E-PAPER 20 MARCH 2020 (ISB)

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Friday, 20 March, 2020 I 25 Rajab, 1441 I Rs 20.00 I Vol X No 261 I 16 Pages I Islamabad Edition

CORONAVIRUS

Govt to announce financial stimulus packaGe as tally hits 453 g

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PM’S AIDe SAyS FInAnCIAl PACKAGe WIll MITIGATe eCOnOMIC IMPACTS OF COROnAVIRUS, WARnS AGAInST hOARDInG

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ISPR DG SAyS COOPeRATInG WITh CIVIl ADMIn, COMPRehenSIVe STRATeGy In PlACe

PAKISTAn ShUTS DOWn WAGhA BORDeR; PUnjAB, BAlOChISTAn SUSPenD PUBlIC TRAnSPORT WITh SInDh

President Alvi ratifies Zainab Alert Bill 2020 ISLAMABAD staff report

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staff report

he total number of coronavirus cases in the country reached 453 after over 100 cases were reported in all parts of the country on Thursday, with the federal government appealing to people to maintain social distancing and avoid hoarding basic commodities.

A patient has also recovered from the deadly virus in Sindh, making the total number of such recoveries to three.

As part of its efforts to contain the spread of the virus, the Sindh government has decided to convert the Karachi expo Centre into a 10,000-bed hospital for corona patients in addition sanctioning an Rs7.21 billion grant to fight the threat.

In a meeting of the provincial task force on coronavirus, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also di-

rected the relevant authorities to distribute 2 million grocery bags among needy families. he observed that people seem worried about food availability in view of a partial lockdown in the city. In the first phase, one month’s worth of grocery items will be distributed. The grocery bags will include flour, rice, three kinds of pulses, ghee, sugar, tea bags, dry milk, and spices.

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar said that the provincial government allocated funds worth Rs5 billion in order to curtail the risk of the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). CM Buzdar went on to say that a center in Taftan will be established by the Punjab government and added that the provincial government will also build 1,000-bed temporary field hospital.

‘NO SHORTAGE OF FOOD’: As cases see a gradual rise, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on health Dr Zafar Mirza held a press conference at the Corona

more inside

Rich world pumps aid as coronavirus deaths in Italy overtake China STORY ON BACK PAGE

KSe-100 makes smart recovery after shedding over 1,900 points STORY ON PAGE 11

Sindh textile millers seek govt’s intervention as virus shakes industry STORY ON PAGE 11

SBP reserves fall $110m to 12.6bn STORY ON PAGE 12

Command and Control Centre in Islamabad along with Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) chief Maj General Babar Iftikhar and PM’s aide on information, Firdous Ashiq Awan.

During the presser, Mirza said Pakistan was seeking China’s help to curb the pandemic and the first video conference with the Chinese experts will take place in a day or two. he praised the provincial governments for “cooperating” with the Centre on the timely information regarding the outbreak. he said: “All the governments are playing an active role in curbing the virus.”

“PM Imran in his speech focused on social distancing. We need to implement that as soon as possible,” he noted, adding: “The majority of the reported cases (in Pakistan) are imported.”

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President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday ratified the Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Bill, 2020, effectively making into what he termed was an “excellent law”, after it was passed earlier by both the national Assembly and Senate.

“An excellent law for rapid response & recovery in cases of child kidnappings,” the president said.

“It will establish toll free helplines, lay down framework for quick police & admin response.

It will use & improve upon technology to trace criminals,” he added.

The law, which provides for a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a Rs1-million fine on child abusers, also dictates that toll-free helplines be established and a framework for quick police and administrative response be laid down.

Moreover, a Zainab Alert, Response, and Recovery Agency (ZARRA) would be established to issue an alert for a missing child. It would work closely with the helpline 1099 or other similar ones.

The ZARRA would coordinate with all relevant federal and provincial authorities and law enforcement agencies and maintain an online database of all children reported missing or abducted with their current status.

Bilawal urges complete lockdown to contain coronavirus g

PPP ChIeF SAyS SOCIAl DISTAnCInG, MASS TeSTInG Only WAy TO COnTAIn PAnDeMIC KARACHI staff report

AFTeR the Sindh government imposed a partial lockdown in the province, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday urged the federal government to lock down the entire country in a bid to contain the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

Addressing a press conference at Sindh Assembly, the PPP chief said there was a dire need to work towards mitigating the spread of the contagion and the

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federal government will have to bring “some changes” in its action plan to fight the virus. he said that the federal government needed to focus on mitigating the spread of COVID-19 by focusing on social distancing and isolation, and to maximise testing capabilities — a “twopronged approach”.

“I would like to emphasise that coronavirus is an extremely serious and lifethreatening issue […] It is ten times worse than the flu,” said Bilawal, stressing that the mortality rate, while still not known definitively, is much higher than the flu.

SAyS SInDh GOVT WIll TAKe CARe OF DAIly WAGeRS lIVInG In SelFISOlATIOn By PROVIDInG RATIOn

The PPP chairman said it was important to remember that the disease does not only affect the elderly and those with underlying conditions but can affect anyone. “Of the two people who have died from the disease, one was 36 years old and one was 50 years of age, which means they were not very advanced in their years.” The PPP chairman said those countries identified and contained those who had the disease or were suspected to have it, adding the other measure taken by them was that of mass testing.

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Friday, 20 March, 2020

NEWS

Federal govT SayS no Food SHorTage expeCTed due To CoronavIruS ouTBreaK ISLAMABAD

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APP

HE Planning Commission on Thursday announced that there would be no food shortage due to coronavirus outbreak in the country as sufficient stocks were available to meet the immediate need.

It also vowed to make all efforts to combat and actively coordinate for necessary emergency funding from both the local and international sources to ward off any negative impacts of coronavirus on livelihoods, jobs, especially the industry.

A special inter-ministerial and interprovincial meeting for assessing the impact of corona pandemic on Pakistan’s economy was held here under the chairmanship of Deputy Chairman Planning Commission (DCPC) Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan.

Jahanzeb Khan remarked that government was assessing the socioeconomic impact of Corona virus on the national economy with the aim to undertake timely interventions to safeguard the economy against the impending effects of coronavirus.

Representative from the ministry of Commerce, while briefing on the likely impacts of coronavirus on the national

IHC suspends notification for forming JIT against Khursheed Shah ISLAMABAD APP

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday suspended a notification pertaining to forming a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah for holding assets beyond means. A division bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Ghulam Azam Qambrani conducted the hearing on a petition moved by Shah. Mian Raza Rabbani appeared before the bench on behalf of the petitioner.

The petitioner pleaded the court that in 2001 and 2002, NAB Sindh had conducted an inquiry against him in the case and it had once again issued the orders for the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT). He said NAB had constituted a team comprising representatives of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and completed the investigation in the case. The petitioner prayed the court to declare NAB’s notification regarding JIT as null and void. Khursheed Shah named NAB chairman and DG Multan as respondents in the case.

The court said only the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)’s investigation officer would hold the inquiry into the matter against the accused.

economy, said that due to the closure of major port operations and retailers globally, reduced global demand was likely to lead to a reduced global economic growth.

Officials from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs informed efforts were being made to ensure uninterrupted port operations for continued supply of essential commodities. Officials from the ministry of National Food Security informed that Pakistan will not face any food shortage as Pakistan has sufficient stocks of essential items to meet the immediate needs.

They showed their commitment to ensure the smooth operation of transport and logistics services to keep commodity prices stable.

Federal Director General Health Dr Shabnum Sarfraz informed that over one million people had been screened so far.

The Health Services Academy is currently working on modeling a projection of the

Govt to announce financial stimulus package as tally hits 453 contInueD froM pAge 01 Mirza, encapsulating the rapid spread of the disease in the world and specifically in Pakistan, said: “The pandemic has spread to over 176 countries registered with the United Nations and nearly 220,000 people have been infected, whereas in Pakistan there are 326 confirmed cases,” he said.

“We don’t need to be obsessive about the number as there are thousands of confirmed coronavirus cases in other countries,” he added. He expressed grief over the death of the two coronavirus patients who died in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a day earlier. The health adviser also informed the media that in the next press conference, only PTV would record the briefing and make it available to other media channels. He also urged people not to go unnecessarily to hospital OPDs and “if it is necessary to go there, the patient should go alone.”Firdous told reporters that the government would launch a ‘financial stimulus package’ to mitigate the economic impact of coronavirus on people, especially daily wage workers. She said that the package will soon be presented to the prime minister for formal approval.

She said a committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Finance Adviser Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh to devise a plan to avoid an economic slowdown in the country.

Firdous said directions have been

given to provincial governments to take stern action against those elements who attempt to hoard food and create an artificial shortage of edible items.

Addressing the press conference, Pakistan Army’s spokesperson Gen Iftikhar said the military was cooperating with the civil administration to curb the outbreak. “The army chief has directed all formations to inspect risk assessments at district and tehsil level and help civil administration tackle the pandemic,” he said. “We are helping the governments with quarantine facilities as well,” he said, adding: “We are stationed at all the entry points; there is a comprehensive strategy in place.”

The Peshawar, Sialkot, Quetta, Faisalabad, and Multan airports will be operational from March 21 and the army and Rangers personnel will help the civil administration there as well, he said. All the medical resources of the armed forces are being prepared for an emergency situation, said Gen Iftikhar.

The army spokesperson said that the army’s scientists were working to develop a sanitiser to tackle the pandemic.

The ISPR along with health and information ministry has drafted a “crisis and risk communication strategy” in light of the world’s best practices, he said.

“A national command and control centre has been formed along with all stakeholders including the army, to provide people with timely updates.” “We

estimated extent of the spread of virus in collaboration with international experts.

Member Social Sector, highlighted the need to augment the human resources which is at the forefront of fighting the epidemic. She urged the ministry to engage the medical and nursing students to add to the capacity of the current health staff.

DCPC Jahanzeb Khan asked the ministries to provide comprehensive assessment reports on economic impacts of Corona pandemic on various sectors of national economy to devise timely government interventions to safeguard jobs and livelihoods of vulnerable sections of society.

Planning Commission would present this before the National Security Council (NSC).

He further remarked that the Government is keeping a close eye on the situation and will consider providing an economic emergency bailout to address the likely short to medium term liquidity crunch. are using TV, radio, social media and other platforms to spread awareness,” he said.

WAGHA BORDER SEALED: The Ministry of Interior, meanwhile, announced the closure of Wagha Border crossing with India, initially for a period of two weeks as a precautionary measure.

A notification, issued by the interior ministry, directed the relevant authority for “complete sealing of Wagha Border for an initial period of two weeks (14 days) with immediate effect in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, in the best interest of both countries.”

NA SESSION SOUGHT: The opposition in the National Assembly on Thursday submitted a requisition in the National Assembly Secretariat for convening an immediate session to discuss the prevailing coronavirus situation in the country. According to the official document, 92 opposition members of the House have endorsed the demand for the emergency session.

BALOCHISTAN, PUNJAB SUSPEND INTER-CITY TRANSPORT: Meanwhile, Punjab and Balochistan governments have temporarily suspended inter-provincial transport services with Sindh. The Punjab Transport Authority (PTA), during a meeting, decided to suspend inter-city traffic heading towards Sindh to curb the potential spread of coronavirus.

Similarly, the Balochistan government has also suspended inter-city bus services and public transport in Quetta and other parts of the province for 15 days. The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by the Balochistan Chief Secretary Captain (r) Fazeel Asghar.

Bilawal urges complete lockdown to contain coronavirus contInueD froM pAge 01 Bilawal said Pakistan has reached a level where there will now be “community spread.

“The cases do not only point towards those who returned from foreign travels but also those who interacted with them.” Furthermore, the recent spike can be attributed to those who were under quarantine in Balochistan — after having come in from Iran. “When they came towards Sindh we kept them in isolation.” “Unfortunately they were not tested and many were not identified (to have the disease). We have done that now which is why you are witnessing a surge in cases.” Speaking about the provincial government’s efforts to contain the virus, he said that the Sindh government had identified 34 suspected patients early on — when there was news of the outbreak in Wuhan — and had tested them. All tests had turned up negative. “Sindh government on its own has arranged 10,000 testing kits,” he said. He said that when the virus spread to Iran, the Sindh government obtained a list from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of citizens who had come from Iran. “We identified them and had them self-quarantine at home for those who did not show symptoms and for those who did, we had them tested.” He also assured the daily wagers that the government would take care of them and will provide food supplies to the poor during their self-isolation at home. “I assure you the Sindh government will take care of you,” he said. “We call upon those of you who can help the Sindh government, to please extend a helping hand,” said Bilawal. He directed the Sindh government officials to “ensure that no daily wage worker is laid off”. “You must make it incumbent upon private organisations as well to ensure that their employees’ salaries are timely disbursed.” Bilawal said that the Sindh government is aware of the economic impact of the outbreak and will take “concrete measures to tackle it”. “We will need to take some serious steps to keep the economy afloat,” he said.

2 martyred in Hangu checkpost attack HANGU: Two policemen embraced martyrdom in a terrorist attack on a police checkpost in the Orakzai area near Hangu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa late Wednesday night. According to details, armed miscreants opened fire at a police checkpoint in the Mamuzai area.

Heavy contingents of police and armed forces reached the spot after the incident. They cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to arrest the attackers. StAff RePoRt

Coronavirus: Is Pakistan taking COVID-19 too lightly?

AgencIeS “What can we do about the coronavirus? One can die of a heart attack. Death is inevitable and it could come anywhere,” a security guard at a supermarket in Karachi’s Clifton area told DW on Tuesday.

Other people DW spoke to in Karachi echoed more or less the same views.

Karachi is Pakistan’s financial hub with a population of around 20 million people. Around 30 COVID19 cases have so far been reported in the metropolis, and around 250 nationwide, out of which the southern Sindh province has reported more than 181. Authorities reported the South Asian country’s first coronavirus-related death from Gilgit-Baltistan on Wednesday.

Experts say the coronavirus cases in Pakistan are steadily increasing, yet the authorities and the common people seem to be taking the issue lightly.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s televised address to the nation on Tuesday was proof of an apparent complacency, analysts say. Khan said the cases were likely to increase further but there was no need to panic.

He also refused to impose a partial lockdown in major cities to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, officially called the SARS-COV-2. “If we shutdown the cities – people are already facing difficult circumstances – we will save them from corona at one end, but they will die from hunger on other side,” Khan said. “We did consider shutting down cities when we were at 20 cases … but I want to tell you all that Pakistan does not have the conditions that are in the United States or Europe.

Our country has grave poverty.” Instead of announcing concrete measures to fight the pandemic, Khan urged the people to act responsibly.

MISHANDLING OF SHIA PILGRIMS: A majority of COVID-19 infections in Pakistan are of pilgrims who returned to Pakistan from Iran earlier this month. The Baluchistan provincial government “quarantined” them at Taftan border with Iran, however health experts al-

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leged that they were badly mishandled by the authorities. On March 16, the chief minister of Sindh province, Murad Ali Shah, said that PM Khan’s federal government in Islamabad extended “zero help” to the Baluchistan authorities in putting pilgrims in quarantine. He alleged that thousands of returning pilgrims were kept together at the Taftan facility, which multiplied infections. “Crisis cannot be averted until everyone acts responsibly,” said Shah of the Pakistan People’s Party, once headed by the former premier Benazir Bhutto.

Shah’s efforts to stop the coronavirus spread in Sindh province have been hailed locally and internationally. As the Taftan pilgrims from Sindh were sent to their province by Baluchistan authorities, Shah put them in a makeshift facility in Sukkur city, properly quarantining every individual in separate rooms.

But experts say that Khan’s central government has so far not shown a similar resolve to deal with the worsening public health situation.

“The central government has already given up the fight,” Amar Sindhu, a human rights activist, told DW. “In comparison, Sindh’s Chief Minister Shah has emerged as a real leader who is confronting the issue with a lot of determination,” she added. “Khan’s Tuesday address was disappointing. It seems he has not drafted a policy to deal with the situation.”

DISDAIN FOR PROTECTIVE MEASURES: Pakistan’s Health Ministry has issued directives for the masses on how to protect themselves from the coronavirus. The government has urged people to avoid public gatherings, wash hands regularly and keep a distance from the virus patients. Despite these public messages, which are being propagated through mainstream media, many people in Pakistan seem to ignore the instructions. Poverty is rampant in the country, with many people unable to make ends meet. They view the coronavirus as the least of their problems. At the same time, Khan’s government has been sending mixed signals about “social distancing.”

Friday, 20 March, 2020

PAKIstAn AsKs InDIA to lIft KAshMIR CuRfeW AfteR RePoRts of vIRus CAses ISLAMABAD

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Staff RepoRt

AKISTAN on Thursday urged the Indian government to lift the curfew in occupied Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) following media reports of coronavirus cases in the held valley which is under complete lockdown since Aug 5 last year.

According to India Today, J&K’s coronavirus count had reached four by Wednesday. In the weekly press briefing, which was held behind closed doors as a precautionary measure amid virus outbreak, Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui stressed that lifting of restrictions is important to obtain full information of the infected people and to ensure the provision of essential items and medical supplies to the people.

Farooqui also condemned the “inhumane and brutal repression of the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir by the Indian security forces”.

The spokesperson also noted that despite the Indian annexation of the mountainous valley, Jammu and Kashmir remains a disputed territory and the Indian government’s steps are in sheer violation of the UN resolutions.

Regarding the prevailing coronavirus situation, she said that the government has taken a series of measures to contain its spread. She said the government is monitoring the situation and has employed all mechanisms to ensure the safety of the people.

Farooqui announced a crisis management cell has also been established in the Foreign Office to liaise with the diplomatic corps in Pakistan as well as with foreign

Maryam breaks social media silence with tweets on coronavirus Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz in a series of tweets on Thursday said Pakistan is facing one of the gravest crises in her recent memory. Taking to the microblogging site, she said: “the spread of coronavirus poses a serious threat that needs to be fought at all levels. In the hour of trial, we must take precaution, follow the medical guidelines & pray to Allah SWT for His protection.”

