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Thursday, 2 April, 2020 I 08 Shaban, 1441 I Rs 20.00 I Vol X No 274 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition
Govt extends lockdown till April 14 As virus tAlly soArs g
ASAD uMAR SAYS ‘ReSTRIcTIonS’ conTAIneD g ZAFAR MIRZA SAYS AveRAGe SPReAD oF coRonAvIRuS, eSSenTIAl PeR DAY IncReASe In TRAnSPoRTATIon To conTInue SMooTHlY covID-19 cASeS IS 12Pc
ISLAMABAD staff report
A
S coronavirus cases continue to surge in Pakistan with the national tally crossing 2,100, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad umar, who also heads the coordination committee on covID-19, said on wednesday that the “restrictions” to contain the contagion would remain in place till April 14. As of midnight, Sindh and Punjab reported 709 and 748 cases each. balochistan and khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 164 and 276 cases, respectively. Azad kashmir and Gilgit-baltistan region have detected 190 cases, whereas Islamabad has 54 cases. So far, recoveries stand at 85, with a total of 30 deaths. At least 10 people are in critical condition. Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the national coordination committee (ncc) along with Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health Dr Zafar Mirza and PM’s Special Assistant on national Security Moeed Yusuf, umar said the
decision was taken by the federal government after taking provincial governments on board. During this lockdown period, “Goods transport will continue as all members present in the meeting had agreed on cooperating in this regard,” he noted, adding that the restrictions successfully contained the virus. “The industries manufacturing basic necessities — food, medicine, and power etc. — will operate as they are crucial at this time,” he said, adding: “These restrictions will bear fruit only if basic necessities are being provided to the people […] The federal and provincial governments are on the same page in this regard.” “The meetings of the ncc will be held regularly before April 14 to review the situation,” umar said. “on April 4, the first flight will come in the country via Pakistan International Airlines. Passengers will be tested and they will be kept in quarantine facility till the results are received,” he said, referring to the government’s aim to resume flight operations. If they test negative, then we will ask them to self-quarantine and take necessary
coronAvirus in
pAkistAn
precautionary measures, the minister said. “on April 5, we will review this measure of bringing people in from abroad, if it is successful then the flights will be started in different airports of the country […] while the domestic flights will remain suspended.” Addressing the presser, Zafar Mirza urged the people to maintain social distancing. “The people should also observe self-quarantine,” said Mirza. “If we make the restrictions stern then it will yield better results,” he explained, adding: “Several offices are still using biometric for attendance. we strictly advise them against it.” Speaking of the situation in Pakistan, Mirza said: “The total number of suspected cases are 17,331 out of which an increase of 1,436 was recorded in the past 24 hours. The surge is high; the average increase per day is 12%.” “currently, there are a total of 2,049 confirmed cases in Pakistan, with an increase of 178 in the past 24 hours,” he said. He said there were over 8,800 people in quarantine. of them, over 5,000 people have been tested out of which 19% have tested positive, he added. PIA TO BRING PEOPLE HOME: From April 311, 17 PIA flights will fly to several countries in addition to special flights to bring stranded Pakistanis home. “The biggest concern of ours is testing the people coming into the country. The technical staff has said that we can bring in 2,000 passengers right now,” he said.
All necessary measures being taken to ensure public safety: COAS STORY ON PAGE 03
Imran fears spike in corona cases, calls for relief donations g
PM ASSuReS DocToRS, nuRSeS oF PRovISIon oF PPe, SAYS nATIon AcknowleDGeS THeIR SeRvIceS RAWALPINDI staff report
In the wake of increasing number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan, Prime Minister Imran khan on wednesday said that the government was “continuously monitoring” situation to determine the accurate rate of spread of the infection in the country”, fearing that the cases may further spike. The prime minister was speaking at the inauguration of the upgradation of 500-bed cantonment General Hospital (cGH), in Saddar, Rawalpindi, with modern medical facilities. on the occasion, the premier said the government started taking preventive measures in the country since the first coronavirus case had surfaced in china in December, besides working on a mechanism to deal with the looming challenge. He, however, regretted that healthcare had never been a priority during the last 70 years, saying his government would take every step to bring improvement to the neg-
Govt projects 5.1pc economic growth during next three years g
DeFence SPenDInG To be IncReASeD ‘In lIGHT oF THe GeoPolITIcAl SITuATIon’
CONFIRMED CASES:
2,233
RECOVERED:
DEATHS:
SINDH:
PUNJAB:
85
709
31
845
KP:
BALOCHISTAN:
AJK/GB:
ISLAMABAD:
276 6/184
164 54
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
Firdous asks media to focus on positive coronavirus news STORY ON PAGE 03
more inside
Govt refuses to pay for bad currency bets made by textile exporters lobby STORY ON PAGE 09
ISLAMABAD staff report
The federal government has projected a 5.1 per cent economic growth rate during the next three years. A three-year medium-term budget strategy prepared by the Ministry of Finance projected 3 per cent economic growth in 20-21, 4.5 per cent in 2021-2022 and 5.1 per cent in 2022-23. However, the report stated that the country ’s economic growth would remain at 2.6 per cent during the ongoing fiscal year, which is 0.4 per cent short of last year’s growth. The report also stated that inflation would be brought down from 11.7 per cent to 5.2 per cent by the end of FY2022-2023 and budget deficit would also be reduced to 3.1 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the ongoing year’s projection of 7.1 per cent. Similarly, the report added, the public debt to GDP would also be
lected area. The PM also assured the nurses and doctors –who have been complaining about a lack of protective equipment ever since the outbreak, leading to two deaths and multiple infections— that the government would provide protective material for their safety in this “vulnerable” environment. “The protective gear would be provided on priority to those working at the intensive care units (Icus) and dealing patients suffering from contagious diseases,” the PM said. He said the decision was taken by the command and control centre to ensure the provision of shielding material to the front line medical staff for their own safety.
Due process must be followed for prisoners’ release, says CJP ‘False implication cannot be ruled out’: SHc grants bail to lnG magnate decreased to 77 per cent from 83 per cent during the next three years. Moreover, the current account deficit would also be brought down to 4.1 per cent from 5.1 per cent during the next three years. Giving a breakdown of the government’s expenditures, the report stated that Rs3,235 billion would be spent on interest pay-
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ments, Rs1,402 billion on defence expenditures, Rs475 billion on pensions, Rs495 billion on federal government operations, Rs260 billion on subsidies, Rs820 billion on grants and Rs130 billion would be spent on the provision of contingencies for the next fiscal year.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
STORIES ON PAGE 03
Europe toll tops 30,000 as UN warns of world’s worst crisis since WWII STORY ON BACK PAGE
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Thursday, 2 April, 2020
NEWS
RePAtRIAtINg StRANded PAkIStANIS toP PRIoRIty, SAyS QuReSHI
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ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
OREIGN Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday said that repatriating Pakistanis stranded at airports across the world is a top priority of the government. Qureshi, while addressing a meeting to review the arrangement made to being back Pakistan nationals amid coronavirus outbreak, announced that the Foreign Ministry has established a crisis management cell which is in constant contact with Pakistani embassies across the globe and has complete statistics of overseas Pakistanis. The meeting, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), was attended by Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, State Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari, National Security Advisor Dr Moeed Yousuf, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mehmood among others. Qureshi, who presided over the meeting, informed the attendees that all the 170 Pakistanis stranded in Thailand, who have returned home on special flights, were tested for coronavirus on arrival. “I am
pleased to announce that the tests came out negative,” he added. “We have to ensure quarantine and various other medical facilities at airports for the positively tested coronavirus cases,” said Qureshi. The foreign minister informed the meeting that the majority of the countries have currently suspended flight operations in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic. The meeting also deliberated on the resumption of international flights from April 4. The recommendations, agreed upon in the meeting, will now be presented at the next meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) for approval. QURESHI CALLS SAUDI COUNTERPART: Earlier in the day, Qureshi held a telephonic conversation with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan regarding the challenges posed by coronavirus. Qureshi expressed deep grief and sorrow over the deaths of Saudis due to the epidemic and appreciated the timely steps taken by the government to contain the spread. He also apprised Prince Faisal regarding the steps taken by the Pakistani
government to contain the contagion. Qureshi pointed out that developing countries like Pakistan are facing grave economic difficulties as a result of the epidemic. He recalled that Prime Minister Imran Khan has suggested restructuring of loans of poor countries so that they could use their resources to fight the disease. The foreign minister also denounced the missile attacks on Riyadh and Jizan and appreciated the timely response of Saudi
Locusts destroy wheat fields in Panjgur Locust swarms on Wednesday destroyed wheat fields in Balgtar and Gwarkro regions of Balochistan as relief teams struggle to contain the scourge with insecticides. Ministry of Agriculture and Plant Protection officials are busy spraying the fields with insecticides and pesticides. The difficult terrain is proving to be a great obstacle for relief teams trying to gain access to the place of attack. Crops standing on hundreds of acres were destroyed by the swarms of locusts in several villages. The farmers have blamed the Agriculture Department for not taking concrete steps to save their crops from the attack of locusts. NEWS DESK
Saudi Arabia advises Muslims to defer Hajj plans RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Hajj minister asked Muslims on Tuesday to temporarily defer preparations for Hajj amid uncertainty over the pandemic. Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia suspended Umrah over fears of the new coronavirus. “Saudi Arabia is fully ready to serve pilgrims,” Hajj minister Mohammad Benten told the state-run Al Ekhbariya television. “But under the current circumstances, as we are talking about the global pandemic […] the kingdom is keen to protect the health of Muslims and citizens and so we have asked our brother Muslims in all countries to wait before doing Hajj contracts until the situation is clear,” he added. Saudi authorities have yet to announce whether they will proceed with this year’s Hajj. AGENCIES
NAB files reply to petition against Mir Shakil's arrest LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has informed the Lahore High Court that it did not commit any violation of law by arresting Jang Group Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakilur Rahman in illegal plots exemption case. In its seven-page reply submitted on March 30 to a petition moved by Shahina Shakil against her husband’s arrest, the bureau stated that MSR had obtained illegal exemption of the plots located in Johar Town, Lahore. It also stated that the inquiry was launched on the basis of available record in accordance with the law. The bureau stated that MSR was arrested after he failed to satisfy the bureau in the matter and the NAB chairman issued his arrest warrants as per law. It further stated that the accused was produced before the accountability court and he was thus remanded into NAB’s custody till April 7. The bureau contended that the petition was based on mere allegations and pleaded with the court for its dismissal. MSR was arrested by the bureau on March 12 in illegal plots exemption case. According to NAB, he accused had obtained illegal exemption of 54 plots of one-kanal each in Johar Town, Lahore, with the connivance of Nawaz Sharif, the then CM of Punjab, in violation of the exemption policy. APP
armed forces. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s support to the security and integrity of the Kingdom. Meanwhile, Prince Faisal said the G20 Summit, which was hosted by the Kingdom, discussed various aspects of financial assistance to developing countries including restructuring their loans. The two ministers agreed to continue their consultation process for the promotion of bilateral cooperation and to meet the coronavirus challenge.
Shehbaz accuses Centre of ignoring provinces LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday accused the federal government of ignoring the provinces amid the coronavirus outbreak and demanded a daily meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CII). In a statement, the National As-
sembly (NA) opposition leader said that there was transparency in the distribution of resources to the provinces. “In February, all provinces and the federal capital demanded protective gear for their medical workers but the prime minister flatly turned down their request,” he claimed, adding that the “premier and his team had been unable to carry out this basic and essential task”. He said that had the government given Rs2.5 billion to the provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), things would have not been this tense. “The provinces constantly raised their voice over the matter but the prime minister and his cabinet committed criminal
negligence by not approving their request,” he added. He demanded that doctors, nurses and other paramedical staff of all provinces must be provided with protective gear and other essential items immediately The PML-N president also expressed deep concern over the spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country during the past 48 hours. “This jump from hundreds to thousands is extremely alarming and by the time this government understands the trend of coronavirus infections, it might be too late,” he warned. Shehbaz further claimed that the government and the prime minister have no strategy to fight the hard war against the pandemic.
'8171': PM launches SMS service to help poor during pandemic ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday launched a national level SMS service under the “Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program” to cater to the financial needs of the deserving people in the wake of ongoing coronavirus situation. Under the emergency cash programme, the needy people could get a lump sum of Rs12,000 as financial assistance for four months by send-
ing their Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) number through SMS service on 8171. The people sending their CNIC numbers would get a reply of their eligibility or otherwise for availing the facility after the analysation of data by the Ehsaas. If eligible, they will receive an SMS message informing them of how to collect money. If they are not identified in the database, they will be directed to contact their respective district administration. Special Assistant to the PM on
Social Protection Sania Nishter briefed the prime minister in detail about the programme. According to details, the Ehsaas programme has been planned in the context of the economic hardships being experienced by the vulnerable due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The currently stalled economic activity affects daily wage earners and piece-rate workers, the most. In addition, layoffs in the formal economy were also pushing people below the poverty line.
