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.
Mayor Islamabad says MCI fully geared up to cope with COVID 19
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.
PIA cancels all international flights till March 28
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.
Ukraine President greets Pakistan president on Pakistan Day
ISLAMABAD, MAR 21 (DNA) -President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has congratulated President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Arif Alvi on the occasion of Pakistan Day.“I would like to extend to you sincere congratulations on the occasion of the national holiday – Pakistan Day.I am convinced that through our joint efforts to realize the significant potential of bilateral relations in all areas of mutual interest, we will ensure the further development of traditionally constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation between Ukraine and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Uzbekistan President orders to return citizens of Uzbekistan to their homeland
TASHKENT, MAR 21 – In order to protect the interests of our citizens who are abroad and find themselves in a difficult situation, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev was entrusted to the Special Republican Commission to prepare a program of measures to prevent the importation and spread of a new type of coronavirus into the Republic of Uzbekistan under the leadership of Prime Minister A. Aripov, to work out the issue of organizing flights for the return of compatriots to their homeland.
China reports no new local coronavirus cases for third day
BEIJING, MAR 21 – China reported no new local cases of the deadly coronavirus for a third consecutive day Saturday, but confirmed the highest yet increase in infections from abroad.The rate of infection has been slowing for weeks in China, while the rest of the world steps up measures to try and battle the raging pandemic.The World Health Organization on Friday praised China’s success in controlling the outbreak in the central city of Wuhan, where the virus first emerged late last year.
Balochistan closes shopping malls, markets, restaurants for three weeks
QUETTA, MAR 21 – All shopping malls, markets and restaurants in Balochistan will remain closed for a period of three weeks, the provincial government announced.In a notification, the provincial home and tribal affairs department said the decision, taken in the COVID-19 core committee meeting, is effective immediately.All inter-provincial public transport will remain suspended for the next three weeks, according to the notification. Public transport buses within the cities would also not be able to ply the roads during this period.
Pak, Nepalese Foreign Ministers exchange messages on 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations
ISLAMABAD, MAR 21 (DNA) – On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Nepal, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali exchanged messages of felicitations.In the messages, the two Foreign Ministers expressed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations on the basis of mutual trust, understanding and people-to-people contacts.
Experts call for spending different funds to tackle Coronavirus outbreak
ISLAMABAD, MAR 20 (DNA) – Experts at a virtual roundtable called upon the government to extract funds from different institutions like Workers Welfare Fund, PSDP, Baitul Maal, etc. to save the lives of people from Coronavirus outbreak in the country.The virtual roundtable titled “Responses to Coronavirus Pandemic in Pakistan” was organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here at Islamabad. Experts on economy, communication and social development presented their policy input in the wake of Coronavirus outbreak in the country to the Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Dr Fehmida Mirza who also participated in the discussion.
Exporters meet Hafeez Shaikh to discuss liquidity issues
ISLAMABAD, MAR 20 (DNA) – Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Hafeez Shaikh chaired a meeting here at the Finance Division with a delegation of Exporters to discuss various issues exporters have been facing after the outbreak of Corona Virus and the evolving position of the global economies and its impact on the export sector of Pakistan.Advisers to PM on Commerce and Textile and Austerity and Institutional Reforms were also present during the meeting.The delegation briefed the Adviser that due to the outbreak of the corona virus pandemic the global economies have gone into a recessionary phase and the demand for their products especially apparel has reduced to a considerable level.