She extended “heartfelt” condolences to the families of those who have died from the epidemic and prayed for early recovery of the affected. “May Allah protect us all. Ameen. Fee Amaan Allah.” Maryam Nawaz, who faces charges of money laundering and is out on bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) case, conveyed “fervent prayers” from her father Nawaz Sharif for “beloved nation,” saying: ” He [asked me to convey directly to the people of Pakistan]. Earlier, on March 12, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz broke her months-long silence as she talked to media for the first time after being released from prison on bail in the CSM case. “I remained silent due to some personal reasons,” she said after meeting PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in Islamabad. newS DeSk

Chinese citizens all praise for Alvi for visit despite coronavirus pandemic ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has garnered praise from Chinese citizens for his recent visit to Pakistan’s key ally which is severely hit by the deadly coronavirus outbreak. According to data collected from Jin Ri Toutiao (Headlines Today) and WeChat — two of the most popular news-sharing platforms in China — the article titled President of Pakistan Alvi starts his journey to China has received attention from more than 370,000 readers with over 6,000 likes and 1,000 comments. The commentators had said, “Pakistan is a real friend. That Chinese people are very certain [of].” The event was widely discussed by the people of China that day, with the only other hot topic being the novel coronavirus outbreak, China Economic Net report on Thursday. According to APP, most readers expressed their gratitude to President Alvi for visiting China at this crucial time. Here are some of the comments found under the news piece: “We’d like to express our warmest welcome to President Alvi for coming to China.” “We cherish the friendship between China and Pakistan that has been passing on to generations and generations. ” “The concerns of Pakistan are also ours, and vice versa.” “The iron brothers are united.

Through joint efforts, China and Pakistan will defeat the COVID-19, and resume economic development.” “However the world changes, long live Pak-China friendship!” Most of the remarks suggested that President Alvi’s visit sparked warm feelings for Pakistan, reflecting the close ties between the two nations throughout history.

During the visit from March 16 to 17, President Alvi held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents. The president also met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Chairman, China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, Li Zhanshu during the two-day visit. app

missions and Pakistan nationals living abroad. “Our embassies and consulates abroad have also established hotlines and nominated focal persons to facilitate expa-

triates,” she said, adding: “They are advised to avoid unnecessary travel and practice social distancing in a responsible manner for their own safety and those around them.”

PM for devising curriculum in line with modern needs

ISLAMABAD app

Prime Minister Imran Khan has emphasized on making life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and ideology of

Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal part of the uniform syllabus.

Addressing a meeting regarding enforcement of common syllabus here Thursday, he called for making the

syllabus in line with needs of the modern era.

The Prime Minister directed to ensure complete elimination of mafia’s interference regarding publication of syllabus books while enforcing uniform curriculum in the country.

The meeting was informed that the government has prepared uniform syllabus from class one to five in line with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision to enforce uniform curriculum in the country.

It was also informed that a common syllabus from class sixth to eighth will be prepared by March next year whereas the curriculum for class nine to twelve will be completed by 2022.

The meeting was also briefed about steps taken for the provision of learning opportunities in view of closure of educational institutions due to coronavirus. The Prime Minister was briefed that Ministry of Federal Education has arranged seven hour long educational transmissions through Pakistan Television in this regard.

NEWS

Karachi police claim arrest of ‘head of RAW’s terror wing’ KARACHI: Police on Thursday claimed they had arrested ‘head of the terror wing of Indian intelligence agency RAW in Karachi, Shahid Ilyas alias ‘Muttahida’ and his two accomplices. Additional Inspector General (AIG) Ghulam Nabi Memon said in a press conference that police conducted separate raids on a tip-off and arrested the terrorist and his two accomplices for running a terror network linked with RAW in Karachi. Besides making the arrests, the raiding teams also recovered two mortar launchers, nine rocket launchers, rockets, hand grenades and modern weaponry from their possession.

“The accused person is connected with the RAW network to carry out terrorism in Karachi. Shahid Ilyas is associated with Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London (MQM-L).

He received money through Hawala Hundi from India, whereas, these people are also involved in distributing money to other terrorists,” the senior police officer claimed. While making more revelations about the terror network, AIG Memon said that the accused persons were involved in providing intel-based information to a person traced as Mehmood Siddiqui in India. “These people also forwarded information of those persons to India working against the party [MQM-L] policy.

The terror wing had also funded Khalid Shamim in Imran Farooq murder case and also paid money for serial bomb explosions in Karachi including 2009’s Muharram blast.”

“This terror wing of RAW’s Karachi chapter was put under close monitoring which is also used for arms supplies for terror activities. It is a major arrest and we will request the government for the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) as in this case, terror financing is also included.” Staff RepoRt

3 PIA aircraft not allowed to land in Dubai Three Pakistan International Airlines flights (PIA) on Thursday were not allowed to land at Dubai International Airport. According to PIA spokesperson, all three flights remained airborne for 45 minutes. However, the aircraft were permitted landing after PIA officials intervened. “Dubai International Airport official did not allow PIA aircraft to land due to fear of coronavirus,” the spokesperson said. Aircraft would have been called back to Pakistan if the landing was further delayed, the spokesperson added.

UAE has suspended a number of its flights following the rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the country. newS DeSk

Joint parliamentary committee to monitor anti-coronavirus efforts ISLAMABAD: In a major development, the federal government and opposition decided on Thursday to form a parliamentary committee to help monitor and support joint efforts to counter the threat of coronavirus outbreak.

The decision was taken during a meeting held between Prime Minister (PM)

Imran Khan and National Assembly (NA) Speaker Dr Asad Qaisar here on Thursday.

The participants of the meeting discussed the situation arising out of the novel virus’ spread in the country as well as the government’s strategy to stop its spread and prevention. It was agreed that coronavirus was a global problem and could only be

SC directs Sindh Police to arrest accused in Mehar triple murder case ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday directed the Sindh Police to arrest the accused involved in the triple murder case in Mehar Taluka, Dadu District.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial heard the petition, filed by Umme Rubab, for the arrest of the murderers of her elders.

During the course of proceedings, Hyderabad Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Naeem Sheikh submitted the case’s progress report, saying that the accused were hiding in areas of Balochistan that constitute B areas; however, the police were trying their best to arrest them.

“The persons who were in contact with them are being monitored whereas the absconding accused have also been blocked,” he said. He also apprised the court that other law enforcement agencies were also cooperating the police to solve the case, adding that he was seeking help from the Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan for the arrest of accused Zulifqar and Ghulam Murtaza Chandio. Justice Bandial remarked that the steps, which the police had taken at the last moment in order to have something to say in court, should have been taken two

years ago. He praised the petitioner saying that she was a brave girl who was determined despite the murder of her elders even though the accused belonged to an influential tribe. Umme Rubab told the top judge that the Sindh Police’s investigation was flawed. “According to them, the accused were not in contact with their relatives. But the wife of an accused fugitive was pregnant. How was it possible that the got pregnant while her husband had not come home for two years?” she asked.

On this, the DIG said that the police had conducted raids for the arrest of the accused on tip-offs and he would soon be behind bars. Justice Faisal Arab remarked that the law allowed the police to arrest of the relatives of the accused, who were in contact with them. The court then adjourned the case until the last week of April.

On January 17, Union Council Chairman Raees Karamullah Chandio and his two sons, Mukhtiar and Qabil, were shot dead in an armed attack on their house in Ahmed Colony of Mehar.

Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Nawab Sardar Khan Chandio and his brother Burhan Chandio were among the accused nominated in the first information report (FIR) registered at A-Section Police Station.

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fought collectively by putting aside political divides. The prime minister said that public health was the government’s top priority therefore, emergency measures to prevent the spread of the virus must be taken without wasting any time.

SPEAKER REACHES OUT TO OPP: Further, the NA speaker held consultations

with Raja Pervez Ashraf of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Khurram Dastagir Khan of the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N). “The NA speaker phoned Raja Pervez Ashraf and held a meeting with Khurram Dastagir Khan separately. Both opposition party leaders have expressed full confidence in the speaker’s leadership and have assured their full cooperation in this regard,” a source told Pakistan Today. Mian abRaR

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Friday, 20 March, 2020

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Sufficient stocks available to meet any emergency situation: traders

PESHAWAR: Lady Reading Hospital employees cleaning the premises after the death of a COVID-19 patient. inP

KP govt maKing effortS to Prevent coronaviruS: cm DI KHAN

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APP

HyBER Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan here Thursday said the Government would go all-out to prevent spread of coronavirus and all resources would be utilized to provide relief to affected patients in the province.

Talking to media persons after inspecting anti-corona arrangements at the quarantine here, the Chief Minister said coronavirus was pandemic and urged people to keep themselves limited to their homes and avoid public rush places.

The Chief Minister said holding of public gatherings, visit to recreational places and marriage halls were banned.

Schools, colleges and universities have been closed for fifteen days to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The meeting of Govt officials with more than five persons has been banned as precautionary measures besides imposition of complete ban on barber shops and beauty parlors till further orders.

The Chief Minister said isolation wards were established at district level to provide quick relief to suspected patients.

Mahmood Khan said food packages would be provided to families of the af-

fected patients at their homes addresses and Deputy Commissioners were directed to take necessary actions in this regard.

He said social distancing was necessary to prevent spread of the virus and great responsibilities was rest on religious scholars and media persons to help educate masses against corona virus.

The people of KP showed great determination during 2005 earthquake and 2010 flood and have all the courage to face corona virus’s situation with steadfastness.

He urged media persons to inform masses about precautionary measures and constantly write and telecast programs to prevent this fatal virus from further spread.

Anti-polio campaign in KP suspended due to coronavirus PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT

The ongoing anti-polio campaign has been suspended in five districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday.

According to KP Emergency Operations Center (EOC) coordinator, the campaign which was scheduled from March 16 to 20 and its target was to administer polio drops to over 1.3 million children.

It has been learnt that polio drops could be administered to only to 1.188 million children. The anti-polio cam-

paign was continuing in Charsadda, Mardan, Nowshera, Swabi and Mohmand Agency.

The decision has been taken after KP reported Pakistan’s first two deaths from the novel coronavirus on Wednesday. 310 COVID-19 patients have been infected with the disease across the country.

Sindh remains the worst-hit province by the pandemic as 211 patients have been tested positive for coronavirus in it. 33 cases have been confirmed in Punjab, 23 in Balochistan, 19 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 15 in Gilgit-Baltistan, eight in Islamabad and one in Azad Kashmir.

ISLAMABAD: Traders and Businessmen Thursday said that adequate stocks of all food grains and daily-used commodities were available in the country to cater to the current demand and also cope with any emergency situation created in the wake of COVID 19 pandemic outbreak. “Pakistan is self-sufficient in all food grains including wheat, rice, sugar and adequate stocks of all these commodities are available to strike balance between demand and supply`,” President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Muhammad Ahmad Waheed. However, he urged the government to evolve a comprehensive mechanism to avoid panic buying by the consumers as was witnessed in some developed countries of the world. Waheed assured the government of business community’s every possible support to deal with the pandemic challenge, saying that the whole nation stood united to avert this threat by acting upon the guidelines issued by the federal and provincial governments.

Muhammad Ahmad suggested the government to initiate rationing system to avoid panic buying and ensure smooth food supply besides binding retailers to sell the products on per-head -basis in order to ensure smooth and swift demand and supply mechanism. In this time of need, the business community would strongly discourage over-profiteering and hoarding, he said and asked the government to take strict measures against the elements involved in hoarding and profiteering and give them exemplary punishments to stop any such practices. He said that although it was difficult time for the trade and industrial sector of the country, as local industry was already facing many pressures including rising interest rates, electricity charges and increasing cost of production, however the business community would stand with the government at this hour of need. Due to the outbreak of this deadly virus which had affected most of the world and destroyed many big economies had further pushed down the local trade and industrial sector. He said that the local exports had started gaining momentum after extension in the Generalized Scheme for Preferences Plus (GSP+) by the European countries, but due to outbreak of Coronavirus many imports shipments carrying the raw materials were canceled. Meanwhile, All Pakistan Traders Association President, Muhammad Kashif Chaudhry told APP that sufficient stocks were available in the country, however creating undue panic could be problematic. He said that although there was no shortage of masks and sanitizers, but a panic was created which led to hoarding and shortage of these items in the market. He said that the traders of all the big cities had meetings with top management of their respective district administrations for promoting mutual coordination to cope with any emergency situation. He said that the government needed to take comprehensive measures to manage the situation, however added that lockdown could not be a better option as it would trigger unemployment. APP

Intruding animals disturb Kavaan’s health in Islamabad Zoo ISLAMABAD APP

The only elephant of Islamabad Zoo, Kavaan, has once again surfaced on social media in a photograph featuring the wild animal standing with his head against the wall after other animals intruded into his enclosure through a broken fence.

Talking to APP, Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) Director Zoo Rana Tahir said that the zoo staff noticed that the animal’s stomach was not well whereas his sleep cycle was also disturbed after which a vet was called in to examine Kavaan’s health.

“The vet had suggested a few changes in the Kavaan’s diet and the recommendations were being followed to provide best relief to the wild animal,” he added. The MCI director regretted that people’s criticisim of the zoo administration, adding that they lacked basic information about wildlife care and its management.

“The zoo staff was recently trained by an American zoologist that had helped further enhance their capacity to look after wildlife at par with global standards,” he added. He noted that a few non-governmental organisations were dubiously highlighting the issue with the intentions of taking possession of Kavaan to release it in a “so-called wildlife sanctuary”.

"This elephant is our asset and belongs to the children of Pakistan who have the right to learn about this mighty species of wildlife. Let’s not forget that a zoo is a potential source of education for children," he opined.

It merits mention here that according to a document

available with the agency, a private zoo consultant Dr Masood-Ul-Haq had visited Islamabad Zoo on March 17 where he checked the elephant and suggested that a change in his ration scale would be beneficial.

Dr Masood also advised to prepare an estimate for the installation of outer fencing for the elephant enclosure as wild boars entering its enclosure don’t let Kavaan get proper sleep.

“The zoo administration should also make a mustard oil solution in water to rub on its skin, remove sand in its enclosure and instead provide limestone chalking,” he further added.

It may be noted here that according to the details of Kavaan’s advised ration scale, the elephant should get sugar cane 120 kilogrammes (kgs), roti 6kg, banana 6 dozen, apple 5kg, parched grams 1.5kg, stomach powder 500 grammes, iodine salt 1 kg, and green fodder 60 kg.

Friday, 20 March, 2020

KHAwAjA broTHerS releASed FroM jAIl LAHORE

P

sTaff rePorT

AKISTAN Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) leaders Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Khawaja Salman Rafique were released from jail on Thursday, two days after they were granted bail from the Supreme Court (SC) in the Paragon Housing scam.

On Tuesday, the apex court had approved the bail of the PML-N leaders in a corruption reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The bail was granted against two surety bonds of Rs3 million each.

The SC, in its decision, observed that the petitioners had cooperated with the NAB during the trial. Justice Maqbool Baqir observed that the NAB had not yet provided clear evidence in the case.

Addressing reporters after the brothers’ release, Saad Rafique said that the PML-N is a party which is inclined towards moderation and it has also proven it.

“NAB and Pakistan cannot function together,” he said, adding that the probe body’s law is based on dishonesty.

He said the party will not change its stance, adding that the people of Pakistan is with them.

Rafique asked PM Imran to ‘learn to tolerate’ his opponents. He said that the government’s behavior will hamper the country’s progress.

The former railways minister said that in the PML-N tenure there were no political prisoners.

In December 2018, NAB had arrested the Khawaja brothers after the Lahore High Court (LHC) rejected their request for an extension in their pre-arrest bail in a case pertaining to the housing society scam. The brothers had approached the apex court after the LHC had cancelled their bail plea.

Presenting its allegations, NAB in a press release had said: “”accused Saad Rafique along with his benamidaar wife Ghazala Saad Rafique, brother Salman Rafique in association with Qaiser Amin

Hamza Shehbaz’s judicial remand extended till March 27

Zubair MehfooZ

Butt and Nadeem Zia established a housing project in the name of Air Avenue which was converted into a new housing project namely M/S Paragon City Pvt Limited. Record shows that M/S Paragon City is an illegal society.

Accused has been and is continuously obtaining illegal/ illegitimate funds/ benefits from said project as he obtained 40 kanal plots in his own name and the name of his brother Salman Rafique.”

Railways to close 12 trains from Sunday

LAHORE sTaff rePorT

An accountability court on Thursday extended the judicial remand of Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz Sharif till March 27. The court summoned the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart in the next proceedings and apprised him that the proceedings henceforth will be held to hand out convictions to the parties named in the case. An accountability court on March 13 extended the judicial remand of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) leader Hamza Shehbaz Sharif till March 27 in assets beyond means case. Hamza Sharif was presented before the court of Judge Jawad-ul-Hassan under tight security. As the hearing went underway, the NAB prosecutor presented the report regarding the filing of reference against PML-N stalwart before the court.

Later, the court extended the judicial remand of Hamza Shehbaz for 14 days and adjourned hearing till March 27.

Training program for intending Hajj pilgrims suspended ISLAMABAD sTaff rePorT

The government on Thursday suspended the training program for future Haj pilgrims as part of a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus, reported Radio Pakistan. Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Noorul Haq Qadri said that the decision has been taken following the ban on gatherings in wake of coronavirus outbreak in the country. Qadri said all Haji camps across the country have been informed about this decision. However, the minister clarified that arrangements for Haj 2020 are underway as per routine and the government is in contact with the Saudi government in this regard.

LAHORE

measure to avoid spread of global pandemic. However the decision about closing down the operations remaining trains would be taken on a special meeting scheduled on March 25.

A sum of Rs 80 million was being refunded to passengers of the closed trains. However they can travel to other trains of their choice in the same booking of the closed trains.

He said Pakistan Railways operates 134 trains daily across the country. With the closure of 34 trains, 100 trains would

aPP

Pakistan Railways has decided to close down the operations of its 12 express trains from Sunday (Mar 22) and enhance the stops of its express trains to avoid congestion at main railway stations of big cities, said Minister for Railways Shaikh Rashid Ahmed.

Talking to media, he said the operations of a total of 34 trains would be closed by April 1 as a precautionary

continue operating daily as Pakistan Railways has no alternate resources to pay salaries and pensions of its retired employees. The operation of 12 to 15 freight trains daily will continue.

He said to minimize congestion, the stops of trains are being increased to avoid rush at main railways stations of big cities. As many as 70 million passengers travel through Railways annually and 200,000 passengers daily. The number of passengers has been decreased to 160,000 due to coronavirus fears.

He said proper cleanliness of Railways stations were being ensured. Scanning of passengers was also being ensured to avoid deadly virus infections.

He said Pakistan Railways wanted to transfer pension payment obligations to federal government for ending its woes on permanent basis. This would help ending deficit of Pakistan Railways. He said ML-1 project was the backbone of Pakistan Railways. The project would be finalized on the forthcoming visit of Chinese President to Pakistan. He offered handing over the services of 48 Railways hospitals, dispensaries to all provincial governments to fight coronavirus.

LAHORE aPP

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has set up Rs 5 billion special fund to deal with coronavirus and ordered an indiscriminate crackdown on the mafias involved in hoarding of masks and sanitizers.

He was presiding over a meeting of the cabinet committee at his office on Thursday to review the precautionary measures being taken for overcoming the coronavirus.

He said that Rs 236 million have been issued to the Health Department and one billion rupees were allocated as well, he added. The government would provide more resources to safeguard the lives of people. The chief minister ordered for arranging diagnostic kits as soon as possible, adding that there should be no

shortage of the kits.