IHC dismisses plea seeking return of Pakistani pilgrims from Iran ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday rejected a plea seeking the return of Pakistani pilgrims stranded in Iran amid the coronavirus outbreak, declaring it non-maintainable. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the plea submitted by Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen leader Syed Nasir Abbas Sherazi. The petitioner had pleaded that thousands of Pakistani pilgrims are stranded in Iran and the impression is being created here that all the problems related to coronavirus in the country are due to them. To which the court inquired if the petitioner had approached the Foreign Office (FO) in this regard. Justice Minallah remarked, “Trust the government as the entire world is facing the coronavirus pandemic.” The IHC top judge asked the petitioner to approach the concerned authorities over the matter as it falls under the domain of the foreign ministry. He said that it is a matter that transcends boundaries and a court cannot intervene in such issues, adding that the impression the government is not taking appropriate measures for its nationals in incorrect. The court, subsequently, dismissed the petition, declaring it non-maintainable. On March 30, the IHC had set aside a petition seeking an inquiry into whether the coronavirus spread in Pakistan due to lax controls at the quarantine center established in Taftan, with its top judge saying that this was not the time to suspect the intentions of the state.Opponents of the government are criticising it for “not doing enough” to quarantine pilgrims returning from Iran at a makeshift facility established in Balochistan. STAFF REPORT
9 Pakistanis arrested in Sri Lanka’s biggest drug haul
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s navy seized $65 million worth of crystal methamphetamine and ketamine in the country’s biggest drugs bust and arrested nine Pakistani men suspected of smuggling the drugs, officials said on Wednesday. Acting on a tip-off, authorities raided a flagless vessel in the country’s southern waters. Navy personnel found 605 kilogrammes of crystal meth, also known as ice, and 579 kilogrammes of ketamine, said Navy Commander Piyal de Silva. “This is the first time we have found ketamine and it is likely that the smugglers were trying to take this cargo to some East Asian destination,” de Silva told reporters in the capital Colombo. Authorities said initial investigations suggested the Iran-Pakistan coast was the point of origin. Sri Lanka’s defence ministry said the drugs had an estimated street value in Colombo of about Rs12,500 million ($65 million), making it the country’s biggest single seizure of drugs. Last month, the navy seized two foreign trawlers, carrying more than $33 million worth of heroin and ice. AGENCIES
Pakistan to reduce LNG import from Qatar amid decline in consumption ISLAMABAD AHMAD AHMADANI
The government has decided to reduce the monthly import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from Qatar due to a significant decline in demand following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in the country. According to sources, LNG demand has witnessed a massive decrease in recent days, owing to which the government has decided to import only three of the already agreed five LNG cargos from Qatar this month. Although the government had desired to postpone the supply of LNG from Qatar by claiming force majeure, there was no legal provision in the multi-billion-dollar Pak-Qatar LNG deal other than decreasing the agreed quantity of LNG. "Owing to no legal provision of force majeure in $16-billion LNG sale and purchase agreement between Pakistan and Qatar, the former cannot stop the import of LNG from the latter," an official confirmed. Sources said as the government has informed Qatar that it would import only three cargos for April, while the de-
cision regarding LNG import for May would be taken by the end this month. Pakistan has been importing expensive LNG from Qatar at a price parity of
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13.37pc with Brent crude (almost $6/MMBTU) under a long-term agreement. Sources said that Pakistan could save an amount of Rs10 billion on a
monthly basis by postponing the import of already agreed three LNG cargos from the international commodity suppliers -Eni and Gunvor. An insider explained, "The country can postpone LNG purchase from the two companies without paying any penalty as there are two conditions in their LNG purchase agreement under which Pakistan can postpone LNG purchase in case of epidemics or quarantine restrictions." Sources noted that the LNG from Eni and Gunvor was being purchased at a cost of $5.5 to $6 per MMBTU, while LNG is available in the international market at $1.5 to $2 per MMBTU. Meanwhile, as per the country's energy experts, Pakistan should immediately postpone or cancel the purchase of LNG from Eni and Gunvor to decrease the burden on the country's foreign exchange reserve. They said that Pakistan could restore the purchase of LNG from these commodity suppliers and can even purchase LNG on spot price from international market as and when the demand of gas is increased.
Thursday, 2 April, 2020
NEWS
Due ProCeSS MuSt be followeD for PrISonerS’ releaSe, SayS CJP SC TO EXAMINE LEGALITY OF RELEASE ORDERS ON APRIL 6 iSLamaBad STAFF REPORT
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmad on Wednesday said that due process must be followed for the release of under-trial prisoners. A five-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) led by the chief justice heard a petition pertaining to the release of under-trial prisoners on the orders of high courts. While hearing arguments, the top judge asked under what law can the suspects and accused be released, adding that it was already very difficult to arrest the accused in cases. “The police are busy with the coronavirus emergency. How can we let criminals be out on the roads as well?” he asked. He noted that the Islamabad High
Court (IHC) order regarding the release of prisoners is legally incorrect, adding that the same is being done by the Sindh High Court (SHC) by issuing a vague four-line statement regarding the release of 829 prisoners. “Nobody knows who these released prisoners are,” the CJP remarked. He pointed out that following the release of prisoners in Karachi, robberies have already started taking place and the city’s DHA area is under the control of robbers. “Thieves are emptying houses under the pretext of checking for coronavirus patients,” he added. The top judge remarked that due to the coronavirus, the businesses of the corrupt have also been affected. He noted that those accused of corruption have also been released by the courts. However, the
Health ministry snubs IHC over PMDC restoration ISLAMABAD: People sitting at the helm of affairs in the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination have deliberately defied the Islamabad High Court (IHC) directives to restore Pakistan Medical and Dental Council immediately. Talking to TLTP on Wednesday, Advocate Umar Sajjad, counsel for Registrar of the Council Hafizuddin Siddiqui informed that his client was denied access to the PMDC office despite court orders. On March 30, a single-member bench of the IHC comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani issued these directions in a petition filed by Siddiqui and other employees of the council for sealing their offices. It was October 19, 2019, when President Dr Arif Alvi promulgated an ordinance, which left the PMDC dissolved and paved the way for the establishment of the Pakistan Medical Council (PMC). Subsequently, the Ministry of National Health Services sealed the building of the PMDC and informed its 220 employees that their services had been terminated. However, a single bench of IHC declared the presidential ordinance on February 11 as ultra vires to the constitution and restored the PMDC and the services of the employees. Then the ministry issued the direction for sealing the offices of the PMDC on February 13, as a result, the reinstated employees were not allowed to enter the offices. Advocate Umar Sajjad claimed that during the hearing of the matter, the single-member bench of the IHC Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani has expressed dismay over the federal government for its failure to revive the PMDC. TLTP
Govt projects 5.1pc economic growth during next three years Continued from page 01 The report that the government was taking various policy courses to target the supply side of the economy and the economy is moving progressively along the adjustment path and stablisation process. It added that the government is focused on bringing economic improvement through growth in agriculture, industrial and services sectors. It also mentioned that the Planning Commission had been formulating the new development growth strategy to target higher equitable and sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction and job creation because this would pave the way for achieving SDGs and other socioeconomic targets of the government. Regarding borrowing, the report stated that it remains a challenging task and the government has been focusing on raising funds through long-term government securities. “The Debt Management Office of the Finance Division has been formulating policies to reduce the borrowing cost of the federal government, enabling the government to borrow in long tenors at lower rates during medium term, while also encouraging a long-term dispensation on debt,” it added. The report further stated that special initiatives led by the prime minister, including Ehsaas Programme, Kamyab Jawan Programme and Sehat Insaf Card, are being implemented in letter and spirit.
CJP persisted, saying that if the corrupt do not get a chance to do their corruption, they too will start resorting to crime. He further said that any decision pertaining to the release of prisoners must take into consideration the facts on the ground. “Coronavirus will not go away by emptying the jails. The law is present for taking care of prisoners,” remarked Justice Qazi Faez Isa. Justice Sajjad Ali Shah added that the law says that prisoners affected by COVID-19 should be kept under quarantine. Attorney General of Pakistan (AJP) Khalid Javed Khan said that if the virus spreads in jails, the apex will be held responsible. The CJP replied that the courts work in accordance with the law and they have no concern about any allegation. Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin said that the virus cannot be fought by releasing all prisoners and vacating the jails. He added that a method is already available to protect the prisoners.
Justice Sajjad Ali Shah inquired whether those accused by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) come under the category of minor offences. Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Qalb-e-Hasan, who was representing those who have supported the decision to release prisoners, argued that a team of doctors has yet to visit jails. He also reminded the court that the jails can keep 57,742 prisoners in total, but are housing 77,275 instead. “Only 25,456 prisoners are convicted, while there are more than 48,000 who are still under trial,” noted the SCBA president. He further pointed out that 90 newborn babies are also in jail with their mothers. The lawyer said that after God, the courts are the only hope for the helpless. He complained that the government has not done anything yet for the people languishing in jails. “I urge the court to defend the rights of prisoners,” Hasan pleaded.
Firdous asks media to focus on positive coronavirus news PM’S AIDE SAYS ‘GIVING AIRTIME TO RECOVERED PATIENTS WILL REDUCE THE STIGMA AGAINST THEM’ REJECTS SINDH INFO MINISTER’S DEMAND TO CHANGE NAME OF ‘CORONA TIGERS FORCE’
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STAFF REPORT
PECIAL Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Wednesday asked the media to focus on positive coronavirus reporting to dispel the panic that has gripped the nation for over a month now. Addressing a video conference of all provincial information ministers, SAPM Awan said: “Hearing negativity all day, constantly seeing numbers increasing, can have a negative impact on people’s mental health.”
“By giving airtime to recovered patients, we can reduce the stigma against them,” she said. Pakistan has so far succeeded in preventing the unconfined spread of coronavirus. On Wednesday, over a month after the first case was reported, the national tally stands at 2075 after the emergence of 36 new cases. 84 patients have completely recovered so far, according to the national database. In today’s meeting, the SAPM said that “the job of the [provincial] information ministers is to inform the people of the truth as well as reduce panic and fear among the public.”
“The prime minister said in the cabinet meeting yesterday that hiding facts is akin to causing harm to the country,” she said. “By hiding ground realities, this virus will flourish,” she said, adding that all information received by the provinces should be shared. In the meeting, Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah requested the federal government to change the name of the Corona Tigers Force to “something neutral”. To which Awan responded that “cause was more important than the name”. “Sindh chief minister can discuss this with the prime minister during the National Coordination Committee meeting today,” she said. Both Shah and Awan agreed that the aim was to overcome the coronavirus health crisis. Shah assured Awan that Sindh government will cooperate with Centre “in every way” and “follow any advisory issued by the premier”. Coming towards media, Awan reiterated her assurance to address the challenges faced by the fraternity amid the epidemic. According to her, the government is in the process of introducing a mobile application for journalists which will provide data to members of the fraternity that will be diagnosed with the disease. She added that the government has also created a protective kit for journalists, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA). “The protective kit will only be provided to those professionals that are visiting isolation centres and quarantines,” she said. Earlier in the day, SAPM Awan announced that a video conference will be held later in the day to discuss the media strategy, in addition to the matter of outstanding payments to the media houses.
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all necessary measures being taken to ensure public safety: CoaS GEN BAJWA SAYS ‘CANNOT AFFORD TO LEAVE ANY SEGMENT OF SOCIETY AT MERCY OF CORONA PANDEMIC’ ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday said that the planned measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic would contribute to safety and well-being of every Pakistani and the society at large if they are implemented timely. Addressing a special briefing at National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the COAS said that all necessary measures to ensure public safety were being taken, an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release said. “We cannot afford to leave any segment of society at the mercy of this pandemic. Troops on ground must reach out to citizens in every nook and corner of Pakistan not only to protect them against this pandemic but also for bringing comfort in this hour of distress,” he said. The army chief said that only through a coherent national effort we could address all vulnerabilities before they turn into threats. “We must rise – and rise together irrespective of caste, colour, creed and religion fighting as one nation. The task at hand is daunting, but we have overcome difficult situations before. This time the challenge is entirely different. The armed forces will stand shoulder to shoulder with nation to guard the border between people and COVID-19,” he added. “Pakistan Army being part of national effort would not leave any stone unturned for security and safety of people of Pakistan,” the COAS concluded. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives Asad Umer, Minister for Interior Brigadier (r) Ijaz Shah, Minister for Economic Affairs Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed, Minister for Aviation Division Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Minister for National Food Security and Research Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, SAPM for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, SAPM on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, SAPM on National Security Moeed Yousaf and SAPM on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Dr Sania Nishtar and senior military officials attended the briefing. The forum was briefed about the latest situation on containment efforts and enforcement measures against COVID-19 and troops deployment across the country assisting the federal and provincial administrations in aid of civil power. The forum expressed complete satisfaction over the measures taken so far and also dilated upon future course of action. The NCOC is serving as a nucleus for one window operation to synergise and articulate national effort against COVID-19, optimise informed decision making and ensure implementation of decisions of National Security Committee (NSC) and National Coordination Committee (NCC). Meanwhile, Commander Army Air Defence Command Lieutenant General Hamood Uz Zaman Khan was designated as the chief coordinator of NCOC. STAFF REPORT
'False implication cannot be ruled out': SHC grants bail to LNG magnate BENCH SAYS NAB FAILED TO PROVE ALLEGATIONS OF MONEY LAUNDERING, CORRUPTION AGAINST IQBAL AHMED KaraCHi STAFF REPORT
The Sindh High Court (SHC) has granted post-arrest bail to leading businessman Iqbal Z Ahmed for lack of evidence brought on record so far in a corruption and money laundering case registered by the accountability watchdog. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had arrested Iqbal, who owns Jamshoro Joint Venture Ltd, in September last year over alleged laundering money and in the process causing massive losses to the national exchequer.
