretary-General and other interested countries and partners to advance the shared goals.

Expressing satisfaction at the current level of cooperation, the Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to further deepen bilateral relations with Nigeria, particularly in the trade and economic domains, in the context of Pakistan’s “Engage Africa” Initiative.

Prime Minister Imran Khan also extended a cordial invitation to President Buhari to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience.

ISLAMABAD, MAY 7 (DNA) -Aun Abbas Bapi, managing director of Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal, has said that newspaper hawkers are the most important part of the newspaper industry and the government will do everything possible to help them to overcome their financial difficulties.

He expressed these views during a meeting with Tika Khan, Secretary General of All Pakistan Akhbar Farosh Federation and Zafar Bakhtawari, Former President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry at his office. Bait ul Mal member from Islamabad Sardar  Zahid Akbar was also present on the occasion.

Aoun Abbas Bapi further said that the government will provide all possible support to the newspaper hawkers to continue their business with utmost respect and dignity. He said that the current economic crisis has affected every section of the society including  newspaper hawkers. We will use all our resources to help and support them.

Secretary General of All Pakisran Akhbar Farosh Federation Tika Khan said on the occasion that newspaper hawkers are facing serious financial difficulties nowadays and it has become difficult for more than one lakh newspaper hawkers in the country to make a living. He also requested prime Minister and Minister for information and Broadcasting for financial assistance. He further said that Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal should come forward to help the newspaper hawkers in this regard.

Zafar Bakhtawari, former president of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said on the occasion that newspaper hawkers  in Islamabad as well as across the country are a highly organized force.  He requested  government to provide financial support and should go a step further to help them. If there are some difficulties in the Ehsas program through which the newspaper hawkers cannot be helped, then the government should make arrangements to help the newspaper hawkers  through other organisations.=DNA

DNA

RIYADH:Saudi Arabia has installed “advanced self-sterilisation gates” at the entrances of the grand mosques in Makkah and Madinah in an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

According to Saudi24, the move is part of the government’s “Together Guarded” initiative which has seen precautionary measures put in place since the pandemic hit the kingdom’s shores.

The General Presidency for the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque inaugurated the advanced self-sterilising portals which sterilise people with antiseptic spray and are equipped with thermal cameras to detect temperatures from six metres away and a smart screen for reading temperatures, where it can read the temperature of several people at the same time.

All workers at both mosques will be required to pass through the gates before entering them, and the systems themselves will be sterilised periodically.

DNA

ISLAMABAD: The National Coordination Committee on Thursday announced to open many shops and small businesses.

The NCC also deiced to cancel all boards examinations all over the country and students shall be promoted to next class on the basis of previous results.

Decision regarding domestic flights was deferred and prime minster told that further negotiations are needed in this regard.

            ISLAMABAD, May 07 (DNA):Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari has indicated that five special flights would bring stranded citizens to Pakistan from Qatar in next two weeks.

Addressing to Pakistani community via teleconference, he said currently 5,500 Pakistanis were stuck in Qatar due to closure of International flight operations amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Zulfikar Bukhari told the teleconference that 700 laid off Pakistani workers would be repatriated to Pakistan from the Middle East and their travel expenses would be provided by their foreign employers.

 “These unemployed Pakistanis will be given employment through Kamyab Jawan program,” he added.

The SAPM vowed to send two community welfare attache to Qatar in the next few days, said a press release issued by the overseas ministry.

The virtual town hall meeting was arranged by the OP&HRD Ministry to inform the community about the decisions taken by the government to provide relief to the Pakistani Diaspora in the wake of coronavirus.

The meeting was attended by more than 50 people including officials of Pakistan’s embassy and ambassador in Qatar.

ISLAMABAD, May 7 (DNA) – With carrot and stick policy, Pakistan COVID-19 exit strategy pivoting on gradual resumption of markets, home isolation and smart sampling is all set to come into force. 
It is programmed to restart economic engine and restore social activities blown to smithereens over the last two months of lockdown in the length and breadth of the country, says a report published by Gwadar Pro on Thursday.COVID-19 exit strategy is susceptible to get reversed if people do not act in conformity with set guidelines and pandemic runs amok. It will be further unfolding in phases exercising prudence and pragmatism. 
Ideally, in pursuance of new policy, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and KPK, AJK and GB are likely to be in lockstep with the federal government. However, they will have complete freedom to tweak their line of actions as per their local dynamics, infection rate, healthcare system, market demand and economic needs.

It may be remembered that all is subject to public discipline and spirit in compliance with various SOPs laid down to blunt the efficacy of the deadliest coronavirus that has already sent the entire world in tailspin.COVID-19 exit strategy entails 13 SOPs to effectively fight the disease. As per SOPs for home isolation asymptomatic persons (confirmed on PCR), and patients with mild symptoms, of age less than 60 years and without volatile health conditions relating to lung and heart disease, renal failure or may be looked after at home. 
They say that patient living alone must not be allowed for home-isolation, proper education about personal hygiene should be given.

They underlined the need to observe hand hygiene and protective mask in totality. They suggest to disinfect frequently touched surfaces in the designated room for isolation daily with 1% sodium hypochlorite solution and clean and disinfect bathroom and toilet surfaces at least once daily.

Special Instructions are for person in isolation to stay away from elderly people, pregnant women, children and persons with co-morbidities within the household, avoid social / religious gathering. Home isolation SOPs ask for repeat testing at day 10 of isolation and finally to end isolation, a previously tested positive patient should have two negative tests.Meanwhile 20-point SOPs for mosques being followed in Ramazan-ul-Mubarak will remain in force later. 
New COVID-19 exit strategy involves also SOPs on the burial of coronavirus deceased people, SOPs on social distancing, SOPs on the treatment and clinical management of corona patients, SOPs for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) kits by health workers at the federal and provincial levels, SOPs for purchases, the use of masks, and business activities to protect themselves from the disease, SOPS for construction industry, SOPS for allied markets.

The federal cabinet also announced relaxation in lockdown gradually after May 9 to help restart economic engine to allow formal and informal working class to earn their livelihood.Given the coronavirus exit strategy, provinces have also come up with their own restoration an and extension plans. Balochistan has aspired to reopen business but extended the lockdown till May 19, according to a notification issued by provincial Home and Tribal Affairs Department. 
“The looming threat of coronavirus spread still exists and the restrictions on social distancing and precautionary measures are still required to be put in place for (the) safety of human lives,” read the notification.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has been flexing its muscle to get rid of shutdown. Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said during a meeting with a delegation of small traders’ association of the provincial capital that government was considering reopening business under a schedule and subject to implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).Under burgeoning pressure of the business and trade community, Punjab government has decided to further ease the lockdown ahead of Eidul Fitr, but with strict implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) devised to maintain social distancing to avoid further spread of the coronavirus disease. 
Sindh government has also softened its stance to ease lockdown restriction before Eid, annual traditional religious gathering observed by Muslim at the end of Ramazan.

In order to make COVID-19 exit strategy, government has also formed Volunteer Tiger Force comprising total strength of 994194 till file of story.

It merits mentioning that along with unveiling of the coronavirus exit strategy, Pakistan is expected to see the number of COVID-19 cases peak around the end of June, the government’s planning minister revealed.