Implementation of the decisions made in the provincial apex committee be ensured, as the government would continue adopting necessary steps to save lives of people, added the CM. He said the Punjab government wanted to set up a quarantine facility in Taftan with its resources and directed the line departments to take steps in this regard in collaboration with the Balochistan government.

The meeting also reviewed the proposal of shutting down shopping malls and restaurants at 7pm or 8pm, and the chief minister directed the committees concerned to review it and submit their conclusive recommendations at the earliest.

He said the role of Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) was very important in the current situation and

PML-N’S ZUBAIR SAYS SBP RATE CUT OF 75BPS WON’T HELP ECONOMY, CALLS FOR DRASTIC MEASURES LAHORE Former Sindh governor and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Muhammad Zubair said the federal government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan was ill-prepared to deal with coronavirus outbreak.

In a conversation with Pakistan Today, the former governor said the PM’s address to the nation on Tuesday showed that the government was groping in the dark concerning the outbreak. “PM only knows two words ‘Ghabrana Nahi’,” he said, taking a

05

Ashiana case: Court issues show-cause notice to Fawad Hassan LAHORE: An accountability court on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to former bureaucrat Fawad Hassan Fawad over failure to appear in Ashiana-e-Iqbal housing case. The court took a note of his absence during the case proceedings and expressed annoyance. The court observed that if he would not appear on the next date of hearing, strict action would be taken against him. Later, Accountability Court Judge Amjad Nazir Chaudhry adjourned the hearing till March 27. The jail staff did not produce accused Ahad Cheema, Shahid Shafique and others in the wake of coronavirus threat. However, a representative of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Shehbaz Sharif appeared during the proceedings. The court had indicted 10 accused including Shehbaz Sharif in the case, whereas Shehbaz Sharif and Fawad Hassan Fawad had obtained bail from the Lahore High Court.

Meanwhile, the court also adjourned hearing of Ramzan Sugar Mills case against Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Hamza Shehbaz, till March 27. aPP

Two PIA planes escape accident ISLAMABAD: Two passenger planes of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) narrowly escaped a mid-air collision due to an error caused in the system of air traffic control on Thursday.

According to sources, PK-352 was heading towards Islamabad from Karachi while the other PK-785 was moving towards London from Islamabad. The pilots’ mental alertness averted the impending crash, saving hundreds of lives on board both the jets. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) took note of the near-miss and ordered an inquiry. Earlier in January, two passenger planes narrowly escaped a mid-air collision in the Karachi airspace. inP

10 injured after speeding bus ram into wall UCH SHARIF: At least 10 people were wounded when a van rammed into a wall in Uch Sharif in the wee hours of Thursday. According to reports, the accident occurred due to overspeeding. Police and rescue teams reached the spot and shifted the injured to the hospital. Rescue sources said that women and children were among the injured. One of the injured was in critical condition, they said. inP

Punjab CM orders crackdown on people hoarding masks, sanitizers asked its director general (DG) to review the situation in the field.

The chief minister directed him to submit reports of districts' tours to the CM Office daily.

He said that people could not be left alone in difficult circumstances. The CM said that self-isolation in homes would produce positive results and added that people should be educated about it.

He also ordered to complete the process of conducting tests of pilgrims coming from Iran at the earliest and added that implementation of the precautionary measures be ensured in the light of the World Health Organisation (WHO) instructions. The government was aware of financial problems of daily-wage employees and a committee had been constituted which would submit its recommendations at the earliest, he said.

Imran govt incapable of dealing with corona outbreak, says ex-governor hassan naqvi

NEWS

jibe at Imran’s much-famed mantra.

“What was the speech supposed to convey,” he questioned and added that people expected specific economic measures from the government, but the PM said nothing about that and spent his address praising the ‘incompetent’ Balochistan government.

“We all know the mess we are in is created by the Balochistan and federal governments,” he said in reference to the entry of Pakistani pilgrims from Iran.

The PML-N leader also criticised the State Bank of Pakistan for an insignificant cut of 75 basis points in the policy rate. “At

13.25pc, it was simply not viable to do business, especially those competing in the global markets. Such high interest rates in an environment of a fast deteriorating economy simply did not make sense,” the former governor added.

He said to add to this the massive devaluation, unprecedented increase in gas and electricity tariffs and almost an unbelievable increase in taxes was a recipe for economic disaster.

“So, when coronavirus started having its impact, it was natural that businesses and others expected SBP to take bold measures,

including a massive rate cut. A significant decrease was being demanded before the coronavirus and now after the outbreak, there was a need for bold measures,” he said.

So, the March 17 announcement by SBP has left everyone wondering if the present government, especially the SBP governor even has a basic understanding of the dismal situation Pakistan faces and the role that SBP needed to play, he said.

He added that a rate cut of 0.75pc wasn’t enough even before the new crisis. Back in November or around, everyone expected SBP to gradually cut rates reaching single digits by mid-year.

“But SBP Governor Reza Baqir and the present economic team have their own thinking. Whatever that thinking is, it could only

The meeting also reviewed stopping wedding ceremonies at homes as well. He said the number of employees had been sufficiently decreased in government offices. The chief minister said that purchase process of safety dress and other material for doctors and paramedical staff be completed at the earliest and the Health Department should submit a report to the cabinet committee every day.

The secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare gave a briefing to the participants. Provincial ministers Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Hashim Jawan Bakht, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan, MPA Mussarat Jamshed Cheema, chief secretary, IG Police, Senior Member Board of Revenue, additional chief secretary (home), commissioner Lahore, administrative secretaries and others attended the meeting. lead to a further economic mess and possibly civil unrest of the kind that we have not seen in the country,” the former governor said.

He added that the SBP governor himself admitted that Pakistan’s growth will be around 2pc. “But how can that growth pick up if the policymakers are not ready to undertake drastic measures,” he asked.

20 countries around the globe have come up with significant rate cuts in recent days.

That’s one of the several economic measures they have taken to ensure the economy survives as a result of the virus attack, the economic expert added.

Zubair shared that the Federal Reserve in the US has cut the rate to zero – just to play its role in ensuring economic survival.

He added that the hot money formula doesn’t seem to work as well. Huge amounts have left in recent days and more is expected in the coming days.

Friday, 20 March, 2020

06 WORLD VIEW

We’re not goIng back to normal MiT Technology review

t

WHAT COUNTS AS “SOCIAL DISTANCING”? THE RESEARCHERS DEFINE IT AS “ALL HOUSEHOLDS REDUCE CONTACT OUTSIDE HOUSEHOLD, SCHOOL OR WORKPLACE BY 75%.” THAT DOESN’T MEAN YOU GET TO GO OUT WITH YOUR FRIENDS ONCE A WEEK INSTEAD OF FOUR TIMES. IT MEANS EVERYONE DOES EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MINIMIZE SOCIAL CONTACT, AND OVERALL, THE NUMBER OF CONTACTS FALLS BY 75%

Gideon LichfieLd

O stop coronavirus, we will need to radically change almost everything we do: how we work, exercise, socialize, shop, manage our health, educate our kids, take care of family members. We all want things to go back to normal quickly. But what most of us have probably not yet realized—yet will soon— is that things won’t go back to normal after a few weeks, or even a few months. Some things never will.

It’s now widely agreed (even by Britain, finally) that every country needs to “flatten the curve”: impose social distancing to slow the spread of the virus so that the number of people sick at once doesn’t cause the health-care system to collapse, as it is threatening to do in Italy right now.

That means the pandemic needs to last, at a low level, until either enough people have had Covid-19 to leave most immune (assuming immunity lasts for years, which we don’t know) or there’s a vaccine. how long would that take, and how draconian do social restrictions need to be?

President Donald Trump, announcing new guidelines such as a 10-person limit on gatherings, said that “with several weeks of focused action, we can turn the corner and turn it quickly.” In China, six weeks of lockdown are beginning to ease now that new cases have fallen to a trickle.

But it won’t end there. as long as someone in the world has the virus, breakouts can and will keep recurring without stringent controls to contain them. In a report, researchers at Imperial College London proposed a way of doing this: impose more extreme social distancing measures every time admissions to intensive care units (ICUs) start to spike, and relax them each time admissions fall. each time they rise above a threshold— say, 100 per week—the country would close all schools and most universities and adopt social distancing. When they drop below 50, those measures would be lifted, but people with symptoms or whose family

Periodic bouts of social distancing keep the pandemic in check. (IMPERIAL COLLEGE COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM)

members have symptoms would still be confined at home.

What counts as “social distancing”?

The researchers define it as “all households reduce contact outside household, school or workplace by 75%.” That doesn’t mean you get to go out with your friends once a week instead of four times. It means everyone does everything they can to minimize social contact, and overall, the number of contacts falls by 75%.

Under this model, the researchers conclude, social distancing and school closures would need to be in force some two-thirds of the time—roughly two months on and one month off—until a vaccine is available, which will take at least 18 months (if it works at all). They note that the results are “qualitatively similar for the US.” eighteen months!? Surely there must be other solutions. Why not just build more ICUs and treat more people at once, for example?

Well, in the researchers’ model, that didn’t solve the problem. Without social distancing of the whole population, they found,

If full social distancing and other measures are imposed for five months, then lifted, the pandemic comes back. (IMPERIAL COLLEGE COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM)

even the best mitigation strategy—which means isolation or quarantine of the sick, the old, and those who have been exposed, plus school closures—would still lead to a surge of critically ill people eight times bigger than the US or UK system can cope with. (That’s the lowest, curve in the graph; the flat line is the current number of ICU beds.) even if you set factories to churn out beds and ventilators and all the other facilities and supplies, you’d still need far more nurses and doctors to take care of everyone. how about imposing restrictions for just one batch of five months or so? No good— once measures are lifted, the pandemic breaks out all over again, only this time it’s in winter, the worst time for overstretched health-care systems. and what if we decided to be brutal: set the threshold number of ICU admissions for triggering social distancing much higher, accepting that many more patients would die?

Turns out it makes little difference. even in the least restrictive of the Imperial College scenarios, we’re shut in more than half the time.

This isn’t a temporary disruption. It’s the start of a completely different way of life.

LIVING IN A STATE OF PANDEMIC: In the short term, this will be hugely damaging to businesses that rely on people coming together in large numbers: restaurants, cafes, bars, nightclubs, gyms, hotels, theaters, cinemas, art galleries, shopping malls, craft fairs, museums, musicians and other performers, sporting venues (and sports teams), conference venues (and conference producers), cruise lines, airlines, public transportation, private schools, day-care centers.

That’s to say nothing of the stresses on parents thrust into home-schooling their kids, people trying to care for elderly relatives without exposing them to the virus, people trapped in abusive relationships, and anyone without a financial cushion to deal with swings in income.

There’ll be some adaptation, of course: gyms could start selling home equipment and online training sessions, for example.

Some unofficial advice about Corona from Italy BE EXTRA KIND TO EVERYONE AND REMAIN PATIENT AND AVOID EMOTIONAL OUTBURSTS. AND STAY HOME IF YOU CAN!

3Quarks Daily S AbbAS RAzA

I

have been in lockdown for some time and one gets used to it. You should stay home too now, as much as possible.

Since I live in northern Italy, a few friends in america have privately asked me if I have any advice for them as america

now heads for the situation Italy has been facing. Most recently, my friend anna hall wrote this, “are you ok abbas? We are about to follow Italy into this abyss — suggestions for sanity and humanity welcome.” Okay, then, here is my personal, non-expert advice based on my experience so far: Stay calm but be concerned: this is probably the greatest single challenge the world has faced in our lifetimes. Decisions made in a panic are not good, so meditate, take your anti-anxiety medication, and don’t keep reading everything about Corona all day every day—I did that for a couple of days and then I couldn’t sleep. It is very im-

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portant to pay attention to one’s mental wellbeing at this time, as well as physical.

It is best to get serious advice and information from reputable scientific sources, not friends, family, or Facebook.

Stay at home. Buy groceries for at least a week at a time (two if you can do that) and then don’t be tempted to run out for that one brand of potato chips you suddenly have a craving for. Now is the time to be disciplined about this. as one doctor advised, behave as if you have the virus and don’t want to give it to others. a good way to make a comprehensive grocery list is to walk through each room in

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We’ll see an explosion of new services in what’s already been dubbed the “shut-in economy.” One can also wax hopeful about the way some habits might change—less carbon-burning travel, more local supply chains, more walking and biking.

But the disruption to many, many businesses and livelihoods will be impossible to manage. and the shut-in lifestyle just isn’t sustainable for such long periods.

So how can we live in this new world?

Part of the answer—hopefully—will be better health-care systems, with pandemic response units that can move quickly to identify and contain outbreaks before they start to spread, and the ability to quickly ramp up production of medical equipment, testing kits, and drugs. Those will be too late to stop Covid-19, but they’ll help with future pandemics.

In the near term, we’ll probably find awkward compromises that allow us to retain some semblance of a social life. Maybe movie theaters will take out half their seats, meetings will be held in larger rooms with spaced-out chairs, and gyms will require

service that tracks your movements via your phone. The airline wouldn’t be able to see where you’d gone, but it would get an alert if you’d been close to known infected people or disease hot spots. There’d be similar requirements at the entrance to large venues, government buildings, or public transport hubs. There would be temperature scanners everywhere, and your workplace might demand you wear a monitor that tracks your temperature or other vital signs. Where nightclubs ask for proof of age, in future they might ask for proof of immunity—an identity card or some kind of digital verification via your phone, showing you’ve already recovered from or been vaccinated against the latest virus strains.

We’ll adapt to and accept such measures, much as we’ve adapted to increasingly stringent airport security screenings in the wake of terrorist attacks. The intrusive surveillance will be considered a small price to pay for the basic freedom to be with other people. as usual, however, the true cost will be borne by the poorest and weakest. People with less access to health care, or who live in more disease-prone areas, will now also be more frequently shut out of places and opportunities open to everyone else. Gig workers—from drivers to plumbers to freelance yoga instructors—will see their jobs become even more precarious. Immigrants, refugees, the undocumented, and ex-convicts will face yet another obstacle to gaining a foothold in society.

Moreover, unless there are strict rules on how someone’s risk for disease is assessed, governments or companies could

In all scenarios without widespread social distancing, the number of Covid cases overwhelms the healthcare system. (IMPERIAL COLLEGE COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM)

you to book workouts ahead of time so they don’t get crowded.

Ultimately, however, I predict that we’ll restore the ability to socialize safely by developing more sophisticated ways to identify who is a disease risk and who isn’t, and discriminating—legally— against those who are.

We can see harbingers of this in the measures some countries are taking today.

Israel is going to use the cell-phone location data with which its intelligence services track terrorists to trace people who’ve been in touch with known carriers of the virus.

Singapore does exhaustive contact tracing and publishes detailed data on each known case, all but identifying people by name.

We don’t know exactly what this new future looks like, of course. But one can imagine a world in which, to get on a flight, perhaps you’ll have to be signed up to a

choose any criteria—you’re high-risk if you earn less than $50,000 a year, are in a family of more than six people, and live in certain parts of the country, for example.

That creates scope for algorithmic bias and hidden discrimination, as happened last year with an algorithm used by US health insurers that turned out to inadvertently favor white people.

The world has changed many times, and it is changing again. all of us will have to adapt to a new way of living, working, and forging relationships. But as with all change, there will be some who lose more than most, and they will be the ones who have lost far too much already. The best we can hope for is that the depth of this crisis will finally force countries—the US, in particular—to fix the yawning social inequities that make large swaths of their populations so intensely vulnerable.

your house with a pad and pen and look around carefully and see what you might run out of in the next week or two. This way, I remembered to buy shaving blades when I was in the bathroom looking around, for example, which I would have forgotten otherwise. Same happened with laundry detergent in the laundry room, etc.

Convince others to take the problem seriously and insist that they cancel plans for socializing, travel, etc. Do this calmly and without getting worked up, otherwise they will dismiss what you say as the product of irrational fear. This will only work if we all do it. Obviously. avoid public transport and walk if you can. Driving a car is also better than public transport, for once.

The natural tendency is to want to visit one’s parents and other family in a time like this. Don’t. Instead Skype with them and keep in touch more than normal through phone, email, social media, and every way except actually being there. everyone needs reassurance these days, and it’s nice for peo-

ple who love you to hear your voice.

Just in case, make a plan with your family about what you will do if one of you gets sick. Better to do this while calm and healthy than in a panic.

Use this time to exercise more (we’ve been playing a lot of ping pong because we have a table at home), read, do stuff you’ve been putting off that can be done at home.

Or just watch Tv. That’s good too.

I’ve also found that being extra clean and keeping the house spic and span helps a lot psychologically to ward off thoughts of disease.

I asked my wife what she would advise people to do and she said, 1) Structure your day and have a schedule, 2) Buy hand cream because all this washing dries hands out, 3) Buy a variety of foods to store as you get sick of eating the same things, 4) Take an online course.

Be extra kind to everyone and remain patient and avoid emotional outbursts. and stay home if you can!

Be well, and be safe.

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Friday, 20 March, 2020

FOreIgn news 07

Without Soap or Sanitizer, Syrian refugeeS face coronaviruS threat AKKAR/BEIRUT

S

AGENCIES

YRIAN refugee Mohamed al-Bakhas is doing his best to protect his family from coronavirus by keeping their camp as clean as he can. But without enough soap or the money to buy sanitizer or face masks, there is only so much he can do. “They gave us an awareness session and one bar of soap each, but this is not enough,” said Bakhas, 40, referring to aid workers who visited his camp in northern Lebanon this week.

“We ask for disinfectants, sanitizers for the camp.

We are a big group,” said Bakhas, who fled to Lebanon from Homs in Syria eight years ago and lives with his wife and child.

Lebanon has recorded 149 cases of coronavirus.

Four people have died from the virus so far.

No cases have been recorded yet among Syrian refugees, who number around 1 million of Lebanon’s population of 6 million.

As Lebanon’s public health system struggles with the outbreak, the government is worried about the virus spreading to camps for both Syrian and Palestinian refugees.

Health Minister Hamad Hassan said refugee health care was a responsibility shared by the state and United Nations agencies but he said the international community had been slow to react to the crisis.

“The international community with its U.N. agencies is a bit late in putting plans, thinking about establishing a field hospital or supporting the health ministry so that

it can carry out its obligations toward its people: Lebanese society in addition to the Palestinian and Syrian brothers,” Hamad said.

The UNHCR refugee agency said efforts to fight the spread of coronavirus to refugee communities had started early on.

Awareness campaigns and the distribution of hygiene materials were underway and preparations were being made for additional hospitalization capacity that may be needed.

“We are all working around the clock,” said Lisa Abou Khaled, communications officer at UNHCR in Lebanon.

Given the high population density of the camps, Hamad noted the difficulties of maintaining personal hygiene and said the spread of coronavirus was a real danger.