In a brief order written on March 31, the two-member bench said that the accused “are private individuals owning private companies, therefore the misuse of authority is out of the question”. “The allegation against the petitioners is that they have shown their income more than their actual earning. The reasons for which have not been found out yet,” the order said, adding that NAB failed to prove that the petitioners “committed any misappropriation, embezzlement, corruption”. “The reference has been filed and prima facie nothing to out point any illegal source
of earnings has been highlighted to give credence to the allegation,” the SHC said, adding NAB has yet to trace the source of the alleged black money. “The petitioners have gotten their companies audited through qualified chartered accountants and copy of the report has been sent to NAB by hand as well as through courier services,” the
SHC bench said. “It is yet to be determined whether the earning shown the petitioners are more than their actual production and have been obtained money laundering or corrupt practices.” Furthermore, Iqbal Z Ahmed is 74 and his health condition is unsatisfactory and his confinement is detrimental to his wellbeing as opined by the medical board. The petitioners Qazi Humayan Fareed, Fasihuddin Ahmed, Raziuddin Ahmed, and Asim Iftikhar have alleged mala fide on part of NAB by filing affidavits… therefore false implication of the petitioners cannot be ruled out. “The guilt of the petitioners as alleged by NAB will be determined by the trial court when the prosecution witnesses will record statement; thus, they can’t be put in detention till then, the order concluded.
04 ISLAMABAD
Thursday, 2 April, 2020
WEATHER UPDATES THURSDAY
240C
110C
FRIDAY
270C
130C
SATURDAY
290C
150C
PRAyER TImINgS FAJR SUNRISE
ZUHR
ASR MAGHRIB ISHA
4:32
12:13
4:46
5:56
6:28
7:53
Lockdown reduces air poLLution in federaL capitaL AIR POLLUTION CAUSES A LARGE NUMBER OF PREMATURE DEATHS EACH YEAR, SAYS WHO ISLAMABAD
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APP
HE federal capital’s virtual lockdown that began on March 25 to contain the risk of a coronavirus outbreak has resulted in a drastic decline in air pollution. Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Deputy Director Labs Dr Mohsina Zubair told APP that this was mainly due to a cut down in traffic. “Large bus fleets of public private offices, schools, colleges and universities are one of the major causes of increased harmful air pollutants in the air,” he explained. “The air quality in the federal capital for consecutive six days since last Friday has remained healthy as ambient pollutants were below the permissible limits,” she said. “For the first time in years, air pollution in the metropolis has reduced to such a low level. However, a particulate matter of 2.5 microns was recorded above 92 microgrammes per meter cube (ug/m3) at the end of last year. That is the highest ever ratio and very hazardous for human
health,” Dr Mohsina said. She added that as per the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) daily air quality report, hazardous environmental pollutant of 2.5 microns (PM2.5) was below the permissible limits of National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS). Dr Mohsina informed that PM2.5 ratio also dropped to a single digit value of 4ug/m3 during the day time as most of
the schools, universities colleges and offices were shut down and minuscule traffic was seen on the roads. The PM2.5 ratio in the air was recorded 16.17 ug/m3 whereas the NEQS allows 35ug/m3 presence in the atmosphere. However, PM2.5 was also below the World Health Organisation (WHO) 24 hours mean of 20 micrograms per meter cube that was recorded for the first
in the federal capital’s ambient air quality history. To a question, she said the EPA staff was divided into two groups to run the business with minimum human resources to contain the spread of coronavirus. “The EPA staff is working on rotation and managing all the work at the department,” she added. It may be noted here that WHO, in a report published last year, had said that air pollution causes a huge number of premature deaths as PM 2.5 could enter human blood through lungs cells. The daily ambient air quality report by EPA, the 24 hours average ratio of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and Sulphur dioxide (SO2) was 12.93 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m³) and 13.3 mg/m³ respectively against the respective National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) of 80 mg/m³ and 120mg/m³. The data was recorded by calibrated air quality monitors fixed at particular positions with proper readings. However, concentrations of PM2.5 during the evening times were recorded slightly high, whereas the overall ambient air quality of the federal capital was moderate today. Any other data from any source presenting ambient air quality of Islamabad was neither verified nor approved by the EPA, the report said.
PESHAWAR INP
Three women of a family died here on Wednesday when the roof of their house suddenly caved here in Swabi district. Police said the tragic incident that occurred at Jalano village killed a woman and her two daughters on the spot. The Yar Hussain police rushed to the spot and retrieved the bodies with the help of residents from the debris of the house.
kp cM’s adviser rejects scarcity of flour, any other daily use commodity PESHAWAR
Homeschooling: perfect way to engage children in learning activities amid lockdown
STAFF REPORT
Advisor to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information Ajmal Wazir has said that with the support of people, the provincial government is taking concrete steps to control Corona pandemic in the province. Briefing newsmen in Peshawar on Wednesday, Ajmal Wazir said that all necessary facilities including masks, safety kits and other material are being dispatched to relevant departments. He said that the Chief Minister has directed to take strict action against hoarders and profiteers causing price hike in the markets. The CM’s Advisor said the results of eight people out of fifteen in Darazinda Quarantine center were tested negative which is a positive sign. The Advisor said there is no scarcity of flour and other daily use commodities in the province.
ISLAMABAD APP
The trend of `home schooling’ that is gaining global popularity can help engage students in educational activities, transform their cognitive abilities through activity-based learning and save them from academic loss amid difficult conditions when schooling is not possible. According to research, students learn more in an open and relax environment provided in-home as compared to the classroom. Shagufta Mahmood, who is associated with the teaching profession from the last 20 years, said: “This is the best time for parents to spend quality time with their children as we have reduced our social and official engagements due to the lockdown”. “Homeschooling can contribute a lot in cognitive nourishment of the children who can be engaged in a variety of indoor educational activities. Especially those who are beginners can be made familiar with sounds, alphabets and words through different available apps,” she said. “Parents can fix some hours for the children starting their schooling to train them for the next stages of their educational life,” she suggested. According to a motivational speaker and expert, Qasim Ali Shah, the education system of Finland, which requires a child to be seven years old for getting admission in school, is considered as the best system in the world. Till the age of seven years, it is the family, including parents, grandparents and older siblings, who train children morally, educate them about a different aspect of life through storytelling and engage them in other healthy learning activities. “During the prevailing lockdown, parents can take a leaf out of Finland’s book and teach their children in a similar manner,” Qasim Shah said.
three women of family die as roof caves in
iHc reserves verdict on petition filed to address public issues during lockdown ISLAMABAD APP
ISLAMABAD: Citizens walk through a disinfecting tunnel at a vegetable and fruit market.
Chitral unprepared for coronavirus, may become outbreak hotspot: MNA CHITRAL INP
Member National Assembly (MNA) Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali has said that coronavirus hit the country a month ago but there is still nothing to control or diagnose the disease in hospitals here, which can lead to the outspread of the virus in Chitral. Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Chitrali said that cramming people into rooms like cattle in the so-called quarantine centres can be a disaster in the making. “This is tantamount to inviting coronavirus. God forbid, if any individual is carrying the virus, he could spread it to all the others, he maintained. “Quarantine means keeping a suspected infected person in a single room and if it is not possible there should be at least six feet distance between two individuals,” he added.
Government buildings in Upper Chitral such as Booni will become breeding centres if we have a single case. Maulana Chitrali also said that those coming from outside Chitral were being kept under the open sky without precautionary measures. He said that although Upper Chitral is now a district, the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital in Booni has not been upgraded to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital. The MNA said despite lack of safety kits, the health department staff members were screening people across Chitral. “Chitral is a backward area with a poor healthcare system and if the coronavirus reaches here it would be a disaster,” he warned. He demanded that the KP government immediately release Rs400 million for Upper Chitral and Rs500 million for Lower Chitral to deal with any possible outbreak of
the virus. Later, the medical superintendent (MS) of the DHQ Hospital Chitral told the MNA that all the four ventilators of the hospital were out of order for years. However, an engineering team has arrived from Peshawar which would soon make the vents operational. The MS also said he had sought 3,000 safety kits but was provided only 100. “We have set up an isolation ward in the hospital in which eight doctors, eight nurses and eight Class IV are working. The safety kits sent by the provincial government can be used by these staff for only one day because they are disposable,’” he added. It is worth mentioning here that some 60 per cent posts of doctors are lying vacant at the District Headquarter Hospital in lower Chitral whereas some 90 posts of doctors in vacant in the entire district.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday reserved its verdict over maintainability of a plea filed for redressal of issues being faced by citizens due to lockdown in the wake of coronavirus. The verdict was reserved by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah. Advocate Abdul Rehman filed the petition. The chief justice asked the petitioner, "Do you know the resources of your state? Are all the citizens doing their duty properly?" He said, “We need to be united and help each other instead of creating new conflicts at this hour of trial and tribulation as the state has limited resources and being its citizens we must fulfill our responsibilities.” He asked the petitioner, "Don’t you have confidence in the government."
world Bank provides 44 ventilators to kp govt PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT
The World Bank on Wednesday provided 44 ventilators to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The ventilators were provided to the KP government on its request. The WB will provide overall 120 ventilators to the provincial government. The provision of ventilators will help in fighting against the COVID-19. Moreover, the World Bank will also provide 0.2 million masks and other safety equipment to the KP government. Earlier on March 39, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry hasd claimed that Pakistan’s locally manufactured ventilators are likely to be handed over to Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
Thursday, 2 April, 2020
Govt commItted to ImplementInG export-drIven Growth strateGy: dawood LaHore
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STAFF REPORT
HE federal government is committed to mitigating the challenges being faced by the country and in this regard would soon implement an export-driven growth strategy, said Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood said on Wednesday. He was talking to Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh through a teleconference. Dawood said the government was rectifying all those matters that went wrong in the past and was taking facilitation steps to ensure wider market access to businessmen. He said the engineering and other sectors were also being focused for exports. The adviser said he was persuading Pakistani manufacturers to send their products outside the country in quantity terms to attain better market share. Speaking on the occasion, LCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh asked the adviser to grant special permission to industries for loading export cargo and release refunds of export-oriented industries on an immediate basis to pump in more liquidity. He appreciated the government’s initiative to enhance the country’s exports growth after the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. Sheikh said the government should revive zero-rating facility for export industries and release income tax refunds of Rs100 billion.
"The government should not charge payments for DTRE and DLTL so that the issue of refunds was not created," he suggested, adding that special permission should be granted for transportation of labour of export industries. The government should re-allow BMR (Balancing, Modernization and Replacement) Tax Credit of 10 per cent under Section 65B of Income Tax Ordi-
nance, the LCCI president recommended. He said to reduce the cost of doing business for the local industry, gas tariff should be reduced and income tax exemption certificates on electricity bills should be allowed for all the industries. Sheikh said the federal and provincial governments needed to publicly announce the approval for exporters, so that all government functionaries i.e adminis-
tration and law enforcers should honour that approval, citing that this announcement would also help media to understand that exporters were allowed by the government to complete their pending export orders. The LCCI president said various essential food items in Pakistan were imported from Australia, Canada and Myanmar, and there was a chance that these countries might stop their exports of essential food items. “The government should have a backup plan of finding substitute markets for importing essential food items on emergency basis.” He said export industries across all sectors, which confirmed export orders, should be allowed to operate during the lockdown period, adding a special mechanism should be devised by the government in this regard. He said workers spent eight hours in factories, so companies could not be held responsible for workers’ conduct outside their work premises subject to the coronavirus. He said premises should not be either raided or sealed in case of possible cases. Sheikh said due to the closure of airspace, the courier companies like DHL and FEDEX were not operating in Pakistan as a result documents of importers were stuck in China, while their consignments had arrived at the Karachi Port. The government should give a special provision to facilitate importers for releasing import consignments against copied documents with the payment of shipping guarantee, which was equal to 100pc of margin value, he suggested.
COVID-19
Finance ministry waives conditions to release development funds iSLamaBad SHAHZAD PARACHA
The Ministry of Finance has waived conditions pertaining to the release of development funds for the last quarter (April-June) of the current fiscal year (FY20) so as to curtail the adverse effects of COVID-19 on the country’s development. According to a letter available with this scribe, the MoF has issued an office memorandum regarding the revised strategy of funds allocation for the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2019-20.
“To ensure smooth flow of development funds and to curtail the adverse effects of COVID-19 on the development interventions, conditions/instructions regarding ways and means, clearance and endorsement of the same by the Finance Division for release of funds for the 4th quarter contained in the above referred letter have been relaxed/waived off,” said a statement issued by the Finance Division. In addition, the ministry stated that other conditions contained in the above referred letters will remain intact. Furthermore, conditions regarding no formal release after 15th May, 2020 and due date of surrender of sav-
ings (April 30, 2020) will also remain enforced. The latest data shows that the federal government released Rs467,146 million till March 27, 2020 for different development projects. The total PSDP of current fiscal year is Rs700 billion. It is pertinent to mention that the MoF, under the approved policy, is bound to release 20pc funds for every project in the first quarter, 30pc for 2nd and 3rd quarters, while 20pc for the 4th quarter against budget allocation for FY20. Besides, an approval of the finance ministry is required for the 4th quarter’s PSDP releases.
Imran fears spike in corona cases, calls for relief donations Continued From Page 01 Pakistan was fortunate to receive necessary medical equipment and expertise from China on priority as the world was facing the grave COVID-19 challenge, he added. He said the entire nation and the government stood with the medical workers for their readiness to handle the difficult health situations. “We will fully support you — our doctors, nurses and paramedic staff — and the nation acknowledge your efforts,” he said. He was briefed that the hospital had constituted a
Corona Response Team with a specific plan in place to deal with the emergency. A separate ICU and isolation ward had been established, besides setting up of seven dispensaries in slum areas to detect persons with symptoms of the infectious disease, he was further told. The prime minister was also apprised that operation theatres had the facility of live telecast of surgeries, usually for the purpose of the distant advisory opinion from physicians and as the educational activity for medical students.
