ISLAMABAD, MAR 24 (DNA) – Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a telephone conversation with his Bangladeshi counterpart, Minister for Foreign Affairs A.K.  Abdul Momen.The two Ministers discussed the challenges faced by regional countries in the face of rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and exchanged ideas on ways to combat the threat.

ISLAMABAD, MAR 23 (DNA) – The All Pakistan newspapers society has called upon the Prime Minister Imran Khan to include payment of media dues in his relief package scheduled to be announced tomorrow.Hameed Haroon, President, and Sarmad Ali, Secretaty general APNS appealed to the Prime Minister to instruct the federal and provincial governments of Punjab and KP to release the advertising dues of the media amounting to approximately Rs 6 billion, on priority basis to enable the crisis ridden media industry to effectively play its role in creating awareness about COVID-19 and combatting fake news.

LAHORE, MAR 23 (DNA) – Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar has decided to lock down city for 14 days.So far, 225 people have tested positive in the province.Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, in a press conference, said that the lockdown will be implemented from March 24 to April 6. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Punjab cabinet committee on coronavirus on Monday.=DNA

RAWALPINDI, MAR 23 (DNA) – The President of Pakistan has been pleased to grant the Military awards to the officers and men of Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force. 1 officer and 2 men granted Sitara-i-Basalat, 66 Tamgha-i-Basalat, 39 Imtiazi Asnad, 65 COAS Commendation Cards, 23 Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), 112 Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military) and 137 Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military).

ISLAMABAD, Mar 22 (DNA): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Sunday
telephoned his Iranian and Nepalese counterparts and exchanged views on
situation arising out of the outbreak of COVID-19.Talking to Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, he expressed deepsorrow and grief over the loss of precious lives in Iran due to
Coronavirus.

By Nihal Miraj

ISLAMABAD, MAR 22 (DNA) – Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a telephonic conversation with Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, his Iranian counterpart, on Sunday.Conveying deep concern and sorrow over the tragic loss of innocent lives in the on-going pandemic, the Foreign Minister commended the government and people of Iran for valiantly combating the COVID-19 global pandemic.

LAHORE, MAR 21 (DNA) – Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has on Saturday said all political parties should cooperate with each other over the coronavirus issue, media reported.The foreign minister welcomed Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s proposal to work together against the pandemic. He said the federal government is cooperating with the Sindh government.

ISLAMABAD, MAR 21 (DNA) – The Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) has established an emergency helpline 1122 in the wake of deadly COVID 19 with a view to enabling people to register complaints/information about this deadly disease.Mayor Islamabad Sheikh Anser Aziz disclosed this while talking to DNA on Saturday.The Mayor further told various formations of MCI have already been given necessary directions and guidelines in the regard.

ISLAMABAD, MAR 21 – PIA has cancelled all its international flights till March 28. This move comes into effect tonight (Sunday) at 8pm. This does not mean that Pakistani airspace has been closed, clarified PIA spokesperson.He said the move is to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Many cases in Pakistan were reported in people who had travelled to the country from abroad.The spokesperson said that all flights are being cancelled and tickets will be refunded. If people want to change their tickets to a date after March 28, there will be no charges, he said.