Field hospitals would allow for the isolation and treatment of the infected.

“The international community and U.N. institutions must without delay prepare the ground to save these communities in case the virus spreads among them,” he said.

Lebanon was grappling with a financial and economic crisis before coronavirus hit. The government is appealing for foreign aid for its public health system.

Coronavirus poses a host of new difficulties to refugees who have been struggling in poverty for years in Lebanon.

With water mostly trucked to their camps, refugees do not have enough for regular handwashing, relief workers say.

BJP leader arrested for hosting cow urine drinking party to fight COVID-19 after volunteer falls ill An activist of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been arrested for organising a cow urine consumption event in the Indian city of Kolkata, claiming that it will protect people from coronavirus or cure those already infected, leading to a civic volunteer falling ill after drinking it, police said on Wednesday evening.

He was arrested late Tuesday night following a complaint filed by the victim, they said.

According to police officials, 40-year-old Narayan Chatterjee, a local party worker of Jorasakho area in North Kolkata, had on Monday organised a cow worship program at a cowshed and distributed cow urine.

He vouched for its “miraculous” properties while offering gaumutra (cow urine) to others.

A civic volunteer, who was on duty near the cowshed

also consumed gaumutra and fell sick on Tuesday, following which he lodged a complaint with the police against Chatterjee.

Reacting to the arrest, the state BJP leadership criticised the state government. “Chatterjee had distributed cow urine, but he didn’t fool people in consuming it.

When he distributed it he clearly said it was cow urine, he didn’t force anyone to drink it. It has not been proved whether it is harmful or not.

“So how can just police arrest him without any reason. This is completely undemocratic,” state BJP General Secretary Sayantan Basu said.

BJP’s top hierarchy, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, believes there is no harm in drinking cow urine. NEWS DESK

THERE ARE NO FUNERALS

Death in quarantine leaves nowhere to grieve ROME AGENCIES

Struck down by coronavirus at the age of 83, the long life of Alfredo Visioli ended with a short ceremony at a graveyard near Cremona, his hometown in northern Italy.

“They buried him like that, without a funeral, without his loved ones, with just a blessing from the priest,” said his granddaughter Marta Manfredi who couldn’t attend. Like most of the old man’s family – like most of Italy – she was confined to her home.

“When all this is over,” she vows, “we will give him a real funeral.”

Everywhere the coronavirus has struck, regardless of culture or religion, ancient rituals to honor the dead and comfort the bereaved have been cut short or abandoned for fear of spreading it further.

The virus, which has killed nearly 9,000 people worldwide, is reshaping many aspects of death, from the practicalities of handling infected bodies to meeting the spiritual and emotional needs of those left behind.

In Ireland, the health authority is advising mortuary workers to put face masks on dead bodies to reduce even the minor risk of infection. In Italy, a funeral company is using video links to allow quarantined families to watch a priest bless the deceased.

And in South Korea, fear of the virus has caused such a drop in the number of mourners that funeral caterers are struggling for business.

There is little time for ceremony in hardhit cities such as Bergamo, northeast of Milan, where the mortuaries are full and the crematorium is working around the clock, said Giacomo Angeloni, a local official in charge of cemeteries.

Bergamo, home to about 120,000 people, has been dealing with 5-6 times the number

of dead it would in normal times, he said.

Italy has now reported nearly 3,000 deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus – the highest outside China where the virus first emerged. The Italian army sent 50 troops and 15 trucks to Bergamo on Wednesday to take bodies to less overwhelmed provinces.

A ban on gatherings has shattered the vital rituals that help us grieve, said Andy Langford, the chief operating officer of Cruse Bereavement Care, a British charity providing free care and counseling to those in grief. “Funerals allow a community to come together, express emotion, talk about that person and formally say goodbye,” he said. “When you feel you have no control over how you can grieve, and over how you can experience those last moments with someone, that can complicate how you

grieve and make you feel worse,” he said.

EXTRA STAFF: In Iran as in northern Italy, hospital and funeral workers are overwhelmed with bodies, as the virus has torn across the country, killing 1,284 people and infecting thousands, according to state TV. The authorities have hired new people to dig graves, said a manager at Tehran’s Behesht-e Zahra cemetery. “We work day and night,” he said. “I have never seen such a sad situation. There are no funerals.”

Most corpses arrive by truck and are buried without the ritual washing that Islam dictates, he said.

Some Iranians suspect that the official haste to bury them has more to do with obscuring the spiraling death toll than halting the spread of the virus.

Deaths from COVID-19 have been recorded as heart attacks or lung infections,

a hospital worker in Kashan, a city about a three-hour drive from Tehran, told Reuters.

“The officials are lying about the death toll,” the worker said. “I have seen dozens of corpses in the past few days, but they have told us not to talk about it.” Two nurses at Iranian hospitals also told Reuters they thought the death toll was higher than the official tally.

Iranian authorities have rejected allegations of a cover-up, and President Hassan Rouhani, in a televised speech on Mar. 18, said his government had been “honest and straightforward with the nation.”

INFECTION RISK: In several countries, clusters of infection have followed funerals.

In South Korea, where more than 90 people have died, the government has urged the families of COVID-19 victims to cremate their loved ones first, and hold the funeral later.

Korean funerals usually take place in hospitals, and involve three days of prayers and feasting. Most of the country’s early cases were linked to a church in Daegu city and a hospital in a nearby county. In February, several members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus attended a funeral at the hospital for the brother of the church’s founder.

Since the outbreak, the number of mourners at funerals has plunged by 90%, regardless of whether the deceased had the virus, said Choi Min-ho, secretary general of the Korea Funeral Association.

“The culture of funerals has changed significantly,” he said. “A handful of mourners quickly offer condolences and leave the place without dining together out of infection worries.” Condolence money, traditionally handed over in cash, is now sent via bank transfer, he added.

Authorities in Wuhan, the epicenter of China’s outbreak and location of the majority of its deaths, quickly identified the fu-

neral business as a potential source of transmission.

The local civil affairs bureau in late January ordered all funerals for confirmed COVID-19 victims to be handled at a single funeral home in the city’s Hankou district.

Mourning ceremonies, usually boisterous social events in China, were curtailed along with all other public gatherings.

Those restrictions are still in place, even though the number of new cases has dwindled in recent weeks. Bereaved families are not even allowed to see the bodies of their loved ones, a worker at the funeral home told Reuters. In China, the ashes of the deceased tend to be kept in funeral homes until they are taken to a family plot on public holidays such as the Tomb Sweeping Festival in April.

That’s also canceled this year.

DEATH MANAGEMENT: In Spain, too, a large cluster of cases has been traced to a funeral in the northern town of Vitoria in late February. At least 60 people who attended tested positive after the event, said local media reports. With over 600 deaths, Spain is the second-worst hit country in Europe after Italy, and most people are now confined to their homes. Referring to these restrictions, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called coronavirus a “cruel” disease that paralyses the human need to socialize.

In Ireland, up to 100 guests are still allowed at all funerals – for now. But most families are opting for small private ceremonies and encouraging others to express their condolences online through websites such as RIP.ie, where death notices and funeral invitations are usually posted.

Open casket funerals are out for any victim of coronavirus, and “the family should be advised not to kiss the deceased,” according to new guidelines from Ireland’s Health and Safety Executive to its funeral directors.

Friday, 20 March, 2020

08 COMMENT

Tough weeks ahead

Dealing with Coronavirus

A situation beyond thhe PM

The coronavirus tightens its grip

W

ITHIN a week, coronavirus cases have risen in pakistan from 28 on March 13 to 377 on March 19, which should be sufficiently alarming. There is however a perception that the government reports show only the tip of an iceberg. It is maintained that the number of people actually infected with the virus is far higher than what official data would have us believe. The under-reporting is partly caused by two factors, the lowness of the number of tests carried and the stringency of the screening criteria to determine who is eligible for a test, which excludes those who show symptoms but have no travel history, thus keeping out the cases of secondary infection.

The first step to successfully deal with the pandemic is to stop the spread of the virus. There has to be early detection followed by isolation of the infected individuals. The Chinese did it through the lockdown of Wuhan, the centre of the epidemic, and 15 other cities in Hubei province. people in several cities were told to stay home and venture out only to get food or medical help.

Thanks the apathy or incompetence, or both, on the part of the pTI government, the virus is no more confined to a single province as was the case with China when it decided to lock down several cities. The virus in our case has already spread all over the country. Unlike Hubei province with a population of 60 million, pakistan has 197 million citizens. What is more, pakistan possesses neither the resources nor the expertise China has. What is even more, the urban poor in their millions would have no money to store food and no spare rooms to isolate their sick during a lockdown.

The other option for the government is to continue the partial shutdowns in the urban centres to check the spread of the disease, meanwhile widening the screening criteria to include cases of secondary infection also and setting up massive quarantine centres with testing facilities at several locations in the country. What one has seen happening at Taftan, and the same being replicated in Dera Ghazi Khan, does not provide one confidence in the government’s ability to undertake the task.

At Penpoint M.A. NiAZi

P

erHAps the most remarkable thing about the coronavirus epidemic is that it is named after its cause, rather than its symptoms. The bubonic plague was so named because of the buboes (swellings of the lymph nodes) caused, not after the yersina pestis bacterium which caused it. First cholera was named, after the gutter into which it is expelled, and the vibrio cholerae bacterium which causes it, was named after it. Typhus and typhoid are not named after the bacteria causing them.

Most previous epidemics were caused by bacteria, but the last one, the spanish influenza, was viral.

The second World War saw the discovery of antibiotics, and thus control of bacterial infections. However, it still has not found an effective antiviral, and thus relies on vaccines for protection against viral infections. After a viral infection, one develops antibodies against it, if one survives the illness, of course. The most common is the common cold, and CoVID-19 (to give it its proper name) causes cold-like symptoms, such as fever, sneezing and other respiratory distress.

Humans are liable to the flu every year in the shape of colds. CoVID-19 thus came at a very wrong time, when it mixed in with peoples’ colds. It may re-infect, which might indicate more than one virus at work.

Because it has only just started infecting people, it kills off its carriers. As it matures, it will presumably accommodate itself to the human body, and not kill those it infects, merely cause a cold. It postulated that that has happened to the spanish influenza, which killed as many as 100 million worldwide in just a few years after World War I. similarly, in a few decades, it is possible that the coronavirus may cause nothing more severe than a common cold. one of the reasons why children seem to get more colds than adults is that adults developed the immunity which the children are developing, by getting infected as children. However, waiting until then could mean that a lot of people would die. Though the most vulnerable are the very old, being in between is no guarantee of life. Children may not get sick, but that does not make the disease less harmful for those who get it. perhaps this epidemic is remarkable for its economic impact. Though the spanish influenza was a major epidemic, coming just after the First World War and the Communist revolution, it is not ascribed as a cause of the economic turmoil of the 1920s and 1930s. However, the current epidemic has been predicted as costing trillions of dollars globally, and has already had a major impact on human societies. This impact has not just been economic, as the public health measures are disruptive of human activity, including social activity. schools are being shut, sports events cancelled or held without audiences, restaurants having their hours cut, all to stop people gathering in crowds, so the spread of infection could be

Parliament and the coronavirus Now more than ever should the public’s representatives concert measures

T

He government’s responsibility to tackle the coronavirus epidemic is only matched by that of the parties in waiting to form the government. Those who form the bulk of the opposition, the pML(N) and the ppp, are parties which have previously held national office, with the latter even now in power in sindh. put together, they have the ability to summon either House of parliament. The government should have taken the responsibility of summoning parliament in this coronavirus crisis, and sought the input of the opposition. If it did not, the opposition should have requisitioned sessions. Instead, not only has the government laid low, but the opposition has had trouble getting enough members to sign.

The excuse being given is that members want to be in their constituencies at this time. presumably not be holding corner meetings, let alone rallies, so it is difficult to see how they could contact their constituents. If they fear getting the infection, they should avoid going on the town in Islamabad. They can engage in social distancing in the House itself by leaving seats empty for the required distance. As it is, the country is not getting the benefit of their opinions, let alone whatever expertise they might possess.

Though there is a quorum requirement, a House can continue its sitting so long as the quorum is not pointed out. If the parties agree that it shall not be pointed out, a House needs only a presiding officer, who might be any member if the speaker or Chairman is absent, and one member speaking, to carry on its business. To avoid creating a gathering, the example of the British House of Commons may be followed, where only members with an item of business included in the day’s orders enter.

The reluctance of the government to face the House cannot be ascribed to health concerns alone. It seems as if it wishes to avoid the accountability that parliament would exercise. The reluctance of ppp members to sign the requisition avoids any accountability of the ppp-controlled sindh government. The role of parliament is not limited to its serving as an electoral college and pool of Cabinet members for the government, but to holding the government accountable for its performance.

The Good Boss/Bad Boss Myth AsAd PirAchA

B

oss, the single most hated creature on the corporate horizon for reasons that cannot even be counted. If I start writing the reasons I would probably run out of pages because of the variety of reasons. The reasons vary from personal liking or disliking to professional conduct and behaviour. some dislike him for the way he talks, others for the way he walks, some for the way he eats, other for the way he meets, some for the way he drinks, others for the way he blinks, some for the way he stands, other for the way he brands, some for the way he smiles, others for the way he goes extra miles, some for the way he cries, others for the way he tries, some for the way he thinks, other for the way he links, some for the way he wins, other for the way he sins, some for the way he makes an effort, other for the way he takes the credit, some for the way he loses, other for the way he chooses and the list goes on and on and on.

However, the fact is that bosses have been portrayed as so negative that even their sane actions are taken as negative by the team members. This hasn’t happened in the last one year but has been happening consistently ever since the concept of the boss-team member relationship was introduced. There is no denying the fact that some bosses act authoritatively and arrogantly, and create troubles for the team members; however not all the bosses do that, and not every boss does this in every situation with every team member. This keeps on varying from situation to sit-

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with each other and would have no set prejudices for each other in mind. Furthermore, they need to realize uation and team member to team member. The rela- that the success or failure of their roles, and of the ortionship between boss and team member is one of the ganization itself, depends on their joint efforts, and most important relationships after blood relationships, not on any individual one. once they would underas not only the productivity and career of both but the stand as a fact that one plus one is not two but 11, profitability and success of an organization, depends then they would put their efforts in the right direction on them performing, and if they aren’t aligned with with the right spirit. since bosses are not each other, then not only the born in any other universe organization, but their caand have always been the reers, are bound to suffer. ones who have been in a reThe most prevalent porting relationship, or even problem in this relationship, after being becoming the like other relationships, is By only following this simple boss maintain the same relathe lack of communication rule, both the boss and tionships with others, hence between boss and team it is always important for members. Bosses often do team member can have a them to maintain an open not make team members uncommunication channel derstand their expectations happy and positive within their team so that or performance standards working relationship: “Be the team members can share and team members do not anything without having the understand what they are reboss you want your boss fear of being penalized. quired to deliver. This hayLast but not the least, wire situation either leads to to be, and be the team bosses aren’t evil spirits but tasks not getting completed or substandard achievement member you want your team are human beings and can have their highs and lows. of designated tasks by the member to be.”

However, by only following team members, resulting in this simple rule, both the dissatisfaction of boss which boss and team member can leads to the straining of the have a happy and positive relationship between them. working relationship: In order to thrive in any “Be the boss you want your boss to be, and be the role, it is important for the team members to understand the performance expectations of their bosses team member you want your team member to be.”

Happy Working. sincerely, and at the same time it is important for the bosses to A Boss and a Team Member understand the capabilities, qualities and expectations of their team members. However this can only hapThe writer is a freelance columnist. pen when both of them would be open and honest

A look at the boss-team member dynamic

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

a chronic shortage of resources, will lead. Wuhan prostopped, or at least slowed.

The spread has been swift. past epidemics were vides an example, where public facilities (like basslower to spread, though as inexorable, not having ketball courts) were taken over for temporary the present globalised world, with its free movement hospitals. In the subcontinent, perhaps wedding halls of people allowing the spread of carriers, and thus might be used. The Big Fat subcontinental Wedding is probably over for the foreseeable future anyway. the swift spread. one of the major difficulties is heading towards It seems policy makers are accepting that infection will proceed inexorably, as they have accepted us, with weddings about to peak suddenly soon, bethat people will get infected without immunity, or a fore summer. Not only will guest lists be more excluvaccine. If millions are infected, in a world popula- sive, but attendance will probably be more selective. tion of over 7 billion, with a death rate of 3 percent, The problem will be the rural areas, with pre-epithere would be about 30,000 deaths per million. demic attitudes. Also, not only are there fewer beds there, but fewer public facilities to convert.

That’s about 30 million per billion. politics is continuing as The death rate shows it usual, as while there is an alis less virulent than smallmost constant stream of the pox, which had a 30 percent news of the cancellation of mortality, with survivors sports and cultural events, were often horribly disfigthere are no indications of ured. CoVID-19 does not There may have been a the cancellation of Us presdisfigure or cripple. The latidential campaign events. ter is done by polio, another benefit for Pakistan, in the The Kashmir lockdown was disease which the WHo is brought up at the sAArC trying to eliminate. The pofall of oil prices, but the teleconference on CoVIDliovirus remains in just downside has been the 19 by the pakistani sApM three countries, pakistan, on Health, ostensibly as a Afghanistan and Nigeria. collapse of exports, as public health issue, but actuThe polio containment slipally as a political indication page in the last year in pakorders for its textiles re that the pTI government was istan has caused some of the cancelled because of promoting the Kashmir doubts about the ability of cause. the present pakistan governcollapsing demand abroad, Governments are coming ment to contain the coronunder greater scrutiny, and avirus. perhaps, there is no which have also caused are often found wanting. For containing the virus, and the intimations of payment example, while Imran Khan teleconference of the was hailed for his speech to sAArC heads of governdelays. The only assurance the UN, his speech to the nament would not act to pretion on the coronavirus won vent its natural spread, from an economist is the little adulation. which would decimate one of the most glaring about a billion and a half throwaway remark by John lessons should be that people. If the population of Maynard Keynes, who was viruses do not recognise naChina was to be added, the tional boundaries. The Kashepidemic would reach over oddly prescient when he mir lockdown is thus no two and a half billion peolonger primarily a political ple, and millions would die. said, “In the long run, we’ll issue. pakistan should reAnother aspect is the all be dead” alise that. At the same time, strain on healthcare servit is an international public ices, with two particular health issue, and India canpoints of pressure: healthnot expect other countries, care providers and hospital especially its neighbours, beds. Healthcare providers face peculiarly harsh pressures. As the initial efforts not to take an interest in its affairs.