‘WILL EMERGE STRONGER AFTER BATTLING COVID-19’: The PM hoped that the people of Pakistan would emerge as a stronger nation by fighting and winning the war against coronavirus with unity, faith, discipline, and sagacity. “Nothing is impossible. Every difficulty is considered as a test for us. Allah Almighty has repeatedly said in the Holy Quran that He continues to test our faith. And I hope this [Pakistani] nation will emerge as a great and stronger nation from this test,” he said while participating in a private television’s live telethon held for raising funds for the Prime Minister’s Fund for COVID-19.
SBP launches financial literacy online game KaraCHi MEIRYUM ALI
The National Financial Literacy Program for Youth (NFLP-Y), which is run jointly by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), and the National Institute of Banking and Finance (NIBAF), has launched its online e-portal and game on Wednesday. According to a statement released on Wednesday by the SBP, this is Pakistan’s first online financial literacy course, delivered through an interactive game in both English and Urdu. The game targets three agegroups – Children (9-12), Adolescents’ (13-17), and Youth (18-29), and can be accessed
through a desktop browser, or on mobile phones on the Google Play store and the Apple App store. The game is called ‘POMPAK – Learn to Earn’. POMPAK is short for Pakistan pomegran-
ates. Users follow two entrepreneurial cousins, Shireen, a city girl, and Ali, who lives on a farm. The two grow a pomegranate tree on Ali’s farm, expand it to an orchard, and eventually set up a juice shop in the city
that helps pay for their respective university fees. The idea of the game is to help the families create a successful business. As the game progresses, users earn points, or pomegranate seeds. The game’s objective, according to the SBP, is to strengthen Pakistan children and youth’s money management skills, and improve their understanding of finance. Users learn about saving, budgeting, borrowing, and banking, among many other topics. Each topic is followed with interactive questions, and users who complete the course are awarded with a Certificate of Financial Literacy.
NEWS
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lahore administration says raiwind residents being cared for amid lockdown LaHore SHAHAb OMER
As the Raiwind lockdown entered its second day, Lahore’s administration said that they were taking care of the residents’ needs while also disinfecting the vicinity to curb the spread of coronavirus. Deputy Commissioner Danish Afzal told Pakistan Today that they have distributed food commodities to about 1,000 families which would last them 10 days and cooked food has also been distributed among 600 persons. “This practice will continue till the situation eases,” he added. He also said about 900 persons have been placed in quarantine and the Tableeghi Markaz area has also been disinfected. “This lockdown is for the safety of the people because we want to save them from this pandemic,” he added. DIG (Operations) Rai Babar Saeed said that about 100,000 persons are under lockdown at Raiwind. “To restrict movement, we have deputed 500 security personnel. We are taking these steps for the safety of residents and we expect them to cooperate with us,” he added. Dr Nadeem Ashraf, a member of Majlis-e-Shoora of Tableeghi Markaz, said that they were completely cooperating with the authorities. “We appreciate the steps they have taken because these measures are important to control this pandemic. I have requested all people to abide by the government’s policies during these difficult times,” he added. After the confirmation of 37 cases among the members of Tableeghi Jamaat, the authorities had closed all pharmacies, grocery stores in the vicinity and had all residents to stay inside their homes. This scribe also held telephonic contact with some residents of the vicinity. While some of them completely supported the decision, others expressed reservations over not being able to meet their financial needs, but all of them agreed that this step had been taken for their safety.
Thursday, 2 April, 2020
06 COMMENT
Covid-19 through a behavioral economist’s eyes
Cabinet decisions The worst isn’t over by a long shot
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hILe required to fully concentrate on saving the country from the ravages of Covid-19, the PTI government continues to be fixated on the opposition. speaking to the media soon after the latest Cabinet meeting, Information sAPM firdous Ashiq Awan accused the Leader of the Opposition of doing nothing to help out the nation and instead criticising the government for the sake of criticism. This was because Mr shahbaz sharif had called for the formation of a parliamentary committee to oversee the spending of the coronavirusrelated funds. similarly Dr Awan told that Prime Minister Imran Khan was annoyed with the PPP’s sindh government for not easing the movement of goods transport from Karachi. What is more, the PM had tasked Rangers in sindh to take appropriate measures for movement of the trucks and opening of industries amidst a complete lockdown ordered by the province’s Chief Minister. This amounted to promoting confrontation between the Rangers and the provincial administration. A perception is growing that Mr Khan is opposed to ordering a lockdown on account of a powerful lobby comprising a group of builders, industrialists and big business houses who care more for profit than for preserving human life. It is argued that the shortage of labour at the Karachi port coupled with the absence of transport on the roads has caused a blockage of imported food items leading to higher prices. The two factors can only lead to a slight increase in prices but no mortalities, as the sindh government has exempted the food and medicine industry from closure. The lifting of the lockdown before isolating the corona-positive cases would expose the whole province and then the entire country to the pandemic, causing a spurt in the number of deaths. Dr Awan only confirmed the opposition’s suspicions when she said Mr Khan had asked all PTI leaders, MnAs and MPAs to help in the distribution of the corona relief fund. The admission further justifies the opposition’s demand for a parliamentary committee to ensure that the huge amount of Rs 1.4 trillion is not used for political purposes. Transparency requires that the government tell the nation if the state’s important assets are also being mortgaged to back the issuance of Rs 700 billion Domestic sukuk Bonds(DsBs) as reported by the media.
Insights from the discipline Dr aneel Salman
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nfeCTIOUs diseases like the Black Death, the plague, cholera, spanish flu and sARs have shaped history and economies. The new coronavirus (Covid-19) is a threat to both health and economy and will be a new chapter in history that will shape the global economy. so far with no vaccine, prevention and individual changes in behavior and lifestyle seems to be an optimal mitigation strategy. It is vital for the Government of Pakistan to understand human nature when drawing up public policy, as policy failures occur due to lack of cooperation, empathy, and trust between governments and citizens. Classic human behavior in such scenarios is procrastination, denial, and self-rationalizing. The majority of Pakistan’s populace depict such behavior. Both developed and developing countries have taught us the following lessons: hospitals are not the frontline in this viral war. Medics only treat the fallen. The virus doesn’t spread, we spread it. There is no medical solution yet. We are the OnLY solution. In order to have the kind of behavior that makes us realise this, it should be easy, attractive, social and timely. Behavioral economics has shown successful interventions in advancing preemptive measures. Containment and treatment is highly dependent on individual decision-making which, ironically in this case, is a societal matter. In other words, when facing infection control interventions, individual behavior is critical not only for the self but for society as a whole. As per orthodox economics ‘Man is Rational’, and if this was the case the management of such a communicable disease would be very simple and straightforward. Interventions like prevention, protection and containment would be implemented efficiently and effectively. Unfortunately, this homo sapiens is not at all rational, rather uses availability heuristic and exhibits a state of panic as fear hovers around him or her. In public health campaigns, fear is used as a tool to change human behavior but research like Ruiter and Kok in 2005 revealed that warnings have limited impact on behavior. The way social media and media channels are showing the horrors of Covid-19, in a short time, people will rationalize this effect or put their heads in the ground like an ostrich. Behavioral economics suggests that people listen to positive information and avoid negative. Covid-19 should not be discussed as a virus that requires “social distanc-
Afghan peace process lurches forward The government agrees on a negotiating team
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ITheR the UsA’s threat to hold back $1 billion in aid worked, or the Taliban’s refusal to accept the initial government negotiating team did. Whatever the reason, the endorsement by former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah of the government negotiating team opened the way on Tuesday for a resumption of the peace process which had begun with an agreement between Us representatives and the Taliban, and which was supposed to continue with another negotiation over the political and constitutional future of the country. This dialogue was supposed to be preceded by a prisoner swap between the Kabul government and the Taliban. President Ashraf Ghani baulked at this, however, and as the Taliban made this swap a precondition of further talks, the entire peace agreement was jeopardized. Accompanying Mr Abdullah’s endorsement, the arrival of a Taliban delegation in Kabul to help supervise the prisoner swap indicated that President Ghani had agreed to letting the prisoner swap go ahead, thus abandoning his position that the fate of Taliban prisoners in government hands (or Afghan national Army prisoners in Taliban hands) was to be a bargaining chip in the intraAfghan talks. It is noticeable that whereas Mr Ghani objected to the prisoner-swap, the Taliban had objected to the negotiating team, arguing that it did not represent the Afghan opposition. Mr Abdullah is still aggrieved over his second successive presidential election loss last winter, but overlooked his claim to be President to endorse the negotiating team. It seems possible, indeed likely, that the path to a solution will hit obstacles like this. however, it should not be forgotten that the negotiations are in the hands of the UsA, which has got enough boots on the ground in Afghanistan to make it worth the while of the Taliban to keep engaged, as well as the Kabul government. The UsA wants to withdraw its troops before the presidential election, which places an outer time limit on any negotiations. All parties engaged in talks are aware of this, and it cannot help being a factor in the talks. It is perhaps unfortunate that the peace process depends on the domestic politics of a country two oceans and a continent away, but those regional powers which desire the peace of the region have to work their way around this.
Parkha Durrani Will democracy survive the digital age?
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hese words explain the perspective of survival of democracy in the age of digitalization. Democracy is viewed as the best possible form of government globally. It has a just electing system where everyone has an equal vote and every opinion matter. however, voters need all the information before making a decision to select the best candidate in an election; like a patient needs all the information about all the medicines available to fight a disease to choose the most effective treatment. Right to information is a pre-requisite to democracy all around the world. Information about government and public funds belongs to the citizens under Article 19A of the Constitution of Pakistan as a fundamental right. The only problem is a flood of misinformation in the digital age which is being advertised to citizens through the social media. It is more accessible to them as an average person would check social media everyday but, wouldn’t research about government and public funds information, probably in his lifetime. It also gives social media the advantage of showing selective information to users or to release information at a time when it can make the popular political opinion deviate. The debate over the power of social media to control democracy, by internal or external elements, came into the international discourse in the wake of the 2016 Us presidential election. The findings of the Robert Mueller Report, submitted to Us Congress, presented conclusive proof of Russian involvement in Us elections through false online advertisements and campaigns. It was the undeniable proof that democracies can be controlled by controlling the information. Indirect manipulation of voters through digitally disseminated content robs them of making an informed decision. The absolute control over information nullifies the basic principle of democracy, which is of jus-
Editor Umar Aziz
Asher John
Executive Editor
Deputy Editor
Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965
Dr Aneel Salman is a Behavioral Economist based in Islamabad. He can be reached at aneelsalman@gmail,com
The digital age exposes the vulnerabilities of democracy
Arif Nizami
Joint Editor
down the country would be virus-free (which our PM has still not made a “U-turn” on…yet). This implies interventions need to cause behavioral changes lasting a long time and continuously monitored using bioindicators. Think of this as an opportunity for changing lifestyles, behaviors, more collectiveness, long-term health benefits and positive environmental impacts. Isolation is one of the measures to fight the virus but has anegative psychological impact on well-being, making people feel lonely. The government should encourage online social groups and establish online support structures, incentivize internet and phone companies so people have alternatives to fight loneliness by connecting virtually. Let’s stop being so generic and focus on more specific things families, who are self-isolating with elderly and vulnerable members, can do and how (as in the UK, whatsapp groups are helping families set up daily routine timetables to provide more structure to pass time instead of binge-watching sitcoms or surfing news channels). Media in Pakistan has a new challenge on how to communicate with citizens. Besides speed, they need to be honest, credible and more importantly, empathetic. so far, they have gone above and beyond to spread the right messages but when you see a talk show host talking to a studio filled with a packed audience; or a reporter without a mask in the middle of a market place, surrounded by a dozen people waiting to get into the frame, you tend to believe them far less when told to “stay home to stay safe”. One needs to use a ‘visual hammer’ to convey their message meaningfully. To prevent a recession, governments should spend freely on their health system without fearing deficits. Bond markets will buy long-term securities. Behave as you would in wartime. In this crisis, the Government should provide social incentives to public officials and provinces which are positively fighting the virus to create a sense of confidence among citizens, rather than the feeling that “if they want a lockdown, it’s their choice. We think one should wait and see what works.” We should monitor the progress of various ministries and provinces and reward instantly not in monetary terms, but through acknowledging them (sure, China has done well, but sindh and KPK are also taking the fight head on). If we want to motivate change, we have to rethink our strategy (if there is one, which I don’t really see anywhere except in a nicely drafted and formatted policy framework which might as well have been written in Dothraki). fear induces inaction and the thrill of gains induces action.
Digitalisation, decisions, divided democracy!
Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami
Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad
ing”, rather the focus should be on calling for “physical distancing with social solidarity.” According to Cass sunstein, a harvard professor and author of Nudge, whenever an event like Covid19 triggers negative emotions, people tend to disregard how likely it is to occur and focus exclusively on its potential impact points, which is called “Probability neglect.” In Pakistan, the issue is not just the content of message communicating a risk (hint: graphic information is generally best), but also involves the timing, medium and messenger. The statements by Prime Minister Imran Khan have created a trust deficit in the government (if India with more people below the poverty line can enforce curfew, why can’t we; with people not out and about and businesses closed, how is the PM expecting the daily wager to benefit and nOT transmit or catch the virus?). And because most did not really believe him, it is equally hard to believe the information being delivered by his government’s medical experts (the PIMs director made us all feel very safe saying the ten-bed quarantine is quite sufficient for the crisis). In short, if you don’t trust the messenger, you will never trust the message. Covid-19 poses an unknown risk which is multiplying with every passing second if no stringent measures are taken. In such situations, citizens exhibit two kind of behaviors─ either they will act selfishly, ignore all social protocols and start panic buying which we have already seen in different cities allowing artificial price hikes and shortages of sanitizers, wipes, and even masks. Or, people act extremely altruistically, helping others in chivalrous ways by making social groups and helping the daily wagers and punishing those who selfishly take advantage of the situation. It is rather sad the government seems to think the Pakistani people will not act selflessly to help those in need when push really comes to shove. In a 2015 study Kwok et al revealed that on average, we touch our face 23 times per hour. so yes, hand hygiene an essential and inexpensive preventive method to prevent viral transmission. haushofer and Metcalf revealed in their study that installing lowcost, colourful soap dispensers, toy-like soaps for children and emotional hygiene promotion campaigns are effective in stimulating hand washing behavior. Preventive interventions reduce viral incidence in a greater than proportional degree due to the effect of indirect protection. Using behavioral insights, it is crucial that the government focus on creative messaging through people who are at the centre of a network and are “good” at spreading information among peers. With this ongoing crisis and Pakistan’s institutional capacity one cannot be sure that with 10-15 days lock-
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have realistic expectations, tice and distribution of power. It makes democracy an Considering at International level, if the politiillusion being controlled by a single entity or authority having the citizen’s input it choose. Voters may think cians can really enter an argument with the tech githey are free to choose but, in reality they are being ants from a position of power as technology as now manipulated to make certain choices without them re- a superstructure dictating political system. ensuring the amalgamation, if technological alizing. It is the most sophisticated and modern form of authoritarianism, totalitarianism, colonialism and courses and people with social sciences to have wholesome policies. As policy makers are not techimperialism or everything anti-democratic. so how social media is used to change the popular nical people how will they make sure that Tech giants political opinion? According to the investigative jour- are not doublecrossing them? Offering technology companies, compensation in nalists, data scientists, political scientists and whistleblowers from the data mining firm that ran the political the form of subscription fees or some other mechanism in exchange for campaign of the then futhem to stop data mining ture Us President, Donand micro-targeting the ald Trump; data was with advertisecollected on around 50 Consider Pakistan further, as it aims user ments, as the people are million Us voters without highly dependent upon consent through their soto digitalize by 2020, how will it social media despite cial media accounts. After cyber security risks. careful study of the psyensure the protection of data when have a safety-first chological and political there will be no policy on protection, mechanism while digiinclination of these users, tizing state administrathey were targeted with or about a situation where massive tion and civil services. digital content (mostly The case of Camfalse) to make their politdata is leaked, or any hijack of plane bridge Analytica showed ical opinion deviate. The or train, or cyber terror attacks by that even a superpower advertised content helped like the UsA can be achieve the desired renon-state actors dodged by the evil of sults and Trump ended up technology, so consider winning the elections. the situation of developWhat would be the ing and under developfuture of democracy in a world where it is not only possible to control who peo- ing states and how vulnerable they are in terms of ple vote for, but winning an election is now a scalable such soft power and how this will result in lethality. solution available for purchase. has technology be- Consider Pakistan further, as it aims to digitalize by come a superstructure that, from now on, will dictate 2020, how will it ensure the protection of data when democracy, economy, society and everything else? Is there will be no policy on protection, or about a situit possible to break the monopoly of tech giants in a ation where massive data is leaked, or any hijack of world where people are addicted to social media and plane or train, or cyber terror attacks by non-state acprefer customized online advertisements and services tors. Choose which country is trustworthy to take at the cost of privacy intrusion? Will you or I stop guidance from in cyber security matters. That will not using social media or at the least express unease or cause future compromises in the system. even rage over user data leaks, online misinformation Parkha Durrani is a freelance columnist and unchecked political advertisements?
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Thursday, 2 April, 2020
COMMENT 07 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
Skyrocketing prices of essential commodities
A meditation on death in time of viral fear All religions envisage an afterlife M J AKBAR
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nly atheists believe in death. Theists belong to infinity. For them, a funeral is merely transition of the atman, rooh or soul from existence on earth to a new natural beyond life. God is synonymous with life, not death. In every religion an eternal God has promised eternity to his human creation. Clearly the spirit, once released from human bondage, finds a far more democratic ethos. There is no distinction of social, financial or political rank in heaven, or indeed hell. In Hinduism, divinity becomes plural, but the human being cannot rise beyond the semi-divine. In Hinduism and Christianity, God can become man; man cannot become God. In Islam tauhid─ and its equivalent in Judaism─ makes God unitary and indivisible. The origins of Hinduism lie in the Vedas. The Rig Veda is, an anthology of 1028 Sanskrit hymns originating in the Indus Valley civilization that flourished some 4000 years ago. In the Vedic beginning, there was neither existence nor non-existence, “neither death nor immortality”. yama, elder son of the sun, was the first man to die. He became, thereby, pathfinder to the afterlife, as well as our collective creditor: every mortal is in his debt by virtue of birth. “Go forth,” says a hymn to the dead, “go forth on those ancient paths on which our ancient fathers passed beyond. There you shall see the two kings, yama and Varuna, rejoicing in the sacrificial drink” The next verse is an exhortation: “Unite with the fathers, with yama, with the rewards of your sacrifices and good deeds, in the highest heaven. leaving behind all imperfections, go back home again; merge with a glorious body.” And so, not only do the dead get a new life they also get a glorious body to replace the one incarcerated. Death is a return, not a departure. The funeral chant in Islam is a verse from the Quran: Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’oon:from Allah we come, to Allah we go. Death is an episodic fact, a necessary prelude to the judgement day from whence begins the eternal existence in heaven or hell. This life is a mere probation, for “Every soul shall have a taste of death; and only on judgment day shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the fire and admitted to the garden will have attained the object [of life]. For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception” [Surah 3:185]. There are graphic descriptions of heaven and hell in Surah 76, among others. Heaven, the eternal home for those who have pleased Allah, is a garden of bliss, with fountains, mansions, rivers, fruits, carpets, chaste companions, abundance, joy and tasnim, a drink superior to the purest wine. There is no vain discourse, and therefore peace and security. There is no envy, worry, toil, sorrow. Hell, in contrast, is the abode for those who dismissed religion as an amusement. Their fate is to drink boiling, fetid water, burn in a furious fire and plead for an end that will never come. At the bottom of hell grows the tree of Zaqqum, as bitter as the food. There is much more. It is up to the human being to choose his or her destiny in the next life. “lost indeed are they who treat it as a falsehood that they must meet Allah─ until on a sudden the hour is on them, and they say: ‘Ah! woe unto us that we took no thought of it’, for they bear their burdens on their backs, and evil indeed are the burdens that they bear” [Surah 6:31]. There is no confusion in the relationship be-
tween this life and the next. As the powerful Surah on qiyamah, or resurrection, puts it: man will be evidence against himself. The search for this evidence is constant; two guardian angels, one sitting to the right and the other to the left note every word spoken. The first question after death is about the deceased’s conviction in Allah and His Prophet: if the answer is correct there is a pleasant wait till Paradise. This quiescent state is known as barzakh when the deceased wait till judgement or “till the day they are raised up”[Surah 23:100]. Perhaps the most powerful passage in the Quran about life and death is in Surah 50, Qaf, which contains the famous verse that Sufis cite to claim proximity to Allah: “It was We who created man, and We know what dark suggestions his soul makes to him, for We are nearer to him than [his] jugular vein”. Verse 19 says: “And the stupor of death will bring truth”. your destination will be determined when the trumpet of judgement is blown and an angel will drive each soul to bear witness. There is no escape from judgement: “The word changes not before Me, and I do not the least injustice to My servants” [Surah 50:29]. The Persians have a term for death: Shahre-Khamoshiyan [City of Silence]. Allah breaks that silence with justice. *** In his first letter to the Corinthians, St Paul dwells at length on the ultimate existentialist question, the mystery of death. He is challenging the ancient exoneration of excess, and its inherent sins, encapsulated in the aphorism: ‘let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die’. Paul answers: “lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this imperishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’.” This is followed by the much-quoted lines: “O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?” There is eternal repose in heaven, a promise abundant through both the Old and new Testaments. In his second letter, St Peter tells the faithful to “wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” echoing the revelation of the apocalypse to St John: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” Clearly, something to look forward to after an earthly life filled with misery, poverty, anxiety. The God of the Bible is, in essence, precisely the same as the Almighty of all faiths: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end”. Alpha is genesis, when heaven and earth were the first in the sequence of creation; and in the end is liberation, the return from earth
to “Our Father, who art in heaven”. As the Bible puts it, the last enemy to be destroyed is death. *** So what then of science, the buttress and rationale of those who dismiss God as a myth, a prop for the intellectually weak and perennially frightened? Science uses evidence and enquiry as the basis for a doctrine like the big bang theory of creation, which postulates that the universe began with a “primeval atom” some 14 billion years ago, and sneers at those who accept truth as the mysterious outpouring from a mysterious, invisible, unfathomable eternal being in the sky. let us set aside the temptation to treat the religious model as a metaphor for the scientific; or suggest that 14 billion years in the latest chapter of scientific chronology and a day in Genesis are merely different interpretations of our still evolving notions of time. This will merely displease votaries of both groups and persuade neither. But a book sparked a counterintuitive question: does the advance of science confirm that creation was a miracle? let us look at the product for a moment rather than the producer. The author Bill Bryson erupted into the publishing universe as a big-bang travel writer, but has now emerged through a form of Darwinian literary evolution as a popular chronicler of serious science, with the unique ability to enliven facts with a gentle sense of humour. Here are a very few, randomly cherry-picked facts from his densely-packed book, The Body: *Every day we breathe about 20,000 times, processing an average of 12,500 litres of air, taking over seven million breaths each year. Each time we breathe, we exhale 25 sextillion molecules of oxygen [even the thought of such a number is exhausting]; n The eye can distinguish between two and 7.5 million colours, and darts on an average of four times every second; n We can detect up to a trillion odours; n The heart beats more than 3.5 billion times during a normal lifespan; n Every day the heart, which weighs less than a pound, dispenses 6,240 litres of blood; n nerve signals travel at 270 mph. n Sneeze droplets [the latest weapon of mass destruction] can travel a distance of eight metres, drifting in suspension like a sheet for up to ten minutes; n Around 75% of the brain is water, the rest fat and protein. living in dark silence, the brain churns more information in 30 seconds than the Hubble Space Telescope can process in 30 years; n One cubic millimetre of brain, equivalent to about grain of sand, can hold information equivalent to a billion copies of Bryson’s book. An average brain has the capacity to contain the entire digital content of the world, as measured in 2019. let’s not even go near neurons, or gape at the notion that the eyes send a hundred billion signals to the brain every second. My question is: could all this incredible machinery happen by sheer accident? you have a signature brain. you be the judge. Mobashar Jawed Akbar is a leading Indian journalist and author. He is the Editor-in-Chief of The Sunday Guardian. He has also served as Editorial Director of India Today. He tweets at: @mjakbar.
SIr, I am writing to you to express my deep concern over the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities which is making the life of the common people very hard. The Government has failed miserably in its promise of keeping inflation low. The prices of essential commodities such as pulses, vegetables, cereals, cooking oil, sugar, rice, and petrol, etc. have been rising unrelentingly. All measures to bring the prices down have failed. I just want to ask the concerned ministry and authorities what is happening. The poor are desperate, while the rich are having a gala! Why does the Government not put a rein on inflation? Why is the Government PDS such a big failure? See the paradox! On one hand we have food grains worth millions of rupees rotting in the FCI godowns, and on the other hand, the poor and the middle classes of our country are not getting the grain and pulses at reasonable price. Why does the Government not make these food grain and pulses available to the common people? Once the Government will supply these food items into the market, the prices will automatically go down. Besides, the Government need to act strictly against the hoarding and black-marketing of food items. Through the columns of your esteemed daily I appeal to the concerned ministry to look into the matter and take steps to alleviate people’s troubles. MAAz AzHER Karachi
Water supply issue? I write to you to express my concern and worries about the water supply issue and I believe that you will help me in waking up the sleeping officers of Municipal corporation authorities! Our locality is facing drastic undersupply of water. The complication of the issue is quite synthetic. The people of our sector (G13-Islamabad) are facing this problem for many years. I’m not familiar with the thing that why this issue is taking place but people from our locality noticed that the houses with a little higher ramp in front of their houses are facing this problem but the houses on the surface are also facing it. So, people are helpless and they’re being mistreated by the government because the tanker committee is not writing down the complaints of people and if they do, they do it once in two weeks and because of that people have to order the private tanker and they are paying double amount for this. We requested the Municipal Commissioner to provide a new water facility in our locality but to no avail. The Municipal committees have quite an uninterested attitude towards providing public facilities to people. People have been facing this difficulty for many years now. Through the help of your newspaper I wish to draw the attention of my concerned Ministry and local authorities towards the severity of this trouble. I also request the people to use water sensibly. I hope you will assist me in this cause by publishing my letter in your newspaper. IzzA EEMAn Islamabad
Child marriages CHIlD marriages have been one of the serious issues, especially in developing countries. Pakistan also facing this problem, children under eighteen are forcefully contract into marriage by their family elders in rural areas. specially girls are going through this issue. The girls of the extremely poverty-ridden families in the slums of the towns and cities of villages are found to be married before 15. According to research every year at least 12 million girls marry before the age of 18. It's due to poverty and illiteracy. The parents of their families can't afford to send their girls to high schools and can't provide them with job. This later causes different types of health issues such as obstetric fistula, cervical cancer and many other sexually transmitted infectious diseases like HIV. There is a high chance of death during childbirth. Human rights and many other organizations are working against child marriages by doing awareness programs, sessions etc, But still there are no such fruitful results. Child marriage is still in practice and situation is becoming worst day by day. Government should make strong law against child marriages, and also develop educational institutes in backward areas because illiteracy and poverty is the main reason of child marriage. JAVERIyA KHAn Karachi
Pakistan’s battle THE world is in the midst of the worst pandemic covid-19 which is commonly known as Coronavirus. This virus spreads in 176 countries and 225,000 cases have been reported around the including 25,000 deaths. The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared covid-19, a globe pandemic due to its fast engulfing of the world. The countries where the infection has reached have closed schools, colleges and universities to keep their citizens safe from dangerous viruses. They also block their main and populated cities and apply curfew. Saudi Arabia has stopped foreign pilgrims from entering the country. It is clear that if Hajj pilgrim begins in July, the cases will be extremely high because millions of people come together from every corner of the world and it could be a grave threat. Currently, Pakistan is also facing deadly Coronavirus. As per reports more than 1,762 people have been diagnosed in Pakistan and 20 have died. Although doctors and nurses are spending sleepless nights serving the patients tirelessly, cases are increasing steadily due to fewer allocation of budget on health and lacking medical equipment. Our government is doing every possible thing to prevent from deadly Coronavirus but citizens are taking it lightly and spoiling every order from the government and forcing the government for a long time curfew. As a patriotic nation we should assist our government to get rid of the epidemic Coronavirus. SAMEER uMRAnI Malir Karachi
Thursday, 2 April, 2020
08 WORLD VIEW
Have I already Had coronavIrus? How would I know and wHat sHould I do? ExpErts
THERE WAS A STUDY IN ICELAND, WHICH TESTED A LARGE SEGMENT OF ITS POPULATION, AND 50% OF THE PEOPLE WHO TESTED POSITIVE HAD NO SYMPTOMS
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Danielle renwicK
OVID-19 symptoms vary widely, and undertesting in many countries means that many people may have already had the coronavirus without having received a positive diagnosis. Is it possible to find out, and how should you behave if you think you may have been infected? Is there any way to know whether someone has had Covid-19 in the past? Dr William Hillmann: At this point, we don’t have a test to tell that. We are developing antibody tests to check for a prior infection, but those aren’t ready for clinical use yet. The only definitive way to know that you’ve had it is to get tested while you have it and to have that test be positive. Could I have had it and been asymptomatic? Hillmann: Coronavirus is actually quite a significant spectrum of symptoms, from
people who are entirely asymptomatic and would have no idea that they have it to people with very mild, cold-like symptoms – runny nose, congestion, sore throat – to people with more flu-like symptoms – high fevers, muscle aches, shortness of breath and cough. All the way up to people with severe illness, who we’re seeing in the hospital with respiratory failure, requiring ICU care. (Editor’s note: recent reports suggest that loss of smell and taste are also signs of Covid-19 infection.) What percentage of carriers are asymptomatic? Dr David Buchholz: Right now in New York, we’re only testing the sickest possible people. So we have no idea. However, there was a study in Iceland, which tested [a large segment of its] population, and 50% of the people who tested positive had no symptoms. Are people who are asymptomatic also contagious? Hillmann: A significant proportion of people who are totally asymptomatic are contagious for some portion of time. We just don’t know [for how long] at this point, because we don’t have the kind of testing available to screen for asymptomatic infections. When people are symptomatic, they’re contagious. A day or two before they become symptomatic, they’re likely contagious as
well. A virus builds up and starts to shed, and then after symptoms resolve, people can still be contagious for a couple of days. We have some evidence of viral shed even a couple of weeks after symptoms are resolved. It’s hard to know if that’s actual live virus, which is still able to infect somebody, or if that’s just dead virus that the body is shedding. Should someone behave differently if they think, but don’t know for certain, that they have already had it? Buchholz: We all have to be role models. If we’re all in it together, we all should be doing social distancing. Hillmann: Since there’s no real way to know at this point who might have had it, unless you’re symptomatic, you get a swab and are definitively diagnosed with it, I would just act as if you hadn’t had it. Keep doing all of those things that we all should be doing at this point: social distancing and hand hygiene. If I think I may have had it, do I have an ethical obligation to tell people I came in contact with? Even if it may in fact just have been a cold? Buchholz: I would, absolutely. I’m in New York, and it was definitely in the community before we knew it. So, yeah, any family members and close friends, maybe
End the shutdown JUDGE ANDREW NAPOLITANO RECENTLY WROTE, BUSINESS CLOSURES, RESTRICTIONS ON ASSEMBLY AND MOVEMENT, AND QUARANTINES ARE NOT CONSTITUTIONALLY PERMISSIBLE UNDER SOME MAGIC ‘EMERGENCY’ DOCTRINE Editors Mises institute
The shutdown of the American economy by government decree should end. The lasting and farreaching harms caused by this authoritarian precedent far outweigh those caused by the COVID-19 virus. The American people—individuals, families, businesses—must decide for themselves how and when to reopen society and return to their daily lives. Neither the Trump administration nor Congress has the legal authority to shut down American life absent at least baseline due process. As Judge Andrew Napolitano recently wrote, business closures, restrictions on assembly and movement, and quarantines are not constitutionally permissible under some magic “emergency” doctrine. At a minimum, the federal government must show potential imminent harm by specific infected individuals at some form of hearing or trial. These due process requirements are not suspended. State and local officials may claim, or even possess, lawful police powers to shut down their communities. We offer no analysis of such powers or claims under the myriad of state constitutions and authorizing legislation. But they should resist exercising these powers. The governor of Virginia, in particular, deserves admonition for unilaterally imposing a lengthy period of virtual house arrest. We do not know, and cannot yet know, how many Americans will become sick or die from the virus. We do know that predictions regarding infection and death rates are highly unreliable. Even actual deaths attributable to COVID-19 are not so easy to count, as Italy has discovered. Age, general health, and comorbidity are difficult variables to assess, and people may die “with” the virus but not “from” it. It is also very difficult to assess the lethality of the virus relative to previously known types of flu and colds. To date, COVID-19 deaths in the US are far fewer than deaths in ordinary flu seasons or from past pandemics such as the H1N1 virus. This understanding is critically important to put the virus, and the government response to it, in perspective. Even during past pandemics, depressions, and world wars, Americans went to work. In 1850, French economist Frédéric Bastiat helped the world understand the “seen and unseen costs” of state policies. It is simple to see how quarantines and lockdowns will slow the spread of COVID-19. It is critical, but not so simple, to see the costs and harms caused by the economic shutdown. Only then can we rationally understand the
tradeoffs involved. How many Americans suffering from other illnesses cannot see a doctor now? How many Americans will lose their jobs, their life savings, their retirement prospects, and their incalculable feeling of self-worth? How many will succumb to depression, drug or alcohol abuse, and suicide? How many will lose their homes, divorce their spouses, or suffer abuse? How many will never recover in their careers? How many small businesses, including the vital ones of doctors, dentists, and veterinarians, will vanish from your community? How many young people will “fail to launch”? Worse still, will grocery stores and gas stations remain open and stocked? Will crime spike? Will the American social fabric, already thin from politics, tear apart? These questions are not rhetorical. All of these things happened, to a degree, following the Great Recession of 2008. They will happen again—very soon—if we fail to act immediately. On April 1, millions of Americans will not pay rent or mortgages. Millions of small businesses will shutter, just as many large employers such as Macy’s, Kohl’s, airlines, and hotels already have. Millions of service workers are unemployed already, but many more jobs will be lost. The effects will cascade. There is no conflict between humanitarian and economic concerns; in fact, they are flipsides of the same coin. A poorer America will be a much less healthy America, one more vulnerable to future illness and disease. Technology, modern medicine, and market actors can address a virus; already we see entrepreneurs producing cheaper ventilators and doctors using cheap generic drugs with very promising results. This local, bottom-up approach is the only effective way to confront the virus. The federal government, as we see now and have in the past, is comically incapable of competence in times of crisis. On a fundamental level, freedom really is more important than security—or, in this case, an illusion of security. We all demonstrate this in our personal lives every day, from flying to driving to riding bicycles, to consuming unhealthy food and drink simply because we like it. Security has never been the sole or even primary goal for a country born in rebellion. Government cannot decide what aspects of our lives are essential or nonessential. The American people cannot simply sit at home and wait for government checks written on funds that government does not have. End the shutdown.
Dr David Buchholz, senior founding medical director, primary care, assistant professor of pediatrics, Columbia University Irving medical centre.
somebody you work next to, I think I would just alert them, especially if it was in the last 14 days. If it’s been more than 14 days, they would have gotten sick by now if they had significant exposure. Hillmann: It’s up to every individual about what they feel is right. If somebody is diagnosed with a case of coronavirus, I might feel a little bit more strongly that they should tell people because if you’re in close contact with a healthcare worker, it could have implications for precautions that healthcare worker needs to take.
Dr William Hillmann, associate inpatient physician director at Massachusetts general hospital.
If I’ve had it, can I get it again? Buchholz: There’s not been any evidence that anyone’s gotten it more than once. Someone with a normal immune system that can react to the virus and get better should have immunity for quite some time, at least a year, if not lifelong. There have been reports out of China suggesting people are testing positive for Covid-19 a second time. Most scientists think it is an issue around the inaccuracy of the testing and not that people are having two separate cases of the disease.
The Swedish alternative: Coronavirus as a grand gamble CountEr CurrEnts Dr Binoy KaMpMarK
As draconian lockdowns, punitive regimes and surveillance become the norm of the coronavirus world, Sweden has treaded more softly in the field. This is certainly in contrast to its Scandinavian cousins, Denmark and Norway. The rudiments of a life uninterrupted generally remain in place. Cafes, restaurants and shops, for the most part, remain open and stocked. As do gyms and cinemas. Vibrant after-ski parties persist, much to the bemused horror of those across the border. Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, embracing the principle of voluntariness over coercion, has issued warnings to citizens to keep travel down to a minimum, avoiding anything non-essential. The traditional age group – those over 70 – have been told to mind their movements and stay at home. In the prime minister’s words during a televised speech, “Us adults need to be exactly that: adults. Not spread panic or rumours. No one is alone in this crisis, but each person carries a heavy responsibility.” Despite all of this, Sweden’s authorities show that they do have a foot on the brake, albeit one applied with slow motion caution. Gatherings used to be limited to 500 – that confidently embraced number has now been reduced to 50, a measure that will be policed. Bars can only provide table service. Colleges and universities have moved to a virtual format in line with recommendations issued on March 18. But the Public Health Agency exerts a powerful influence, insisting that a lockdown is simply unwarranted. Local sports tournaments and matches required no cancellations – exercise and sports were healthy initiatives. Organisers of events and seminars were responsible for conducting a risk assessment and providing information “about good hand hygiene, and access to hand washing facilities for all participants.” The focus, rather, is on individual initiative, minimising instances of transmission while herd immunity builds up, or a vaccine is found. If over 70, avoid using public transport, shopping in supermarkets, visiting areas of congregation. “Instead, ask friends, family or neighbours to do your shopping etc.” Work from home, if you can. “This is to decrease the speed of transmission and the number of people needing hospital care.” Central to such recommendations is a modelling game. As with all such games, risks abound. The go-easy approach has certainly caused little alarm in the country; if anything, it has given the Social Democrats a hearty boost. The wisdom of authorities is generally taken for granted, suggesting the customary, even awesome power of the Swedish civil service. The eggheads remain in charge. The Swedish example shows a differing approach to measurement, which invariably involves looking at a crystal ball of sorts. Paul Franks and Peter Nilsson, both epidemiologists based at Lund University, suggest that the government is gambling on simulations made by the public health authorities on “surge requirements”. “From these simulations, it is clear that the Swedish government anticipates far few hospitalisations per 100,000 of the population than predicted in other countries, including Norway, Denmark and the UK.” The observations by Franks and Nilsson are filled with characteristic scientific caution. Which modelling do you go for? Using British variants suggests a higher death toll for Sweden, though the authorities seem to be holding to the point that most infected people will have no symptoms, leaving one in five requiring a stint in hospital. And Britain is not Sweden. We are left with the treacherous nature of public health
modelling. COVID-19 prediction models, for instance, tend to rely on the examples in China and Italy, furthering upon data gathered from previous Ebola outbreaks, SARS and MERS. This brings the old question of demography into play, and the need to gather evidence of community transmission (so far, material on this is sketchy in Sweden). An inescapable fact is that Sweden has one major metropolitan area, so any accurate modelling would require material specific to that. Ways of interaction between generations would also have to be considered. In Sweden, less intergenerational conduct would lessen the risk to the elderly. More than half of Sweden’s households consist of one person, another telling factor. The data does not tend to focus on hospital admissions and fatalities, a point stressed by Franks and Nilsson. “This latter can be used to be a ‘poor man’s estimate’ of community transmission, providing approximately how many fatalities occur among those infected.” The accuracy of this is somewhat compromised by the two-week period between diagnosis and the mortality, a “very blunt instrument” indeed. The numbers of COVID-19 cases in Sweden have not been negligible. From the first recorded case on February 4, 2020, the total, as of March 30, 2020, stands at 4,028. Deaths come in at 146, though a disproportionate number come from a Somali community located in less commodious quarters with extended families. Despite the highest death toll of the Nordic countries, state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell is supremely confident that the “strategy” has worked well, with Sweden showing a relatively flat curve of infection relative to Italy and Spain. “We want to slow down the epidemic until Sweden experiences a sort of peak, and if the peak is not too dramatic we can continue.” A large number of citizens, bearing their heavy responsibility, have chosen to avoid public transport – Storstockholms Lokaltrafik claims a fall of 50 percent in the number of commuters. Schools might be open, but many parents are keeping their children at home. Remote and work-from-home options have been embraced by companies with gusto. The warning calls, while not shrill, are in evidence. An epidemiological battle is taking shape, though it remains one dominated by parrying disagreements of expertise. Britain’s chief scientific advisor Sir Patrick Vallance has much praise for the approach, having made similar suggestions to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson during the “herd immunity” phase of discussions. In contrast, a petition featuring over 2,000 doctors, scientists and academics, which boast among its numbers the chairman of the Nobel Foundation, Prof Carl-Henrik Heldin, has called for more aggressive measures. “It is risky to leave it to people to decide what to do without any restrictions,” opines a paternalistic Joacim Rocklöv, an epidemiologist based at Umeå University. “As can be seen from other countries this is a serious disease, and Sweden is no different than other countries.” Virologist Cecilia Söderberg-Nauclér, based at the Karolinska Institute, has not held back in her views, claiming with some punchiness that the government has committed all the big no-nos in responding to a pandemic. “We’re not testing enough, we’re not tracking, we’re not isolating enough – we have let the virus loose.” In so doing, Sweden had been placed on the path to catastrophe. To avoid a lockdown, a mass-testing approach as adopted by South Korea would have to be adopted. Time will tell which one stacks up. Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne.