There may have been a benefit for pakistan, in the in China showed, doctors and nurses run a particular risk of being infected, and of being carriers. Further, fall of oil prices, but the downside has been the colit takes years of hard work and dedication, and most lapse of exports, as orders for its textiles are cancelled likely some hard exams, to generate a competent doc- because of collapsing demand abroad, which have tor or a proficient nurse, while the virus takes a few also caused intimations of payment delays. The only days to kill either. Then there are hospital beds. Doc- assurance from an economist is the throwaway remark tors and nurses need them to function. However, in by John Maynard Keynes, who was oddly prescient the subcontinent patients lying two to a bed, or on when he said, “In the long run, we’ll all be dead.” corridor floors, are clichés. In an epidemic, there is no knowing where the urge to improvise, born from The writer is a member of staff.

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Friday, 20 March, 2020

COMMENT 09 Editor’s mail Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan.

E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Acute Shortage of Anti-Rabies Vaccine Hits the City AN acute shortage of life saving anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) at Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil hospital Karachi (ChK) has forced poor patients to buy it from the open market, causing tremendous hardship to them.

As many as 100 people are brought to the hospital for vaccination on a daily basis after being bitten by a dog, but ARV has not been available in the hospital for last 10 days due to a poor supply. This has caused tremendous difficulties for the people who are struggling to buy life saving drugs trying to salvage their lives. Dr Qureshi said that dog bite cases were common in the metropolitan and his hospital needed the vaccine immediately.

The city’s two other hospitals, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center and the Indus hospital, have limited stock of the vaccine while the other hospitals across the city have been facing a dearth of ARVs since last week.According to the data from various hospitals of the city, over 18,000 dog bite cases have been reported in the last seven months.

ArEEb NAVAiD KArACHi

Judge Caprio’s Court

SAARC spirit reignited by COVID-19 SAARC can show the world how to deal with the virus

sultan m hali

T

he dormant South Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) came alive after a forced hibernation, when at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, its leaders held a video conference on 15 March to formulate a joint strategy for curbing the spread of novel coronavirus in the region. The Indian external Affairs Ministry had announced the invitation with the tagline: “Coming together for common good!” The Indian Prime Minister’s invitation to discussing ways to keep each member country’s citizens healthy and setting an example to the world and contributing to a healthier planet, was welcomed by all regional countries, including Pakistan.

SAARC, the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of states in South Asia, was founded in Dhaka on 8 December 1985. Its member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. As of 2015, SAARC comprises 3% of the world's area, 21% of the world's population and 3.8% ($2.9 trillion) of the global economy. Its secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal. The organization promotes development of economic and regional integration.

While other regional organizations like ASeAN, SCO, APeC et al have developed into robust organizations, SAARC remains hostage to the whims of India and is used as a tool to isolate Pakistan. ever since Narendra Modi was elected as Prime Minister of India, he browbeat other members to boycott the SAARC Summit 2016 onwards only because Pakistan was to host the Summit.

Modi has had a change of heart because Covid-19 has struck the region with full force.

SAARC countries have individually taken measures to prevent transmission of the virus within their borders. Pakistan has announced sealing of borders with Iran and Afghanistan, closure of educational institutions, marriage halls, public parks and cinema/theatres, besides asking courts to adjourn cases.

Since all SAARC members are still developing and lack adequate health infrastructure and have dense populations, they are struggling to deal with the onset of Novel Coronavirus.

China managed to control the deadly COVID19 because of its determination, resolve and infrastructure to deal with the crisis. Whole cities were locked down, students in universities were confined to their living quarters, while state au-

thorities provided treatment, sanitation and food fund could be based on voluntary contributions to those suffering the preventive incarceration. from all of us.” Speaking about India's preparedestablishing makeshift hospitals to treat those ness for the outbreak, Modi said, "We will set up affected, reduced the number of deaths and disease surveillance portal to better trace possihelped get a grip on the epidemic. Contrarily, ble virus carriers and can share disease surveilSAARC countries have poorly organized cities lance software with SAARC.” he informed that and towns, which would make it difficult to im- “India is assembling a Rapid Response Team of pose a lockdown, like the one seen in China, doctors, specialists in India, along with testing Iran, Italy and some other countries, if the situ- kits, who will be ready for deployment.”

Other SAARC leaders also chipped in with ation aggravates.

Faced with this grim scenario, the initiative suggestions. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani of coming together in search of a joint strategy proposed establishing a common framework for to control the virus is in itself significant for the tele-medicine to combat the coronavirus. Presiregion that is described as the least integrated re- dent Ghani welcomed the initiatives suggested

by Prime Minister Modi and called for nations gion and one beset by deep political rivalries.

The government of Pakistan, which is also to keep an eye on the situation evolving due to struggling to meet the challenge head on, should the coronavirus.

Maldivian President Ibrahim Solih backed be appreciated for attending the videoconference hosted by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra the coordinated approach to deal with COVIDModi despite a tense political atmosphere. In- 19, stating that no country can deal with the sitstead of boycotting the discussion, Pakistan dis- uation alone.

President Solih thanked Prime Minister played great maturity by participating in it.

Pakistan, through its action, showed to re- Modi for the regional initiative to combat gional countries that for the greater common COVID-19 challenge and welcomed his suggesgood, it is ready to put disputes on the back- tion of setting up a COVID-19 emergency fund.

Sri Lankan President burner, but only temGotabaya Rajapaksa porarily.

Pakistan recommended that perhaps knows better SAARC leaders should than any other member formulate a mechanism country the miseries "Important for all of us to be on for its economies to tide and the toll that natural over problems posed by catastrophes bring on same page to combat the coronavirus. "I propeople. pose setting up of The SAARC memcoronavirus," said Bhutanese SAARC ministerialbers must take seriously the proposal of Prime Minister Lotay Tshering. level group to deal with issues related to coronSpecial Assistant to the "It is clear we have to work avirus," said President Prime Minister Rajapaksa. he said (SAPM) on health Dr together; we can respond best many lessons will be Zafar Mirza to formulearnt from sharing of late a joint strategy for to coronavirus by coming experiences and containing the spread together, not growing apart," thanked Prime Minister of the virus. The global Modi for offering assisspread of the virus tells said Prime Minister Modi to the tance to SAARC naus that it does not know tions. any walls or humanSAARC representatives "health ministers made frontiers. No of SAARC nations can country on its own can hold video conference win the fight against to discuss specific isthe deadly virus. sues related to COVIDTherefore, the mem19," said Bangladeshi bers of SAARC must Prime Minister Sheikh hasina Wajid. She called show solidarity with each other.

Besides, the Pakistani government also de- for continued dialogue between experts and ofserves praise for reminding the SAARC mem- ficials on follow-up actions regarding COVIDbers of “Kashmir in the time of coronavirus” 19.

"Our collective efforts will help us devise a when everyone else seems to have forgotten India’s brutal lockdown of the Valley since last sound and robust strategy for SAARC region to August. The Indian government needs to lift the fight coronavirus," said Nepalese Prime Minister physical lockdown in the region so that all nec- K.P. Sharma Oli. he underlined the importance essary medical aid gets in. Not just that, the In- of effective mobilization to control the spread of dian government must remove the information the coronavirus.

"Important for all of us to be on same page to blockade as well so that people in the Valley can receive awareness on the precautions that one combat coronavirus," said Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering. "It is clear we have to work needs to take against the coronavirus.

By acting together, the countries in SAARC together; we can respond best to coronavirus by can show the rest of the world what humanity coming together, not growing apart," said Prime needs of each other in such testing times: love Minister Modi to the SAARC representatives.

It is time that the reignited spirit of SAARC in the time of corona. Also, if the SAARC countries successfully come together with a joint is collectively used to defeat the pandemic of strategy against the spread of the virus, it will be COVID-19. a big win for the people of the region.

Sultan M Hali is a retired Group Captain Prime Minister Modi has proposed a COVID-19 emergency fund to SAARC leaders, and author of the book Defence & Diplomacy. and has offered $10 million as a contribution Currently he is a columnist, analyst and TV talk from India as starters. he projected that “The show host.

JuDGe Caprio’s court in America has gotten famous across the world because it disposes cases of traffic violations swiftly. In his court everyone regardless of their color and country of origin is treated with kindness, consideration, and dignity. Violators of traffic rules who are found guilty are fined nominal charges. A Pakistani-based American national who was charged three parking tickets was fined nothing as he was a student and thus qualified for some help, being worthy of it. The televised version of the court of Judge Caprio is termed ‘Caught in Providence’.

Well, why can such cases be tried by such judges in our country? Can the services of Judge Caprio be hired for consultancy to ensure speedy and justified judgments? On the contrary, former Chief Justice was engaged himself to collect funds for building dams while thousands of cases were pending. Our judges, by watching Judge Caprio’s court proceedings, should learn something. hope for the best. Sooner or later it would happen so in our country as well.

FAiSAL ANSAr KArACHi

Don’t Create Problems The recent controversy involving India, Pakistan, and the uSA over the Kashmir issue is very unfortunate in the first place. I have been watching the whole news of controversy even amid my tight schedule at work.

I have been reading the problems between India and Pakistan right from my school days in the early 1990s in Tuticorin, Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu.

Of course, there have been many issues left unresolved to date. The message that something seriously bizarre has been right there in front of both India and Pakistan is clear to the whole world. I have been concerned about those inherent issues. Actually, numerous hard rules and scores of draconian regimes worldwide have stopped many interesting things from happening in the world. This having been the fact, the situation still remains the same at the world stage. As a student, I remember studying in Tamil literature and world history many curious instances of ancient mediators resolving issues between countries through great efforts and unflinching understanding.

Mediation is not a [that] bad word in the world. At the same time, sovereignty, freedom, and basic rights cannot be taken for granted. Yet, seeking help from others, that too in times of crises will only create great understanding before the resolution of core issues.

P. SENTHiL SArAVANA DurAi MuMbAi

Kashmir Case at ICJ WhILe Pakistan approaches the ICJ, it should keep in view India’s defence line. India would invoke jus cogen ‘clasula rebus sic stantibus', things as they stand, or fundamental change of circumstances. The principle stands codified in Article 62 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. India could plead the uNO resolutions stand antiquated under afore quoted principle as Pakistan failed to pull out all its forces as stipulated by uNO. It could also plead ‘lex posterior derogat priori', later treaty abrogates the earlier one. The principle is enshrined in Article 59 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. We better not discuss the legality of Article 370 revocation. It has been challenged by Kashmiri appellants who accept jurisdiction of India's Supreme Court, and by corollary IhK’s assembly’s accession-to-India resolution. India's Supreme Court alluded to Article 370 as permanent, but it never clarified what ‘permanent’ actually means. None of the Supreme Court's decisions explicitly equated such permanence to the Article being a basic feature. Also, unlike the IhK's high Court, the Supreme Court never mentioned any bar on the amending power of the Parliament in these decisions (SC case: Sampath Prakash and Santhosh Gupta, the IhK's high Court’s case: Ashok Kumar's case).

KHALiD MASooD rAwALPiNDi

Misuse of Tariffs MANY agriculturists have constructed commercial swimming pools near their tubewells in central Punjab where they charge Rs.100-200 per person for swimming and bathing for a couple of hours. every second day, the pool is filled with fresh water by using the cheap electricity. It is used to earn millions of revenue during peak summer season. Families and groups can also book these swimming pools by paying the fee upfront. DISCOS have a clear policy on such misuse of tariffs and penalize by charging a detection bill on complaint. I had filed a complaint with the FIA after FeSCO Chiniot Division confirmed the misuse of tariff by an influential family for the last 5 years. I request the Minister for energy, as it is need of the hour, that Section 39 of the electricity Act be amended by adding imprisonment and fines for blatant misuse of tariff by these agriculturist businessmen.

Tanweer Ahmad Haral Lahore

Friday, 20 March, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS

Brexit talks suFFer CompliCations From Coronavirus BRUSSELS AGENCIES

i

T was always going to be a challenge for Britain and the European Union to meet an end-of-year deadline to agree on their postBrexit relationship.

But the coronavirus has just made it even harder, and calls for an extension to the deadline are gaining traction in mainland Europe as parts of the continent go into lockdown.

Talks planned for this week have been postponed because of the outbreak, and the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said on Thursday he has the COVID-19 respiratory illness that the coronavirus can cause.

“I tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday,” Barnier said in a video message from his home in France where he is now confined. He also issued a rallying cry for fellow Europeans to “win this collective battle, this war, against the virus.”

Barnier last met British Brexit negotiator David Frost in person in the first week of March, during the first round of talks after Britain formally left the EU on Jan. 31.

Britain is now in a transition period where EU rules on trade, travel and business continue to apply until Jan. 1 next year. The talks with the EU are meant to

reach agreement on subjects from trade to security cooperation EU by then.

But since the last talks, the coronavirus outbreak has worsened in Europe and national economies have been hit as the death toll rose and countries went into lockdown.

EU diplomats and officials say increasingly in private that they do not see how agreement can be reached by the end of this year. But governments are reluctant to say this in public for fear of being accused of using it as a negotiating tactic

to put pressure on Britain to compromise.

“In a situation with major healthcare challenges in the short- and long-term and economic challenges already requiring urgent action, there will not be enough political time and attention to successfully conclude this EU-UK agreement,” said Fabian Zuleeg of the Brussels-based European Policy Centre think tank.

“The only appropriate answer to this severe challenge both the UK and EU are facing is to delay the negative impact of

Brexit by extending the transition period,” he said in a note this week, calling for an extra year until the end of 2021.

JOHNSON STANDS BY DEADLINE British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ruled that out, and Britain now has laws enforcing the break with the EU. “There’s legislation in place that I have no intention of changing,” Johnson said on Wednesday, adding that Brexit was not even being regularly discussed at the moment because of the coronavirus.

Under arrangements between Britain and the EU, London would have until June to ask for an extension, and it would be possible for a maximum of two years.

If no deal is reached by the end of this year, Britain will face the prospect of having to pay into the EU’s new joint budget for 2021-27, something it wants to avoid.

The European Commission, the EU executive, said on Thursday negotiations would carry on despite the coronavirus.

The sides have exchanged draft legal texts containing their proposals for how relations should work after the transition period, it said.

Asked about the implications of Barnier’s illness, a spokesman for Johnson said: “We have been in close conversation with the EU about looking at ways to continue progressing the negotiations.”

REDUCED RENTS, BAN ON LAYOFFS

'Italian cure' for pandemic ROME

C

AGENCIES

OMPANIES are barred from laying off workers and rents have been reduced under Italy’s economic survival plan for life at the European epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte hailed his 25-billioneuro ($28-billion) programme as the “Italian model” that the rest of Europe could adopt as it imposes its own painful lockdowns.

Italy’s 2,978 official COVID-19 deaths account for more than half of those reported outside China.

Its nationwide containment measures are meant to see death rates that hit a global one-day record of 475 on Wednesday plateau and start to come down this month.

Other European nations are now taking on Italy’s painful social distancing measures — and Conte believes they will also adopt his remedy for families and

businesses hurt by the fight against the invisible killer disease.

“When we talk about the Italian model, we are not only talking about health but also the economic response to the crisis,” Conte said while unveiling his “Cura Italia” (“Italian Cure”) plan at the start of the week.

Other European countries will probably never take on all 127 of the points that Conte — a former law professor — and his team of technocratic ministers drafted in the heat of Italy’s gravest emergency since World War II. But here are the broad outlines of what Conte thinks could be a pan-European response plan.

WORKER RIGHTS: Companies are prohibited from laying off workers for the next two months without “justified objective reasons”.

The self-employed and seasonal workers such as tour guides can expect a 600-euro ($680) payment for the month of March to help cushion the pain of lost business.

The government will also cover 100-

euro bonuses for low-wage employees.

BABY SITTERS: Families are issued 600-euro vouchers to cover the expense of having to hire baby sitters to look after their children, who will be out of school at least until April 3.

The Italian government said Wednesday that its month-long shutdown of everything from kindergartens to private universities might run well into next month.

The self-employed who have to look after their kids will receive “parental leave” payments that cover half of their declared monthly incomes.

These payments can also be calculated on a daily basis.

RENT AND MORTGAGE: Conte has shut down all forms of business except for pharmacies and grocery stores for two weeks starting on March 12.

The government is compensating shop owners by offering them tax credits to cover 60 per cent of their March rent payment.

The self-employed and freelancers with home mortgages can ask to have

their payments suspended for up to 18 months if they can prove that their incomes fell by a third.

TAXES: A variety of taxes and social service payments are being suspended for sectors and professions deemed most affected by the crisis.

An existing list has been expanded to include everyone from truck drivers and hotel staff to cooks and clerks.

The government expects to start collecting the taxes again in May. POLITICS AND PRISONS: A variety of other measures affect issues ranging from prisons to politics and sport.

A planned national referendum to cut the number of parliament members has been postponed until the second half of the year.

The government is sending 20 million euros to repair the damage caused to prisons by rioters who were anxious about the new disease.

Italy’s sport federations get fourmonth tax privileges and 130 million euros will go to support cinemas and the movie industry.

Coronavirus conspiracies go viral on Whatsapp as crisis deepens LONDON AGENCIES

On Sunday morning, a viral outbreak in the Dutch city of Utrecht infected more than 60 people in less than hour. Unlike the coronavirus, however, the infection happened on WhatsApp. Messages telling people to drink hot soup to stop coronavirus, or to test for infection by holding their breath for 15 seconds, were shared between friends and relatives in a matter of minutes, contradicting official medical advice. Ivonne Hoek, 63, said she received the message from a friend shortly after 11 a.m., who said they were sent it by a neighbor who works in a hospital. Alarmed, she promptly forwarded it to her two children. With the click of a button at 11:36, her son, Tim, sent it to his entire 65-person Frisbee team. “I probably wouldn’t have paid any attention to this if I’d seen it from a stranger on Facebook. But I trust my mum very much,” 35-year-old told Tim van Caubergh told Reuters. “I shared it because it came from a trusted source … that is how these things happen.” The coronavirus crisis, which has killed almost 9,000 people worldwide and threatened economic misery for millions more, has been accompanied by what the World Health Organization (WHO) has called an “infodemic” of misinformation. Twitter (TWTR.N) followed social media competitor Facebook (FB.O) on Wednesday in barring users from posting misleading information about the coronavirus, including denials of expert guidance and encouragement of fake treatments.

CHAT CONTENT HARD TO POLICE: But the rapid spread of one such message in the Netherlands shows the challenges faced by private chat platforms, such as text messages or Facebook-owned WhatsApp, where content is harder to police and often perceived as coming from a trusted source when shared by friends and family. “I think there’s a sense of security and community that exists in these group chats that gives anything shared there a mark of authenticity,” said Anna-Sophie Harling, head of Europe for the U.S.-based misinformation monitoring center NewsGuard. “People can quickly send and resend images, text and voice notes, and it all happens in private, making it really, really difficult to counteract those claims.”