Thursday, 2 April, 2020
busIness 09
CORPORATE CORNER ubl declared pakistan’s ‘best digital bank’ by asiamoney UBL has been declared Pakistan’s ‘Best Digital Bank for 2020’ by Asiamoney, an associate of Euromoney. UBL, considered as one of the most progressive and innovative banks of Pakistan, has a dedicated digital design lab to accelerate its digital transformation strategy. The number of UBL’s digital customers crossed one million in January 2020 and its digital portfolio has grown three times over the last year. Commenting on the award, UBL President & CEO Sima Kamil said, “This award is a testament to UBL’s contribution in expanding the scope of financial services through digital channels in Pakistan and spearheading innovation in the local banking industry. Under the current global scenario this recognition holds more meaning as the bank aggressively promotes the use of its digital channels to keep millions of customers safe from Covid-19.” PRESS RELEASE
Govt lambasted for missing revenue targets PML-N LEADER DOUBTS GOVT'S SERIOUSNESS, SAYS NO UPDATE ON FBR CHAIRMAN SINCE DEC 2019 LAHORE HASSAN NAQVI
Former Sindh governor and Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) leader Mohammad Zubair has criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for missing the revenue targets. Zubair, who had also served as former chairman of the Privatization Commission, highlighted that the July-March numbers for tax revenue show a massive shortfall of Rs704 billion. “The government will obviously put the blame on the business impact caused by coronavirus. But that’s not entirely true. Till March 15th, there was business as usual in Pakistan,” the PML-N leader said while talking to this scribe on Wednesday. “This can be gauged from the fact that the PSL matches were being held with full capacity crowds till March 14th, whereas the scare started spreading around March 16th. He said when this year’s budget was announced, the PML-N had predicted a shortfall of around Rs700-Rs800 billion. After the government’s abysmal performance in the six months of FY20, it was feared the overall shortfall would touch the Rs1 trillion-mark, he added. “Now the shortfall will surely surpass Rs1 trillion,” he said. “This will lead to serious consequences; the fiscal gap will be alarmingly high worse than last year.” Zubair demanded the government to cut its expenditure as much as possible to contain the deficit and avoid higher borrowings. “With the rupee falling against the dollar, our total debt is constantly going up. That policy of bringing ‘hot money’ is now hurting us,” he opined. Zubair predicted that the impact of lower taxes would be felt by the provinces, as they would get much lower amounts from the federal pool, resulting in lower spending by provinces on education, health and other welfare areas. “As we have already pointed out, the seriousness of the government can be seen from the fact that we don’t have an FBR chairman since December,” he said. “Last year also, the FBR chairman was changed in April, the worst time [in a fiscal year] to make key changes.”He reiterated that coronavirus had little to do with the country’s present economic scenario, as meltdown had started much before the spread of the pandemic owing to the government’s incompetence and lack of capacity. “If the PTI government cannot manage the economy in normal circumstances, what will they do after this virus?'' the former governor asked.
Govt refuses to pay for bad currency bets made by textile exporters lobby
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BUSINESS DESK
DVISER to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood on Wednesday made it clear that the government would not compensate losses of exporters from taxpayers’ money. Responding to exporters’ demand of a “bailout” to mitigate losses amid crisis caused by coronavirus, Razak noted, “A few firms made a commercial decision to take risk & sold forward US$. They are now asking Govt to cover their losses (Rs15 billion).” In a follow-up tweet, he continued, “I feel that this is not fair as it was a business decision which did not work out. It was also discussed at highest level & my views were supported. It
has therefore been decided that Govt. will not compensate these firms from tax payers’ money.” On Tuesday, this scribe had learnt that 26 leading textile exporters of the country had demanded the government to intervene by giving them the option to make international export contracts “null and void” to mitigate losses. According to sources, exporters expected these losses to be approximately Rs12-15 billion. The expected forward booking was estimated to be around $3 billion. "Exporters have requested the government to use the Rs100 billion reserve fund to cancel these contracts and reach settlement with commercial banks as soon as possible," said a source privy to this development.
Over the past few months, exporters had sold forward dollars at approximately Rs160, which means they would have gotten Rs160 for every dollar paid by them. "As export orders are deferred or cancelled due to the coronavirus (Covid-19)-led shutdown of port operations and markets, they [exporters] are receiving no dollars in sales to settle this forward. This would’ve been fine if the dollar had maintained its value,” the source said. The sudden upsurge in dollar value means that exporters have to pay the difference out of their pockets, hence causing them a loss. The government was told that this was something the exporters cannot afford in the given circumstances, and that they would likely
PM urged to allow chemical industry to operate for workers’ survival LAHORE STAFF REPORT
The Pakistan Chemical Manufacturers Association (PCMA) has urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to immediately allow the industry to resume work during the coronavirus lockdown under strict safety protocols so as to ensure economic survival of the working class. In a joint press statement issued on Wednesday, PCMA Chairman Abrar Ahmed and Secretary Iqbal Kidwai observed that if the corona safety lockdown continued after 5th of April, it might cause irreparable damage to the industry, panic in general public and lead to a recession depriving millions of industrial workers from their jobs. They said that this might also ruin the investment worth billions of rupees in the industry, adding the government would not have enough resources to feed masses for a long time. Abrar Ahmad welcomed the recent relief announced by the premier for industrialists and said
it should go a long way helping the poor and jobless class. “Through the consumption function of aggregate demand and supply, the economic cycle of countries like Pakistan can run very well in the interim period and beyond,” the chemical manufacturer said. Quoting the Prime Minister that “25 per cent of our population lives below the poverty line”, Ahmad said it means approximately 55 million people will have to be fed from the government’s exchequer. “If the lockdown persists, it would be impossible for the government to continue financial support.” He pointed out that if the industry didn’t operate, industrialists would not be in a position to pay taxes, duties etc. And, deficit financing at this stage would put the country in stagflation and thereby in a poverty trap, the PCMA office-bearer feared. It was high time the government took urgent action to allow industry to operate so that economic activity starts generating income for workers and revenue for the government, he suggested.
WB to provide additional $700m for Dasu Hydropower Project BUSINESS DESK The World Bank has approved $700 million additional financing to help Pakistan generate low-cost renewable energy so that affordable electricity could be supplied to millions of users. "This support for one of the country’s longerterm development priorities comes as the World Bank is also working with the federal and provincial governments to prepare and respond to the immediate challenge of the COVID-19 outbreak,” said a press release issued by the bank on Wednesday. “The additional financing for Dasu Hydropower Stage I Project will finance the transmission line to complete the first phase of the Dasu hydropower plant that will install 2,160 MW capacity along the main Indus River. Plans for Stage II expansion will double the installed capacity to 4,320 MW, making Dasu the largest hydropower plant in the country.” Commenting on the development, WB Country Director for Pakistan Illango Patchamuthu said Pakistan’s energy sector is aiming to move away from high-cost and inefficient fossil fuels towards low-
cost, renewable energy to power the national grid. “Along with reforms in the tariff structure, the Dasu Hydropower Project will result in fewer imports of fossil fuels, alleviating the stress on the country’s current account balance.” The project will help to lower the overall cost of energy generation in Pakistan, benefiting millions of energy users by making electricity more affordable for households and productive sectors, such as manufacturing and agriculture. The Dasu hydropower plant will provide most of its electricity during the summer months to reduce blackouts when demand is the highest. The project also contributes to the socio-economic development of the communities in Dasu and surrounding areas of the Upper Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “The Dasu hydropower plant has a low environmental footprint and is considered to be one of the best hydropower projects in the world,” said Rikard Liden, Task Team Leader for the project. “It will contribute to reducing Pakistan’s reliance on fossilfuels and producing clean renewable energy.”
be paying excessive penalties. The exporters had urged the government to reduce these losses for the textile sector to stay afloat, assuring the government of their support in minimising unemployment. Textile exporters who made this demand to the government included Artistic Milliners, Feroze 1888 Limited, Gul Ahmad Textile Mills, Liberty Mills, Artistic Denim, Al-Karam Textile Mills, Soorty Enterprise, Sapphire Textile Mills, Interloop Limited, Navina Denim, Mustaqim Industries, Nishat Chunian, Reliance Weaving Mills, Fazal Rehman Fabrics, Mahmood Textile Mills, Masood Spinning Mills, Masood Fabrics, Roomi Fabrics, Sapphire Fibres, Sapphire Finishing Mills, Diamond Fabrics, and Nagina Group.
MARKET DAILY
stocks add 273 points in volatile trade KARACHI STAFF REPORT
Bulls emerged as winner of what was a volatile session at the Pakistan Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with the indices recovering losses accumulated in early trade to close in the green. Foreign investors closed the previous session (last of March) as net sellers, registering a net outflow of $44.06 million. “The CPI (inflation) release for March 2020 matched street consensus at 10.2pc, which gave confidence to the investors that the upcoming number would be even lower, and raised their hopes that yield on fixed instruments, particularly Treasury Bills and Pakistan Investment Bonds, will dip further,” said an analyst at Arif Habib Ltd. “Today’s trading session saw profit booking as well, which kept the overall market range-bound. Perhaps weakness in global equity and commodities market caused investors to rethink their decision.” The benchmark KSE-100 Index started the session on a negative note, losing 329.55 points to record its intraday low at 28,902.08. However, after a tug of war between bulls and bears, the index jumped to mark its intraday high at 29,691.23 after gaining 459.60 points. The index finally settled higher by 273.94 points at 29,505.57. Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index accumulated 313.86 points to close at 45,365.52, while the KSE All Share Index gathered 178.59 points, ending at 21,216.41. Of the total traded shares, 193 advanced and 110 declined. The overall market volumes decreased from 221.83 million in the previous session to 193.47 million, with Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (MLCF +1.69pc), Hascol Petroleum Limited (HASCOL +1.82pc) and Unity Foods Limited (UNITY -1.42pc) topping the volume chart. The scripts had exchanged 24.65 million, 17.94 million and 10.23 million shares, respectively. Sectors that drove the KSE-100 Index north included banking (+46.11 points), automobile assembling (+37.76 points) and textile composite (+36.69 points). Among the companies, Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MARI +35.07 points), Dawood Hercules Corporation Limited (DAWH +34.94 points) and MCB Bank Limited (MCB +24.17 points) added maximum points to the index. The automobile assembling sector gained 4.58pc in its cumulative market capitalization, with Indus Motor Company Limited (+7.50pc), Pakistan Suzuki Motors Company Limited (PSMC +7.39pc), Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Limited (HCAR +7.49pc) and Sazgar Engineering Works Limited (SAZEW +7.50pc) ending with decent gains.