Facebook scrambles as use soars in time of isolation SILICON VALLEY AGENCIES

Facebook said Wednesday it would place “authoritative” coronavirus content at the top of user feeds as it scrambled to keep up with increased usage and stem the flow of misinformation on its platform and WhatsApp messaging. The leading social network said it has nearly doubled server capacity to power WhatsApp as people in isolation place more voice and video calls using the popular messaging service. Facebook also donated $1 million to the International Fact-Checking Network to expand the presence of local fact-checkers and curb misinformation on WhatsApp, said Facebook head of health Kang-Xing Jin. “Teams are hard at work to make sure all the services run smoothly, because this is clearly a time when people want to stay connected,” Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said while updating reporters on the company’s efforts. “We want to make sure we do our part to alleviate loneliness.” As part of an effort to be a resource for reliable information about the coronavirus crisis, Facebook is rolling out an information center that will be displayed at the top of news feeds at the social network. The information hub was built in collaboration with health organizations and will roll out in the US and Europe through Wednesday, with plans to expand it to other locations. “Our goal is to put authoritative information in front of everyone who uses our services,” Zuckerberg said. The hub will display content from public health experts, celebrities, academics and others encouraging ways to reduce coronavirus risk — such as by taking social-distancing seriously, according to Zuckerberg. Facebook is under intense scrutiny regarding how it prevents hoaxes or dangerously misleading information regarding the deadly pandemic from spreading on its platform, according to Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi.

Friday, 20 March, 2020

BUSINESS 11

CORPORATE CORNER PPAF launches awareness campaign on coronavirus LAHORE: The coronavirus pandemic has become a major public health challenge for Pakistan therefore actions are being taken at all levels to ensure safety of people. In order to make more people cognizant about the disease especially the rural population, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund has started an awareness drive through which it shall share information about the virus in local languages including Sindhi, Baluchi and Pashto.

The objective of the drive is to educate communities about coronavirus on priority basis to help them combat the disease in an effective manner. PRESS RELEASE

TCL collaborates with Daraz for ‘Pakistan Day Sale’ ISLAMABAD: TCL Pakistan has joined hands with Daraz to deliver one of the biggest sales this Pakistan's Day. The sale will commence on 20th March (today) and end on 25th March 2020. Speaking about the Pakistan Day Sale, TCL Marketing Manager Majid Niazi said, “We are thrilled to partner with Daraz this Pakistan Resolution Day. We aim that our customers get the best deals from this year’s sale.” Daraz Commercial Director Faisal Malik said, “Looking at the inflation in the country, Daraz and TCL are going to be running a huge sale this Pakistan's Day, giving them a sigh of relief and more importantly door to door delivery with the lowest price possible.” PRESS RELEASE

OPPO unveils Reno 3 Series through online event

SinDh TExTiLE miLLERS SEEK gOvT’S inTERvEnTiOn AS viRuS ShAKES inDuSTRy KARACHI

T

STAFF REPORT

EXTILE millers on Thursday demanded the government to take drastic steps to save the export-led textile industry from the negative economic impact of the novel coronavirus.

All Pakistan Textile Mills Association Chairman (Sindh-Balochistan) Zahid Mazhar said the virus’ outbreak since mid-December 2019 has caused turmoil in the world’s second-largest economy, China, with a trickle-down effect on nearly all big economies including those of the European Union, the United States, Japan and South Korea.

In a statement issued by the association, he demanded the government to speedily release the backlog of sales tax refunds including deferred ST refunds

and payments of outstanding DDTO/DLTL to the exporters to help continue uninterrupted business operations to sustain employment and exports.

Mazhar said an immediate payment of all refunds and rebates was necessary due to delay in receipt of payments from domestic as well as international buyers in addition to cancellation of export orders even from big organizations and large scale buying houses and drastic slowdown in domestic market.

He was of the view that the present situation required special attention of the government to address problems of trade and industry at least for the period the recession would sustain due to the virus.

The APTMA’s office-bearer demanded the government to restore SRO 1125(I)/2011 dated December 31, 2011 to provide relief to five export industries.

Commenting on recent reduction in

SBP removes limit on export consignments’ shipping documents

ISLAMABAD: OPPO has launched the magnificent RENO3 Series in the first ever online launch event in Pakistan hosted by Sheheryar Munawar. The series will make its debut in Pakistan on 19th March 2020 through an online via live streaming, which will reach audiences all across. Powered by the latest technology advancement and outstanding photography into the world's first design of 44MP+2MP Dual Punch-hole Super AMOLED Display, Reno3 Pro is set to create a new mobile photography trend and redefine the smartphone photography experience. PRESS RELEASE

KARACHI MEIRYUM ALI

ISLAMABAD: National Food Security & Research Minister Makhdum Khusro Bakhtiar chairs a meeting via video link regarding arrangements made for the procurement of wheat. P RE SS R EL EA SE

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), through a statement issued on Thursday, has allowed the exporters to directly dispatch shipping documents of their consignments without any limit.

Previously, exporters could dispatch shipping documents directly to their foreign buyers for export consignments of up to $100,000 (equivalent in other currencies). This limit was in place since 2017.

Under the new rule, the SBP has added one condition: that the exporter's export overdue is less than one per cent, and that the exporter has exports of at least $5 million in the three years.

IMC launches Toyota Yaris in Pakistan ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Indus Motor Company (IMC), the manufacturer of Toyota vehicles in Pakistan, has announced the launch of the all-new 'Toyota Yaris' at an attractive price starting at Rs2.349 million.

The company commenced bookings of its new vehicle on Thursday.

"Staying true to its focus on continuous improvement and high level of localization, IMC has invested around Rs8 billion in all-new model Toyota Yaris which will give customers a 'value for money' car, catering to the discerning needs of the Pakistani consumer," said a statement issued by the company.

Talking about the new Toyota Yaris, IMC CEO Ali Asghar Jamali said, "We are glad to commence bookings for Toyota Yaris, which will be available for delivery in the month of April. Under the development concept of 'The New Value Pioneer', we have focused on enhancing the design

policy rate of 75 basis points by the State Bank of Pakistan, he said the reduction was too little and too late.

He said the discount rate in other regional countries lies between 4pc to 8pc; the United States has brought it down to zero per cent; while Britain announced 0.25 per cent contrary to Pakistan where it stood at 12.5pc after recent cut.

“How can Pakistani exporters compete with their regional competitors in the international arena,” he questioned and demanded the Governor State Bank to further reduce the discount rate by another 300bps so that Pakistani exporters might compete with their regional competitors.

Mazhar further urged the government to issue directives to banks to liberally extend additional lines of working capital to textile spinners to

and comfort to offer the best in class value to our customers. With our company’s commitment to delight customers with a wide range of products, Toyota Yaris would be an addition to our wide product range, providing customers with a choice based on their driving needs."

Toyota Yaris will be available in 1,300cc and 1,500cc engine displacement in six variants. The introductory ex-factory prices for the 1,300cc sedan starts at Rs2,349,000 for GLi MT whilst the exfactory price for the 1,500cc top-of-theline version, 1.5 ATIV X CVT, is Rs2,809,000.

The gasoline-only vehicle is set to attract new customers with exciting key features including smart entry & push start, five-speed manual transmission & sevenspeed CVT, MID with 4.2-inch TFT screen, auto AC, steering switches and 6.8-inch capacitive touchscreen infotainment system.

Toyota Yaris meets all the environment regulations; it is more fuel-efficient and effectively reduces air pollution.

The SBP has also increased the limit of invoice allowed to the banks to make advance payments on behalf of manufacturing and industrial concerns and commercial importers for import of raw material, spare parts and machinery, from $10,000 to $25,000.

“These measures are in continuation of facilitating export-oriented industries and manufacturing concerns in the backdrop of ease of doing business and promoting exports’ growth and will further contribute in improving the economic outlook of the country,” the SBP said.

The new steps are in line with previous steps the central bank took in January 2020 for export-oriented industries.

These included extending the facility to make advance payment up to $10,000 per invoice for the import of raw material, spare parts and machinery to commercial importers.

The SBP also allowed authorized dealers to effect import advance payment against irrevocable letter of credit, of up to 100pc of the value of the letter of credit, for the import of plant, machinery, spare parts and raw material.

The bank also extended the facility already allowed manufacturers to commercial importers as well, for the import of raw materials and spare parts on an open account basis.

Pharma exports increase 7pc in eight months ISLAMABAD APP

The export of pharmaceutical goods from the country witnessed an increase of 7.21 per cent during the first eight months of the current financial year (FY20) as compared to the export of corresponding period of last year.

The pharmaceutical exports were recorded at $149.540 million during JulyFebruary FY20 as against the export of $139.487 million during July-February FY19, statistics of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) revealed on Thursday.

In terms of quantity, the export of pharmaceutical products also increased by 11.08pc by going up from 8,568 metric tonnes to 9,517 metric tonnes.

On a year-on-year basis, pharmaceutical exports grew by 27.44pc during the month of February 2020 as compared to the same month of last year.

The pharma exports in February 2020 were recorded at $20.303 million as

against the export of $15.932 million in February 2019, the PBS data revealed.

On a month-on-month basis, the export of pharmaceutical product also increased by 19.44pc in February 2020 when compared to $16.999 million in January 2020.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan’s merchandise trade deficit plunged by 26.06pc during 8QFY20 as compared to the deficit of the same period of FY19.

During the period under review, the country’s exports registered about 3.62pc growth, whereas imports reduced by 13.81pc.

Exports during the said period reached $15.643 billion as against the export of $15.097 billion in the same period of last year.

On the other hand, the country’s imports witnessed a significant decrease of 13.81pc as they went down from $36.563 billion in the first eight months of last financial year to $31.515 billion during the same period of FY20.

survive and avoid immediate closure of spinning mills.

“The government should also help the spinning industry by freezing utility bills for both gas and electricity at least for two months,” he suggested.

The textile miller said the availability of the Export Refinance Facility (ERF) is the most important for the spinning industry as they are the ones who finance and provide yarn on credit to all textile value addition chains, store cotton for many months both through domestic buying, and import from foreign suppliers.

Furthermore, due to cotton crop failure for the last five consecutive years, spinners are compelled to import costlier basic raw material of the textile industry, therefore the refinance facility be provided also to the spinning industry on priority basis, he said.

MARKET DAILY

KSE-100 makes smart recovery after shedding over 1,900 points KARACHI STAFF REPORT

It was another volatile day at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), with the benchmark KSE-100 Index slipping below the 29,000mark during the early trading hours, triggering a sixth 'market halt' in the last nine sessions. Analysts believe the investors' confidence remained low on Thursday due to a rise in the tally of coronavirus cases and the subsequent lockdown-like situation in the country. According to media reports, Pakistan's current account deficit declined by 71pc to $2.84 billion in the first eight months of the current fiscal year. The deficit stood at $9.81 billion during the same period last year. On a month-on-month basis, CAD fell by 61pc to $210 million.

Moreover, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has offered Pakistan $350 million to fight the coronavirus pandemic. With this offer, total lending provided by the ADB and World Bank now stands at $588 million or Rs93 billion. The benchmark KSE-100 Index lost 1,963.61 points to record its intraday low at 28,452.44. However, as trading resumed after a 45-halt, the index turned positive and recovered all losses to mark its intraday high at 30,515.62 (+99.57 points). Keeping most of the recovered points intact, it ended lower by 286.22 points at 30,129.83. Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index plunged 583.70 points to settle at 46,347.02, while the KSE All Share Index ended lower by 283.00 points at 21,685.43. Out of the total traded shares, 96 advanced and 217 declined. The overall market volumes inflated from 186.65 million in the previous session to 307.78 million. K-Electric Limited (KEL +5.56pc), Unity Foods Limited (UNITY -9.23pc) and The Bank of Punjab (BOP +4.25pc) topped the volume chart, exchanging 22.14 million, 19.28 million and 18.63 million shares, respectively. Fertilizer (+215.13 points) and banking (+114.68 points) sectors worked hard to rescue the index from bloodbath. On the other hand, cement (-179.42 points), power generation & distribution (-103.73 points) and oil & gas marketing (-55.42 points) sectors dented the index the most.

Oil up after three-day plunge but coronavirus curbs gains LONDON AGENCIES

US oil prices rose 10pc on Thursday after a three-day sell-off as the spread of the coronavirus and a battle for market share between Saudi Arabia and Russia drove prices to their lowest in almost 20 years.

Benchmark Brent, which has lost half its value in less than two weeks, got some respite as investors across financial markets assessed the impact of massive central bank stimulus measures.

Brent crude LCOc1 was up 93 cents, or 3.8pc, at $25.81 a barrel by 1416 GMT, having plunged to $24.52 on Wednesday, its lowest since 2003.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 gained $2.20, or 10.8pc, to $22.57 after dropping nearly 25pc to an 18-year low in the previous session.

Analysts, however, said gains were likely to be temporary as tumbling demand is compounded by the collapse this month of a deal between OPEC, Russia and others to curb supply.

Saudi Arabia, de facto leader of OPEC, has since kicked off a price war with Russia, planning to increase supply to a record high 12.3 million barrels per day (bpd) for months.

The drop in demand, particularly in transportation, is also leading to a rapidly growing glut in refined products such as jet fuel and gasoline.

“From April 1, about 4 million bpd could flood the markets, potentially pushing down crude oil prices into the teens,” Jefferies analysts said in a note.

“Unless somebody intervenes, no oil pro-

ducer benefits from the current environment.”

In the United States, where dozens of shale oil and gas drillers and services companies risk bankruptcy, senators on Wednesday urged Saudi Arabia and Russia to halt their price war during talks with the kingdom’s envoy to Washington.

The senators urged President Donald Trump to impose an embargo on oil from the two countries.

Meanwhile, the spread of the virus is showing no sign of abating, with governments resorting to lockdowns in a bid to con-

tain the disease, raising the prospect of a global recession.

Central banks have moved to mitigate the spiraling economic and financial fallout, with the European Central Bank kicking off a 750 billion euro ($820 billion) emergency bond purchase scheme.

“While the spreading of the virus has further to go and oil prices further to drop, we are now probably getting very close to peak fear in western and global financial markets,” said Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB.

Friday, 20 March, 2020

12 busIness Rs9.37bn released for textile exporters, says Dawood BUSINESS DESK The Ministry of Commerce has released Rs9.37 billion to textile exporters under various schemes, said Adviser to Prime Minister for Commerce, Textile, Industry and Production, and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood on Thursday. Giving a break-up of the figures on his official Twitter handler, he said the Ministry of Commerce released duty drawback on taxes (DDT) Rs3.9 billion under 2018-21 and Rs3.8 billion DDT under 2017-18.

He further revealed that a total of Rs27 billion has been paid to the textile sector in three months. Earlier, Dawood had assured the exporters that the government was fully aware of the difficulties faced by them due to the coronavirus. He had announced that government would give a relief package to them in the coming days, particularly to ease the liquidity problems faced by them. Taking to Twitter, he said, “I want to assure our exporters that the government is fully aware of the difficulties faced by you due to the Coronavirus. In the coming days, we will be giving a relief package, particularly to ease the liquidity problems faced by you.”

SBP reserves fall $110m to 12.6bn

E-foRm ScAm: clEARIng AgEntS DEmAnD PRoBE AgAInSt cUStomS’ offIcIAlS PESHAWAR AZIZ BUNERI

c

USTOMS clearing agents on Thursday complained that the entire responsibility of a scandal involving fake e-forms had been put on their shoulders by the customs’ officials and that some agents had been booked in the case without any justification.

Addressing a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, a group of agents, led by Haji Subhanullah, said after verification of e-forms by the customs agents, it is usually a standard practice that customs’ officials and the authorised bank clear the e-forms.

Therefore, the custom agents couldn’t be held responsible for this illegal practice, they maintained.

Subhanullah said the customs’ authorities had put the whole responsibility on agents in order to

“After they clear the e-form, it is further cleared

by Customs officials and the bank after which the export of goods is allowed,” he said.

Noor recalled that customs agents were booked in a case a month ago soon after an inquiry was launched against Customs officials.

He demanded the higher authorities to conduct an inquiry against the officials, who had incurred millions of rupees worth damage and take stringent action against those who were involved.

Adnan, a representative of Ibraham Trader that provides e-forms, said all forms were being provided to the clearing agents after being certified by Customs authorities and the bank.

“All e-forms are issued form Karachi. The firm that had issued fake e-forms should also be investigated and legal action should also be taken against those who had filed fake e-forms,” he demanded.

LESCO asked to ensure subsidised electricity for exporters LAHORE

KARACHI

HASSAN NAQVI

STAFF REPoRT

The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has asked the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) to revise power tariff to the already approved 7.5cents per Kwh. In a letter to LESCO Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mujahid Pervaiz Chatha, APTMA Punjab Chairman Adil Bashir stated that the association members located in and around Lahore had received

Foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) decreased by $110 million to $12,679.6 million during the week ending March 13, 2020, according to data released by the central bank on Thursday. This decline in SBP reserves is attributed to repayments related to external government debt, Hajj and other official payments during the week, the central bank said. Net foreign reserves held by commercial banks also decreased, from $6,114.7 million in the week ending March 3 to $6,063.4 million. The total liquid foreign reserves held by the country stood at 18,743 million.

clear their names from the inquiry being conducted by senior officials into the scam.

Other agents alleged after allowing more than 300 trucks to cross the Torkham border without paying custom duty, up to $70,000 worth of goods were now being exported from the Khurlachi border by using fake e-forms.

The agents alleged the practice of incurring millions of rupees loss to the national exchequer was continuing with the convenience of Customs authorities.

They said two months ago, all e-forms that were cleared by customs officials and the bank were declared fake and agents were held responsible for that.

Another clearing agent Muslim Noor said through the Khurlachi border, rice, poultry, fresh fruit and vegetables are being exported, and clearing agents get Rs300 per form for clearance.

electricity bills which included all surcharges (quarterly tariff adjustments etc.) in addition to 7.5 cents per Kwh. The due date for the payment of bills was March 24.

He recalled that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), in its meeting held on March 11, accorded approval to the Power Division's summary that advocated electricity tariff at 7.5cents per Kwh (all-inclusive) for the electricity consumers falling in export sectors, including textiles.

"Demanding any amount in addition to the tariff of 7.5c/Kwh is not only unjustified but is also contrary to the aforementioned decision of the ECC," Bashir maintained.

He feared that billing of the amount over and above 7.5cents per Kwh would further aggravate the financial position of the textile industry, which was already faced with tremendous financial constraints due to the global recession in the aftermath of Covid-19.

"Therefore, it is requested that the

matter may be taken up with the concerned ministry immediately and the electricity bills of the current month be revised before the last date of payment in accordance with the aforementioned ECC decision.

He further requested that the already paid surcharges may be credited and adjusted against the liability of the current bills.

"It will be appreciated if the needful is done at the earliest convenience to avoid any further intricacies for our members," Bashir added.

US targets UAE-based firms for shipping Iranian oil WASHINGTON AGENCIES

The United States on Thursday slapped sanctions on five companies based in the United Arab Emirates for allegedly shipping oil from Iran in defiance of President Donald Trump's unilateral sanctions. The Treasury Department said that the five companies bought hundreds of thousands of metric tons' worth of oil last year from Iran's state oil company, declaring it to be from Iraq or otherwise disguising its origin. The sanctions mark a rare US action against firms in the UAE, a close ally of Washington in its campaign against Tehran but also a major trading hub with a significant Iranian expatriate community.

"The Iranian regime uses revenues from petroleum and petrochemical sales to fund its terrorist proxies, like the IRGCQF, instead of the health and well-being of the Iranian people,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. He was referring to the Revolutionary Guards' elite Qods force, whose commander, Qassem Soleimani, was killed in a US drone strike in January at Baghdad's airport. The sanctions will block any US assets of the five companies and prohibit any transactions with them. The five companies are Petro Grand FZE, Alphabet International DMCC, Swissol Trade DMCC, Alam Althrwa General Trading LLC and Alwaneo LLC Co. Trump in 2018 bolted from an internationally backed deal under which Iran scaled back its nuclear program and demanded that all countries stop buying the cleric-ruled nation's oil, its key export. With the notable exception of China, most countries have reluctantly stopped buying oil from Iran for fear of punishment from the United States. Trump, who is closely allied with Iran's regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Israel, has vowed to curb Tehran's regional influence.

ISLAMABAD: Daily wagers wait for employment as they sit on a roadside near F-7 Markaz. o Nl IN E

Coronavirus inflicts over Rs4bn loss on PIA The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suffered more than Rs4 billion loss owing to the suspension of its flight operations to different foreign destinations amid coronavirus outbreak.

According to media reports, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also suffered Rs2.5 billion loss in the last 10 days.

The empty aircraft were being sent to Saudi Arabia to bring Pakistani pilgrims back.

The national flag carrier suspended flights on several routes, including China, Kuwait, Qatar, Italy, Japan and Saudi Arabia.

The aviation industry has been badly affected by the virus pandemic across the world.

Experts have warned that most of the airlines would be facing bankruptcy by end of May owing to the deadly virus.

On February 22, PIA had suspended Beijing flights as part of precautionary measures after deaths of 2,200 people and 75,500 infected patients were reported in mainland China. BUSINESS DESK

Airline industry crisis deepens as coronavirus pain spreads ERLIN/SYDNEY AGENCIES

The crisis for airlines deepened on Thursday as Lufthansa warned the industry might not survive without state aid if the coronavirus pandemic lasts a long time, and Qantas Airways told most of its 30,000 staff to take leave.

The United Nation’s International Civil Aviation Organization called on governments to ensure cargo operations are not disrupted to maintain the availability of critical medicine and equipment such as ventilators and masks that will help fight the virus.

“The spread of the coronavirus has placed the entire global economy and our company as well in an unprecedented state of emergency,” Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said in a statement. “At present, no one can foresee the consequences.”

His comments echo other industry executives who have called for state support now that passenger operations are collapsing at an unprecedented rate as governments curb travel drastically and demand slumps.

Germany’s Lufthansa, which has parked 700 of its 763 aircraft, said it did not need state support yet as it slashes costs, but painted a bleak picture for the industry and its suppliers. Spohr said his company was in talks with planemakers Airbus and Boeing about whether to take delivery of aircraft it had ordered, and on payments.

“We had planned this year to receive a new plane every 10 days – now we don’t need any,” he told reporters.

He predicted the industry would emerge into “a different world” after the crisis, saying the need for airline partnerships would only become more pressing.

‘EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES’: Global airlines group IATA has forecast the industry will need up to $200 billion of state support, piling pressure on governments facing demands from all quarters and a rapid worsening in public finances as economies slump.

Shares in US airlines fell sharply on Wednesday after Washington proposed a rescue package of $50 billion in loans, but no grants as the industry had requested, to help address the financial impact from crisis.

The Trump administration’s lending proposal would require airlines to maintain a certain amount of service and limit increases in executive pay until the loans are repaid.

Delta Air Lines said on Wednesday it would park more than 600 jets, cut corporate pay by as much as a half, and scale back flying by more than 70pc until demand begins

to recover.

American Airlines Group Inc in a memo to staff rebuffed criticism it had rewarded its shareholders with too many dividends and stock buybacks in better times, leaving it with less cash to manage the crisis.

“Unfortunately, this is no ordinary rainy day,” said Nate Gatten, American’s senior vice president global government affairs.

“These are extraordinary circumstances, and additional support is necessary to protect jobs and ensure that the flying public can continue to rely on our industry after the crisis ends.”

In Australia, Qantas said it would cut all international flights and two-thirds of its 30,000 workers would need to take paid or unpaid leave. The Australian government is banning the arrival of non-citizens and nonresidents starting Friday.

GOVT RELIEF: Several governments

have started to act.

Government sources in India told Reuters that the government was planning a rescue package of up to $1.6 billion (1.4 billion pounds) to aid carriers battered by coronavirus. India’s SpiceJet said on Thursday it was suspending the majority of its international operations from March 21 to April 30, while rival IndiGo asked staff to take a pay cut of up to 20pc.

Taiwan’s Transport ministry said it was inviting its airlines to submit capital requirements and financial plans with the view to giving them assistance, such as rolling over loans and providing operating funds.

New Zealand outlined the first tranche of a NZ$600 million (293.6 million pounds) aviation relief package, as it announced plans to shut its borders to non-citizens and non-residents.

Mandarin Kitchen- an aesthetically scruMptious house of thainese

In every corner of Lahore, you will find Chinese and Thai food but only one or two will leave an impression on your tastebuds that you would keep going to that place to soothen your “Thainese” appetence. Restaurants, these days, are not just about food. It is also the world of art and beauty. Even if you do not like the food at a restaurant, you keep going to that place for their quality of being presentable with their dishes, the way they serve their customers and for the great ambiance. There are very few places in Lahore that buy our loyalty and to our surprise, Mandarin Kitchen is one of them. By Rohama Riaz

Another reason for praising this place is the way they lay out their dishes. We absolutely are in love with their skill of presentation. The ordinary Shanghai chicken is made to look so exotic that we keep ordering the same dish also for the taste it carries; delicious and spruce!

The place is cozy with a variety of dishes ranging from Chinese to Thai to scrumptious desserts.

Crispy butterfly prawns are a great way to start your meal at Mandarin. Deepfried, heavenly in appearance and platable in taste; this is one of our goto appetizers.

If you are not a Chinese or Thai lover, the restaurant has got you sorted with its delicious desserts. Now, that’s a rare combination to have excellent desserts from the same place but this is what our experience says. We are very particular about Molten Lava Cake and especially in Lahore, the certificate of having the best Molten Lava is difficult to attain but we can conveniently add Mandarin Kitchen to our list after trying their version in mint flavor. Not to forget the richly made trifle called “The forbidden Trifle”.

Homemade Hand Sanitizer: A Natural DIY Recipe YIELD 4 OUNCES

Nostrils take turns receiving the majority of the air you breathe, which explains why one is usually stuffier than the other.

Arm yourself with this softly-scented natural homemade hand sanitizer.

INgrEDIENtS 5-10 drops lavender essential oil (where to buy 100% pure lavender EO) 30 drops tea tree essential oil (find 100% pure tea tree EO here) 3 ounces high-proof vodka (we use Everclear), or rubbing alcohol can be substituted 1 ounce pure aloe vera gel (where to buy 100% pure aloe vera gel) ¼ teaspoon Vitamin E oil (helps soften hands!)

INStrUCtIONS Add essential oils and Vitamin E oil to a small glass bowl or container and swirl to mix.

Add alcohol to the oils and swirl again.

Combine this mixture with the aloe vera gel and mix well.

Shake gently before each use. (Sanitizer should last several months with the addition of Vitamin E and alcohol to help preserve.)

Transfer hand sanitizer to small, clean squirt bottles. Also, use colored bottles like this so the essential oils in the recipe are not exposed to light. Finally, this recipe is perfect for throwing into a purse or a backpack!

According to a 2015 study, sarcasm can promote creative thinking.

NOtES To make a hand sanitizer spray, simply use witch hazel instead of aloe vera gel in this recipe.

HOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD

Since 1971, Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan has issued permits to unicorn hunters.

To All The Boys actor Lana Condor criticises Donald Trump for labelling coronavirus as ‘Chinese Virus’ Actor Lana Condor has slammed Donald Trump for repeatedly referring to the novel coronavirus as the ‘Chinese Virus’, saying that the president should be ashamed of using “racist words” against the Asian American community.

In a strongly-worded statement on social media, the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before star said that Trump is yet to prove himself as a true leader. The actor captioned her post: Be better. To wake up to your chaos is truly a nightmare. Please. Be better. To my followers - be safe. I love you.” s“You have no idea the ramifications your racist words & actions have on the Asian American community. You simply cannot even fathom the danger you are putting our community in. How dare you.

You should be ashamed of yourself. “You call yourself a leader? You know what leaders do? They LEAD by setting good examples and ACTION. Something we’ve yet to see you do,” Condor, the Vietnam-born American actor, began her post on Wednesday.

Kunal Kemmu posts a pic with sis-in-law Kareena Here’s why Shraddha Kapoor refused to Kapoor, jokes about ‘too many K’s in one frame’ work with Salman Khan at the age of 16 Actor Kunal Kemmu saw the release of film Malang, which has proved to be a success at the box office. That was before the coronavirus outbreak hit the world. Now, with almost all work having come to a grinding halt in Bollywood, actors have been taking to Instagram to post fun pictures and telling their fans how they are making good use of the forced break. Kunal chose to post a picture with sister-in-law Kareena Kapoor Khan. Sharing it, he wrote: “KK AND KKK..That’s too many K’s in one frame @kareenakapoorkhan” In the picture, Kareena has her arm around his shoulder as they both pose for the picture.

Kareena, meanwhile, who is a late entrant into the celebrity Instagram world, has been making up for the lost time. She recently posted a funny picture of a baby, who seems to refusing something, and wrote: “Me... when someone tries to shake my hand these days!“ - @kareenakapoorkhan #StayHome #StaySafe #SocialDistancing.” This was Kareena’s way of warning fans against the perils of coronavirus. With many celebrities opting for self isolation and quarantine, Kareena had posted another picture with husband Saif and had written: “Looks like he is ‘booked’ for the week... While I Instagram.”

Shraddha Kapoor has opened up about refusing an offer to work with Salman Khan when she was just 16. The actor had chosen to focus on her studies before she eventually decided to make her Bollywood debut with 2010 film Teen Patti at the age of 23.

Shraddha says she always wanted to become an actor but had to let go of the opportunity for the sake of her education. “However, I felt that at the age of 15 or 16, I was too young and wanted to finish schooling and attend college. I don’t think getting offers back then has defined my success. But it was difficult to turn it down and focus on studies because it was such a fantastic opportunity to work with Salman Khan.”

The actor saw the release of her latest film Baaghi 3 this month.

Soon after opening at Rs 17 crore and making a total of Rs 87.50 crore in its first week, it was severely hit by the coronavirus outbreak. She united with Tiger Shroff in the film after the two featured in the original 2016 film in the hit action franchise.

She also saw the release of her dance film, Street Dancer 3D, opposite Varun Dhawan in January. It collected Rs 68 crore at domestic box office.

Friday, 20 March, 2020

14

Premier League tO disCuss PLans tO COmPLete seasOn Premier League clubs will attempt to hammer out a plan to complete their suspended season when they meet via a conference call on Thursday.

English football is in lockdown as part of the worldwide bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Top-flight fixtures have been suspended until April 4 at the earliest and while it seems certain that the lay-off will be extended, the postponement of the Euro 2020 finals has created room for manoeuvre.

It is understood the focus at the meeting will be on concluding the 2019/20 campaign at some point rather than on what might happen should they be unable to restart.

There are signs that clubs are split on the way forward.

Brighton and Hove Albion chief executive Paul Barber said if the season were to be "frozen" it would be unjust on Liverpool, who are on the brink of their first top-

flight title for 30 years.

But West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady said if the fixtures could not be com-

pleted, the only fair solution would be to declare the season "null and void".

Some clubs lower down the English

football pyramid fear they could be forced out of business if football does not return until after the summer.

The English Football League (EFL) has already announced a ÂŁ50 million ($58 million) short-term relief package to help out struggling lower league clubs.

Underlining the parlous state of some clubs, Scottish Premiership side Hearts announced that it had asked staff to take a 50 percent pay cut. In a statement on the club's official website, Hearts owner Anne Budge said: "In order to try to prevent a staff redundancy programme and to protect as many jobs as possible, I am proposing to implement a club-wide salary reduction programme.

"We have asked all full-time employees, managers, coaches, players and player back-room staff, with effect from the beginning of April, to accept a 50 percent cut in their monthly salary."

She said she did not know how long the measure would be in place for.

OLYMPICS IN THE TIMES OF COVID-19

Asian golfers could lose out if Olympics go ahead SINGAPORE AGENCIES

The Olympics going ahead in Tokyo this year is "highly unlikely", the boss of Asian golf told AFP, and proceeding as planned could cost players the chance to qualify.

The International Olympic Committee said this week it was "fully committed" to holding the Games from July 24 despite the coronavirus pandemic, but acknowledged there was no "ideal" solution as pressure mounted for a postponement.

Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant confirmed that all tournaments across the continent had been suspended until at least the end of May, in line with the US PGA and European Tours.

"I think everyone right now is more in a state of shock, just trying to figure out what they do with themselves," said Cho, speaking by telephone from Asian Tour headquarters in Singapore.

With the prospect of scarcely any competitive golf before the Olympic rankings

qualifying cut-off on June 22, Cho said it would be harsh on players from unheralded golf nations.

"Our plan initially was to have about 16 or 17 tournaments before the Olympic cut-off," Cho said. "Today, we probably have only about four or five Asian Tour players eligible for the Olympics."

On current rankings, only Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond and Gunn Charoenkul, the Indian pair of Rashid Khan and Udayan Mane plus Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines would represent the Asian Tour in the 60-strong Tokyo field.

"Given the amount of golf that was left to be played, we were hopeful that more players from nations like Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines would have the opportunity to get into the Olympics over the next two or three months," said Cho. "Obviously, that's not going to happen.

"I can understand why they would want to push forward with the Olympics -

- there'd be huge revenue ramifications on the economy of Japan -- but it seems highly unlikely now in my opinion."

Cho said that he hadn't yet heard of any players suffering financial hardship but acknowledged that a long layoff could have an impact.

Players such as the world number 39

Jazz, last year's Asian Tour order of merit winner, will remain in the US where he had been due to play a full schedule before a debut at the now-postponed US Masters next month.

"I keep in contact with quite a few players and a lot of them are comfortable," Cho said.

Australia firm on Olympics as ex-official says Games impossible MELBOURNE AGENCIES

Australian Olympic chiefs Thursday reaffirmed plans to send athletes to Tokyo 2020, even as a former top official warned it looked impossible to hold the Games during the coronavirus pandemic.

The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday said it intended to go ahead with the Games from July 24 as scheduled, despite growing fears about the virus.

Australian Olympic Committee chief Matt Carroll said his organisation was doing everything possible to "fulfil the dreams of Australian athletes in incredibly difficult circumstances".

"The AOC does not live in a bubble," he said, after a worldwide phone conference with IOC president Thomas Bach.

"There is a global health crisis. We recognise that people are suffering, people are sick, people are losing their jobs, businesses are struggling, amid enormous commu-

nity uncertainty. Things are changing every day and we must adapt."

"We gain confidence from the IOC's overriding principles regarding staging the Games. Namely, to protect the health of everyone involved and support the containment

of the virus," he added.

His comments came as Australia's chef de mission at the London 2012 Olympics, Nick Green, told the Sydney Morning Herald he doubted the Games can proceed as planned. "A couple of weeks ago, I was as confident as everyone else, saying the Olympics would go ahead, no problem," said Green, an Olympic rowing champion.

"I'm pretty robust about it but I don't have the same robustness in my thinking now. I actually can't see how the Games can go ahead, to be frank."

Olympic pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi and world champion heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson are among other high-profile names to voice concerns at the IOC's stance. Ian Chesterman, the chef de mission for Tokyo, admitted it was a "complex" situation, with so many Olympic qualification events cancelled and travel bans in place.

He said international sports federations would be submitting revised plans for qualification processes to the IOC next month.

Greece hands over Olympic flame to Tokyo 2020 ATHENS AGENCIES

Greece on Thursday handed over the Olympic flame to Tokyo 2020 organisers at a ceremony held behind closed doors amid calls for the Olympics to be postponed over the coronavirus pandemic.

In the absence of spectators, Olympic gymnastics champion Lefteris Petrounias ran a lap with the flame and Olympic pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi lit a cauldron inside the all-marble Panathenaic stadium, where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896.

The flame was then handed to Tokyo 2020 representative Naoko Imoto, a swim-

mer who competed in the Atlanta 1996 Olympics. Imoto, a UNICEF representative, was reportedly a last-minute appointment as she already lives in Greece and did not have to travel from Japan.

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou in a statement said the ancient Olympic values of "concord, goodwill, brotherhood... are the weapon to use" against the virus. Last week's flame lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia was also carried out without spectators as Greece registered its first death from the virus.

"Regretfully the COVID-19 outbreak made us take hard decisions and change our initial plans. We deeply regret that you... were not able to travel to Greece and join us

here today," Greek Olympic Committee chairman Spyros Kapralos said, addressing Tokyo organisers absent from Thursday's ceremony. Authorities decided to cancel the torch relay's Greek leg after a crowd mobbed Hollywood actor Gerard Butler at a cauldron lighting ceremony in Sparta last week.

COVID-19 has infected more than 200,000 people worldwide and caused over 8,000 deaths across 150 countries and territories. There are five confirmed deaths in Greece. A sixth death was reported on Thursday. Most major sporting events across the world have been rescheduled or scrapped as a result of the pandemic, and doubts are increasingly being expressed about holding the Olympics in its current slot.

French Open date change over pandemic rocks tennis PARIS AGENCIES

The global tennis calendar has been thrown into further chaos after the decision by French Open organisers to postpone the Grand Slam, with players and rival tournaments critical of the apparently unilateral move.

The event at Roland Garros, traditionally the second major of the season, was on Tuesday moved from a May 24 start date to September 20, meaning it would start just one week after the US Open, if that event remains in its original slot. Organisers said strict confinement measures imposed by the French government to tackle COVID-19 had made it impossible to continue with preparations. French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli said: "We have made a difficult yet brave decision in this unprecedented situation, which has evolved greatly since last weekend." Organisers of the Grand Slam in New York acknowledged it might need to be moved but, in a scarcely veiled dig at the French Open organisers, said they would not go it alone. The rescheduled French Open would also clash with the start of a series of Asian tournaments and the Laver Cup team competition, due to take place in Boston from September 25 to 27.

On Wednesday the suspension to the men's ATP tour and the women's WTA tour were both extended to June 7, wiping out the European clay court season. The grass court season is still in place.

Olympics could be delayed, admits athletics chief Coe World athletics chief Sebastian Coe admitted on Thursday that the Tokyo Olympics could be moved to later in the year by the coronavirus outbreak, but said it was too early to make a definitive decision. Olympic bosses acknowledged on Wednesday there was no "ideal" solution as a growing number of athletes expressed concern. The COVID-19 pandemic is playing havoc with the global sporting calendar, forcing the postponement of Euro 2020 and a suspension of the tennis season. International Olympic Committee chairman Thomas Bach said earlier this week that starting on schedule on July 24 remained the organisation's goal. But Coe, who is a member of the Tokyo Olympics Games Coordination Commission, conceded in an interview with the BBC that a delay was possible. "That is possible, anything is possible at the moment," said Coe when asked whether the Games could be postponed to September or October.

Friday, 20 March, 2020

CWI offer To hosT england TesT serIes In CarIbbean

London

e

Agencies

NGLAND'S home series against West Indies could be rescheduled until September or even played in the Caribbean due to the COVID-19 crisis.

At present the sides are scheduled to play three Tests in England with the first due to start at The Kia Oval on June 4. But with it now all but inevitable that the start of the English do-

mestic season will be significantly delayed and a peak in COVID-19 cases in the UK anticipated in June, it seems highly unlikely the series will proceed as planned.

ESPNcricinfo understands that the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) have held several discussions in recent days.

The options under consideration include the possibility of rescheduling the series - with September the most obvious time - or staging it in the Caribbean. It is un-

derstood CWI have also offered to host England's three-Test series against Pakistan, scheduled to start on July 30.

While there are COVID-19 cases in the Caribbean, the virus would appear, at this stage, to have taken hold far more in the UK. There have, for example, been only two reported cases in each of Barbados and St Lucia and one in Antigua.

"I've spoken to Tom Harrison a couple of times in the last few days," Jonny Grave, CWI's CEO told ESPN-

cricinfo, "and assured him that we will be as flexible, supportive and helpful as possible. "To that end, yes, we have offered to host the series here in the Caribbean if that is deemed helpful. The ECB would retain all commercial and broadcast rights.

"This is not about us trying to take advantage of the situation. It's about the cricket community working together at a difficult time for everyone and, one of the many great things about the Caribbean is, we can play cricket all year round. There has long been a special relationship between the cricket communities in the Caribbean and England and we wanted to make it clear we will do everything we can to help."

England are also scheduled to host Ireland for three ODIs in mid-September. It is possible, however, that two England squads - one Test and the other limited-overs - could be in action in different places at the same time.

West Indies also have other commitments later in the year. They are scheduled to host New Zealand (in three ODIs and three T20Is) between July 8 and July 19 before South Africa arrive (for two Tests and five T20Is) between July 23 and August 16. Financially, the series against England is more valuable to CWI, however, so it remains possible those tours could also be rescheduled.

CWI are also understood to be considering the possibility of rescheduling the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) to December if necessary.

PCB confirms all 128 COVID-19 tests are negative Lahore Agencies

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday confirmed that all the 128 COVID-19 tests it had conducted on March 17, the day when the PSL was postponed, have come back negative. On Tuesday, the PSL was suspended after Karachi Kings' Alex Hales had developed symptoms of the coronavirus.

"It was absolutely critical for the integrity and credibility of the HBL Pakistan Super League and the Pakistan Cricket Board that all players, support personnel, broadcasters and match officials, those who had decided to stay back till the end of the tournament, tested negative for COVID-19," PCB CEO Wasim Khan said.

"In this background, the PCB is pleased with the outcome of the results and happy that all these players and officials have rejoined their families without any health and safety doubts or concerns. The PCB will continue to put in place precautionary measures to better safeguard the health of its employees."

Rilee Rossouw's love aair with the PSL Lahore Agencies

Having just guided his new franchise, Multan Sultans, to the top of the PSL table and ensured they became the first team to qualify for the last four, Rilee Rossouw was faced by a decision he had said he never wanted to make again. With the coronavirus pandemic spreading around the world and several countries, including Rossouw's native South Africa, introducing stringent border controls, he posted a tweet that will have reminded PSL fans of the gut-wrenching announcement he had made three years ago, when he played for Quetta Gladiators.

"Unfortunately, I will no longer be involved in PSL 2020," it read. "It has been a privilege to represent Multan Sultans and to play/work with the special people there!

Thank you Pakistan for your hospitality and for making PSL5 a [sic] unforgettable experience for me!"

Rossouw was leaving Pakistan to be home with his family, making him unavailable for the final group game and the knockout stage of the PSL. As it happened, the knockout stages would never take place, with the PSL forced into postponing the semi-finals and final as a precautionary measure after an over-

seas player displayed symptoms consistent with the coronavirus.

Though Rossouw had decided against touring Pakistan in 2017, too, the circumstances could hardly be more different. Then, the entire Quetta Gladiators overseas contingent had opted against making the trip, with Rossouw understood to have deliberated the hardest before finally deciding to stay away "with a sad heart". It was a decision Rossouw admitted he regrets to ESPNcricinfo. "It's something I've looked back at since, and felt a pang of regret about," Rossouw said during a chat the day before he left Pakistan. "Having been back since every year and enjoyed the hospitality of Pakistan, I've always felt completely safe, and if I knew then what I know now, there's every chance I would have come to a different conclusion."

The regret may have been compounded by how that final played out. Peshawar Zalmi's overseas players had all travelled to Lahore, led by the charismatic Daren Sammy, and blown a depleted Quetta side away, romping to the title in the process. And while a number of players on the T20 circuit may have developed reputations for being mercenaries, Rossouw, at least in Pakistan, has built a reputation of caring deeply both for the league as well as the side he's played for.

That side is now Multan, even if he is best known for his association with Quetta that culminated last year with a trophy against his name. Of players who missed at least one season, only Luke Ronchi is ahead of him in terms of runs scored in the PSL. It is, the BPL aside, his most successful T20 league, and Rossouw opened up on why the T20 circuit was going so swimmingly for him.

"For me, first of all, it's personal pride. I know many people think as a T20 player you're just a gun for hire, but whatever team I play for, I'm eager to do my best. Whether it be here or the BPL, I enjoy my time as much as I can. I know some people can think it's a bit of a hassle to be on tour all the time. But it is our job, you've gotta do it. I love what I do, so for me, it's just about enjoying myself out there, especially my batting."

Just like every other season in Pakistan, Rossouw had plenty of time to enjoy his batting, particularly against his old team Quetta, who came in for the heaviest punishment. In a league game in Multan, Rossouw put Quetta to the sword in an astonishing onslaught in the final ten overs that would see Multan plunder 134. It included a century Rossouw clobbered off just 43 deliveries - the fastest in PSL history - to set up a win that epitomised the contrasting fortunes of the two sides since.

CMYK

sPOrts 15

Tendulkar compares coronavirus battle to Test cricket MuMbai Agencies

Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar has offered an unusual take on the coronavirus fight by comparing it to Test cricket, urging patience and teamwork, and warning "we have to defend well". "While the world battles the Covid-19 pandemic, this is probably the time for of us to draw lessons from the grand old format of the game," Tendulkar wrote in a commentary for The Times of India newspaper. The world record-holding batsman said the virus was "beyond our collective comprehension" but could be beaten with tactics used in cricket's five-day format. "Test cricket rewards you for respecting what you don't understand. It makes you value the virtue of patience," he wrote. "When you don't understand the pitch conditions or the bowler, defence becomes the best form of attack. Patience is what we require now, if we have to defend well." India has reported only three virus deaths and 169 cases but the country is increasingly fearful of the spread of the disease that has killed nearly 9,000 people around the world. Like many countries, it has imposed draconian travel restrictions. Tendulkar, 46, retired in 2013 after scoring 15,921 runs from 200 Tests, and has considerable influence in Indian society. He said all countries must work together against the virus. "To use a cricketing metaphor; while individual brilliance can help a team in shorter formats of the game, in Test cricket it is all about partnerships and teamwork," he said. "Test cricket is about staging comebacks. There is always a second innings, if you've missed the first one." "Different countries are at different stages of their fight against coronavirus," he added. "All nations should consider themselves part of one team." "We shall take this battle session by session, and eventually emerge victorious."

Friday, 20 March, 2020

NEWS

RICh woRlD PuMPs AID As CoRoNAvIRus DeAths IN ItAly oveRtAke ChINA LONDON/BeIJING

t

agencies

HE world’s richest nations poured unprecedented aid into the global economy on Thursday as coronavirus cases ballooned in the new epicentre Europe, with the number of deaths in Italy outstripping those in mainland China where the virus originated.

With almost 228,000 infections and more than 9,200 deaths, the epidemic has stunned the world and drawn comparisons with painful periods such as World War Two, the 2008 financial crisis and the 1918 Spanish flu.

U.N. chief Antonio Guterres warned that a global recession, “perhaps of record dimensions”, was a near certainty. “This is a moment that demands coordinated, decisive, and innovative policy action from the world’s leading economies,” Guterres told reporters via a video conference. “We are in an unprecedented situation and the normal rules no longer apply.”

Tourism and airlines have been particularly battered, as the world’s citizens hunker down to minimize contact and curb the spread of the flu-like COVID-19.

But few sectors have been spared by a crisis threatening a lengthy global recession.

Markets have suffered routs unseen since the 2008 financial debacle, with investors rushing to the U.S. dollar as a safe haven. But European and U.S. stocks made a tentative recovery on Thursday and oil prices rebounded, though the reprieve may be brief.

Policymakers in the United States, Europe and Asia have slashed interest rates and opened liquidity taps to try to stabilise economies hit by quarantined consumers, broken supply chains, disrupted transport and paralysed businesses.

The virus, thought to have originated

from wildlife in mainland China late last year, has jumped to 172 other nations and territories with more than 20,000 new cases reported in the past 24 hours – a new daily record.

Cases in Germany, Iran and Spain rose to more than 12,000 each. An official in Tehran tweeted that the coronavirus was killing one person every 10 minutes.

LONDON LOCKDOWN? Britain, which has reported 128 deaths, was closing dozens of underground stations in London and ordering schools shut from Friday.

Some 20,000 soldiers were on standby, Queen Elizabeth headed for sanctuary in the ancient castle of Windsor, and the Tower of London was to close along with other historic buildings.

“Many of us will need to find new ways of staying in touch with each other and making sure that loved ones are safe,” the 93-year-old monarch said in an address to the nation.

“I am certain we are up to that challenge. You can be assured that my family and I stand ready to play our part.”

Italian soldiers transported corpses overnight from an overwhelmed cemetery in Europe’s worst-hit nation where 3,405 people have died, more than in mainland China. Germany’s military was also readying to help despite national sensitivities over its deployment dating back to the Nazi era.

Supermarkets in many countries were besieged with shoppers stocking up on food

staples and hygiene products. Some rationed sales and fixed special hours for the elderly. Solidarity projects were springing up in some of the world’s poorest corners.

In Kenya’s Kibera slum, for example, volunteers with plastic drums and boxes of soap on motorbikes set up handwashing stations for people without clean water.

Russia reported its first coronavirus death on Thursday.

Amid the gloom, China provided a ray of hope as it reported zero new local transmissions in a thumbs-up for its draconian containment policies since January. Imported cases, however, surged, accounting for all 34 new infections.

The United States, where President Donald Trump had initially played down the coronavirus threat, saw infections surpass 9,400 across all 50 states and deaths reach at least 151. Trump has infuriated Beijing’s communist government by rebuking it for not acting faster and drawn accusations of racism by referring to the “Chinese virus”.

“We continue our relentless effort to defeat the Chinese virus,” he said in opening remarks at a briefing with his coronavirus task force on Thursday.

Iran's death toll from coronavirus rises to 1,284 DUBAI: Iran’s death toll from coronavirus jumped to 1,284 on Thursday, the health ministry said, with the total number of infections rising to 18,407 in the Islamic Republic, the worst-affected country in the Middle East. The spread of the virus has dampened Iran’s celebrations for the Nowruz new year that begin on Friday.

Authorities have urged people to stay home and avoid travelling during the new year holidays to help contain coronavirus contagion. “With 149 new deaths in the past 24 hours, the death toll from the virus has reached 1,284. Unfortunately, we had 1,046 new cases of infection since yesterday,” deputy Health Minister Alireza Raisi said on state television. The government has ordered the closure of schools and universities and banned sports, cultural and religious gatherings. Nuclear energy chief Ali Akbar Salehi told state TV on Thursday that Iran would not mark its annual day celebrating its nuclear programme because of the coronavirus outbreak. agencies

Courts to remain functional, NJPMC decides ISLAMABAD app

The National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) on Thursday decided that courts would remain open at all levels by reducing the judicial work load so that the people working in the courts or visiting shall not be exposed to any risk of getting affected by coronavirus.

A meeting of the NJPMC was held here under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed.

Addressing the meeting, the CJP remarked that the courts will not compromise on the judicial system and not let it be derailed by getting panicked. He said that the apex judiciary of the country will ensure and take

all the necessary preventive measures for health and safety of the judges, court staff, lawyers, litigants and other justice sector stakeholders up to the district and tehsil levels.

He said that detailed instructions have already been issued to all high courts to take all possible preventive measures by way of case management to ensure that the courtrooms are not crowded and physical contact between individuals is avoided.

After deliberations, the committee unanimously resolved that guidelines issued by the Supreme Court shall be adopted by the Federal Shariat Court and high courts up to the district and tehsil courts. Besides, the same may also be forwarded to the superior judiciary of Azad

Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The committee also deliberated upon and directed that the jail inmates (prisoners) shall be protected from being exposed to the risk of coronavirus/infection without denial of their right of family meetings, however, authorities will make sure to adopt precautionary measures and regulate the procedure of meetings.

The committee also deliberated upon likelihood of jail inmates to be exposed to coronavirus coming from outside, therefore, visitors visiting jail premises should be examined and properly screened to avoid any threat of infection of coronavirus to the prisoners. If any prisoner is found infected, he will be quarantined within jail premises without any delay.

China provides $4m aid, medical equipment to Pakistan NewS DeSk China has provided aid worth $4 million to Pakistan, alongside medical face masks and ventilators, Economic Affairs Minister Hammad Azhar announced on Thursday. In a post on Twitter, Azhar expressed gratitude to China and said that the ally had provided “grant assistance of USD 4 million along with 300,000 medical face masks, 10 ventilators, and other equipment”.

“They have also undertaken to arrange for much greater number of ventilators,” he added. He also said emergency funds worth Rs7.5bn from the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) — supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) — were made available to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). “This is in addition to funds already made availaible by finance division for immediate use by authority. Reallocations from foreign-funded projects also being diverted towards it,” the federal minister wrote. Azhar said that his own division was in the process of finalising a $600 million “emergency package” to deal with the outbreak in the country. “It includes reallocations and fresh financing. This will be in addition to local funding that is being made available,” he said. The number of COVID-19 cases in Pakistan shot up to 384 on Thursday, after new cases were reported in Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan. A day earlier, Pakistan’s first two deaths were recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: a 36-year-old and a 50-year-old.

NDMA orders to convert all 3-4 star hotels into quarantine facilities ISLAMABAD app

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has asked provinces to convert all 3-4 star hotels into quarantine centres in fight against COVID-19. According to sources, the NDMA has written a letter to the federal interior secretary and all four provincial chief secretaries in this regard.

The move comes after Pakistan witnessed an increase in the coronavirus cases. In the letter, the NDMA has said it is necessary to take preventative measures against the coronavirus as per the WHO guidelines. Sources said the hotels will be made into quarantine centres with one person to one room. The number of novel coronavirus cases surged to 299 in Pakistan with two confirmed deaths of persons returned home from foreign countries. The deceased persons were belonging to KP’s Mardan and Hangu. The deceased man Saadat Khan, resident of Mardan had been tested positive for coronavirus on March 17 after arriving back to Pakistan from Saudi Arabia post performing Umrah on March 9.

Another patient 36-year-old, who lost his life due to the virus, was resident of Hangu. So far 208 cases of the virus have been reported in Sindh, said CM Murad Ali Shah, while the number of cases in Punjab stands at 33, according to CM Buzdar. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has reported, 17 cases, while in Balochistan the number has jumped to 23. In Gilgit-Baltistan (GB)13, federal capital Islamabad has reported four cases and one infected with the virus in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

US sanctions Iran, seeks release of Americans amid coronavirus outbreak wASHINGTON agencies

The United States imposed fresh sanctions on Iran on Tuesday, keeping up its economic pressure campaign even as it offered to help Tehran cope with the coronavirus pandemic and called on the Islamic Republic to release detained Americans.

Iran is considering freeing some US citizens, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at a news conference where he made clear Washington will maintain its maximumpressure campaign to choke off Tehran’s ability to export its oil.

The campaign, instituted after President Donald Trump in 2018 unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal Iran struck with six major powers, aims to force Iran to limit its nuclear, missile and regional activities.

Pompeo on Tuesday said the State Department is blacklisting nine entities based in South Africa, Hong Kong and China, as

well as three Iranian individuals, for engaging in “significant transactions” to trade in Iranian petrochemicals.

While he did not name them, Pompeo said the step included blacklisting Iran’s armed forces social security investment company and its director for investing in sanctioned entities.

Separately, the Commerce Department said it will add six people – including five Iranian nuclear scientists – and 18 corporations to the US “Entity List” for aiding Iran’s nuclear program, Pakistan’s unsafeguarded nuclear and missile programs, and Russian military modernisation efforts.

Without naming them, the Commerce Department said the move covers one company in Iran, two entities in China, nine in Pakistan, and five in the United Arab Emirates and will constrict the export of certain items to them.

The Entity List names foreign parties that are barred from receiving some or all

items subject to US export regulations unless the exporter secures a license, according to

the department.

On Monday, sources familiar with the

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad. Ph: 051-2204545. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk

matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue said the United States was unlikely to ease sanctions on Iran despite an appeal from China that it do so because of the pandemic.

Pompeo urged Iran to free US citizens it has detained as a humanitarian gesture because of coronavirus. Iran has reported 16,169 coronavirus cases and 988 deaths in one of the worst national outbreaks outside of China, where the pandemic originated.

“We are aware that they are thinking about whether to release them or not,” Pompeo told reporters. “We are urging them … to release every American that is being wrongfully held there as a humanitarian gesture, given the risk that is posed.”

It is not clear exactly how many Americans Iran may hold, but they include father and son Baquer and Siamak Namazi; Michael White, a Navy veteran; and possibly Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent missing since 2007.