Inflation drops to seven-month low in March ISLAMABAD GHULAM ABBAS
Pakistan's Consumer Price Index (CPI)based monthly inflation slowed to 10.24pc in March 2020 as compared to the previous month, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Wednesday. This is the second month in a row that the CPI reading has eased by more than 2pc. The bureau had recorded CPI inflation at 12.4pc in February. Inflation at 10.2pc is the lowest reading in the past seven months. According to the PBS data, the commodity prices remained largely unchanged and markets functioned normally in March despite partial lockdown of the country to con-
CPI INFLATION FURTHER SLOWS FROM 12.4PC IN FEB TO 10.24PC trol the spread of coronavirus. In addition to fuel charges, the prices of food items, including pulses, fresh vegetables and wheat, which have been the main drivers of inflation, also saw a significant downtrend, the bureau said. However, it added, the real impact of slash in demand or short supply of commodities due to the shutdown of the market is yet to come. "The government's move to keep the trade of groceries unaffected may support the fall of inflation even in the coming months." The average inflation in the first nine
months (July-March) of FY20 stood at 11.53pc, which in the same period of the last year was 6.3pc. As per the data, the rate of inflation during the month under review slowed down both in urban and rural areas. Food inflation in urban areas that stood at 15.2pc in the preceding month eased to 13pc in March. Similarly, in rural areas, the food inflation pace slowed down from 19.7pc in February to 15.5pc last month. The urban CPI inflation increased by 9.3pc on a year-on-year basis in March 2020
as compared to an increase of 11.2pc in the previous month, and 8.9pc in March 2019. On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, it increased by 0.1pc in March 2020 as compared to a decrease of 1.1pc in the previous month and an increase of 1.9pc in March 2019. On the other hand, the rural CPI inflation increased by 11.7pc on a year-on-year basis in March 2020 as compared to an increase of 14.2pc in the previous month and 8.2pc in March 2019. On a month-on-month basis, it decreased by 0.1pc in March 2020 as compared to a decrease of 1.0pc in the previous month and an increase of 2.2pc in March 2019. In March, prices of the majority of perishable food items reduced as compared to February, which pulled the index down. On a
year-on-year basis, PBS has reported 13.92pc reduction in electricity charges in March as there were no fuel adjustments in the month. The prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages groups, which have 34.6pc weight in the CPI basket, surged 14.7pc in March over a year ago. The prices of perishable food items increased 15.3pc last month. The alcoholic beverages and tobacco group inflation eased to 18.6pc last month from a month earlier level of 32.2pc. Similarly, the housing, water, electricity, gas and fuels group – having one-fourth weight in CPI basket, increased only 4.9pc last month. The transport fares, having 5.9pc weight in CPI basket, increased on an average 11.5pc in March over a year ago.
Thursday, 2 April, 2020
10 FOREIGN NEWS
Coronavirus transforms new York as us deaths top 4,000 NEW YORK CITY
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AGENCIES
MERGENCY field hospitals were readied in New York’s Central Park and at the home of the US Open tennis tournament as the number of American deaths from the coronavirus pandemic surged past 4,000 — higher than the toll in China. The pandemic has killed more than 1,700 New Yorkers and President Donald Trump, a native of the city, warned in Washington of “a very, very painful two weeks” to come for the entire country. Already the hardest-hit area, America’s financial capital is in a race to ramp up hospital capacity before cases peak. Around a dozen tents, equipped with 68 beds and 10 ventilators, have been put up in Manhattan’s iconic park, with COVID-19 patients expected to start arriving. “You see movies like ‘Contagion’ and you think it’s so far from the truth, it will never happen. So to see it actually happening here is very surreal,” 57-year-old passerby Joanne Dunbar told AFP on Tuesday. Declared coronavirus cases across the US surged to 189,510 early Wednesday, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University, with 4,076 deaths. That is more than the 3,310 fatalities reported by China. New York state has seen far more cases — 76,000 — and deaths than any
other since announcing its first infection on March 1 and quickly emerging as the epicenter of the US outbreak. Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday the city was tripling hospital capacity in a bid to
get ready for the peak of the pandemic expected in two to three weeks. “(We) will require a level of hospital capacity we’ve never seen…never even conceived of,” he told NBC.
PLEA TO EVACUATE: Fallout is spreading wider every day across the world’s biggest economy. The captain of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, one of
the most fearsome assets in the US arsenal, pleaded for large-scale evacuation, saying that the virus was spreading uncontrollably through his crew, currently in the US Pacific territory of Guam. “We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die,” Captain Brett Crozier wrote in a letter to his superiors, US media reported. Defense Secretary Mark Esper later downplayed the drama, saying that no one was “seriously ill.” But in New York, officials are already in full-blown crisis management mode, scrambling to deal with the influx of sick when hospitals are already overwhelmed and medical supplies strained. South of Central Park, the Javits Convention Center is now operational with nearly 3,000 beds after it was adopted by the Army Corps of Engineers. It will take non-COVID-19 patients to ease the burden on hospitals focusing on the virus. A few blocks away at Pier 90 sits the white, imposing US navy hospital ship Comfort, with 1,000 beds and 12 operating rooms — also for non-coronavirus patients. A 350-bed facility at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, where the US Open tennis takes place every summer, is due to start receiving coronavirus patients next week. Governor Andrew Cuomo — whose brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, announced on Tuesday that he had the virus — warned New Yorkers that the fight to defeat COVID-19 was going to be a long one. “Calibrate yourself and your expectations so you’re not disappointed every day you get up,” he told reporters. The Dow suffered its biggest quarterly loss since 1987 and former US president Barack Obama chastised those who “denied warnings” of a pandemic, in a thinly-veiled swipe at his successor Trump.
Auto industry races to make ventilators during virus crisis BERLIN AGENCIES
star wars actor andrew Jack passes away due to coronavirus LONDON AGENCIES
Star Wars actor Andrew Jack has died in Britain as a result of the coronavirus, his agent said on Wednesday. He was 76. The actor, who also worked as a dialect coach, died in a hospital in Surrey on Tuesday, Jack’s agent Jill McCullough said in a statement. “Andrew lived on one of the oldest working houseboats on the Thames, he was fiercely independent but madly in love with his wife, also a dialect coach,” McCullough said. Jack appeared in Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi as General Ematt, as well as Solo: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens. His wife, Gabrielle Rogers, who is quarantined in Australia, posted on social media: “Andrew Jack was diagnosed with coronavirus 2 days ago. He was in no pain, and he slipped away peacefully knowing that his family were all ‘with’ him.”
The automotive industry is offering its expertise and manpower to the hospital sector as it gears up to build mechanical ventilators during the coronavirus pandemic, an initiative that is being met with some scepticism. American auto manufacturers General Motors and Ford, French car companies PSA and Renault, Germany’s Volkswagen group and Formula 1 engineers have joined the ranks in response to a massive global shortage of the vital piece of medical equipment. As hospitals around the world face a surge of patients with breathing difficulties from COVID-19, the scarcity of ventilators has forced doctors to make life-or-death decisions. Repurposing car factories for emergency production has drawn comparisons to World War II, when they were used to build tanks and fighter planes. But some experts say that in this situation, building critical care ventilators will require different techniques and procedures from what a car factory normally sees. US President Donald Trump used wartime economy analogies to justify his appeal to the automobile industry
as the country grapples with a mounting number of coronavirus cases. He ultimately used a 1950s law concerning defence production to force one of GM’s plants to make ventilators. In France, meanwhile, a consortium of industrial companies has been created — including PSA and automotive equipment supplier Valeo — to manufacture “10,000 ventilators by mid-May”, President Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday. In Spain, Volkswagen’s Seat brand has switched to producing ventilators at its Martorell plant near Barcelona. The proposed model, which uses the adapted motor of a windscreen wiper, is already undergoing testing with the hopes of gaining formal approval from health authori-
ties, Seat said in a statement. For its part, Mercedes has asked its Formula 1 team, which was idle due to postponed or cancelled Grand Prix races, to get to work. The six-time world champion team built a less-invasive respiratory device in order to reserve ventilators — which require breathing tubes and sedation — for the most severely affected patients. The team says it could manufacture some 1,000 units a day with the help of six other UK-based F1 teams which have committed to help build the devices. A version of the device — which increases air and oxygen flow into the lungs and is often used to treat sleep apnea — has already been used in hospitals in Italy and China to help COVID-19 patients.
Why Germany's death toll is much lower than the rest of Europe BERLIN AGENCIES
Late last year — long before most people had heard of the new coronavirus now sweeping the globe — scientists in Germany sprang into action to develop a test for the virus that was causing an unusual respiratory disease in central China. They had one by mid-January — and labs around the country were ready to start using it just weeks later, around the same time that Europe’s most populous country registered its first case. “It was clear that if the epidemic swept over here from China, then we had to start testing,” said Hendrik Borucki, a spokesman for Bioscientia Healthcare, which operates 19 labs in Germany. That quick work stands in stark contrast to delays and missteps in other countries. Coupled with Germany’s large number of intensive care beds and its early social distancing measures, it could
explain one of the most interesting puzzles of the Covid-19 pandemic: Why are people with the virus in Germany currently dying at much lower rates than in neighbouring countries? The numbers are remarkable: As confirmed cases in Germany passed 71,000, the death toll Wednesday was 775, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. In contrast, Italy has reported almost 106,000 infections and more than 12,400 deaths, while Spain has more than 102,000 cases with over 9,000 deaths. France has four times as many virus deaths as Germany and Britain has twice as many, even though both countries have fewer reported infections. There may be many factors at play, but experts said early on that fast and widespread testing gave Germany an edge. “The reason why we in Germany have so few deaths at the moment compared to the number of infected can be largely explained by the fact that we are
doing an extremely large number of lab diagnoses,” said virologist Dr. Christian Drosten, whose team developed the first test for the new virus at Berlin’s Charité hospital — established over 300 years ago to treat plague victims. He estimated that Germany is now capable of conducting up to 500,000 tests a week. Spain, meanwhile, tests between 105,000 and 140,000 people each week, about 20 per cent to 30pc what Germany is capable of. Italy did around 200,000 tests over the past week, but that reflects a significant recent ramp-up. Early access to the test from Drosten’s team is only part of the reason for Germany’s head start. Before the country even registered its first case, authorities agreed the tests would be covered by its universal insurance system, and be available to everyone with symptoms and either recent travel to virus hotspots or close contact with a confirmed case.
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Still, Germany may not be as much of an anomaly as it seems. The fact that Spain and Italy — which have seen much more intense outbreaks — are doing fewer tests indicates they are missing many mild or asymptomatic cases. That makes their fatality rates look worse than they are. But Germany, too, is likely missing cases, and experts say that all figures worldwide undercount the extent of the pandemic. Limited testing also means the true spread of the virus is hidden in those countries — further fueling the outbreak. For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. But for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and lead to death. Ensuring those severely ill patients can be treated properly is key to managing the outbreak — and preventing deaths. And there again, Germany has an advantage.
Zoom under scrutiny in us over privacy, porn hacks NEW YORK: Video conferencing app Zoom, which has seen its popularity skyrocket in the coronavirus pandemic, is in hot water after users complained to the FBI of being startled by porn during meetings. New York Attorney General Letitia James sent a letter to the in-vogue California enterprise “with a number of questions to ensure the company is taking appropriate steps to ensure users’ privacy and security,” a spokesman said. He refused to give further information on the contents but added Tuesday that James’s office was “trying to work with the company” to resolve any problems. The investigation comes after the FBI’s Boston office warned on Monday that it had “received multiple reports of conferences being disrupted by pornographic and/or hate images and threatening language.” The FBI listed two examples where hackers had “Zoom-bombed” schools which have closed because of the deadly virus and which are now teaching classes online. A Massachusetts high school reported that an unidentified individual dialled into the virtual classroom and yelled a profanity at the teacher before shouting the teacher’s home address. Another school in the same state reported the appearance of an unknown person with swastika tattoos. Using the hashtag “zoombombed,” social media users have testified that they suddenly saw pornographic or racist images on their screens while using the app. The FBI recommended that Zoom users make all meetings private and avoid screen sharing to combat would-be hackers. Silicon Valley-based Zoom said it “takes its users’ privacy, security, and trust extremely seriously. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are working around-the-clock to ensure that hospitals, universities, schools, and other businesses across the world can stay connected and operational,” a spokesperson told AFP. “We appreciate the New York Attorney General’s engagement on these issues and are happy to provide her with the requested information.” Zoom saw US downloads surge by 252 per cent to 4.2 million during the week of March 16 — when strict stay-at-home measures began being rolled out across America — compared to the previous week, according to research firm Sensor Tower. They increased by another 66 per cent the following week to reach seven million downloads. The app has seen similar growth in Europe, with downloads hitting 6.5 million at the end of March, according to Sensor Tower. AGENCIES
Thursday, 2 April, 2020
SPORTS 11
WIMblEdon sEt to bE cancEllEd for fIrst tIME sIncE WWII London
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Agencies
IMBLEDON looks certain to be scrapped for the first time since World War II by tournament chiefs on Wednesday as the coronavirus wreaks further havoc on the global sporting calendar. The cancellation of the only grasscourt Grand Slam tournament at the All England Club would leave the tennis season in disarray after the French Open was controversially moved and all events cancelled until June 7. Wimbledon, in leafy southwest London, is due to run for two weeks from June 29, with Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep set to defend their singles titles.
A decision to scrap the tournament is widely expected, with the world struggling to contain the spread of COVID-19, which has infected more than 840,000 people worldwide and killed over 40,000. Lead-up tournaments in the short grasscourt season are also likely to be scrapped following talks on Tuesday, understood to have involved Wimbledon chiefs and the game’s governing bodies. Organisers had earlier ruled out playing the Grand Slam behind closed doors and postponing the event would also create its own problems. Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker on Tuesday pleaded for tournament chiefs to wait longer before making a decision. “I really hope Wimbledon will wait until the end of April for decision!” he tweeted.
Indian cricketers face backlash for supporting Pakistan virus fund MuMbai: Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh have unleashed a social media storm by backing former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi’s foundation in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The two countries are bitter rivals and the move touched a raw nerve in India. Afridi’s appeal for donations to help people affected by the deadly virus in Pakistan has had overwhelming support from leading cricketers. Harbhajan urged people to contribute in a video message, and called on other cricketers in the two countries to make similar appeals. “These are testing times, it’s time to look out for each other,” Yuvraj wrote on Twitter in a call for funds. While Afridi thanked the two, Indian Twitter users reacted with fury at the support for a rival player who has been a vocal critic of India’s handling of the Kashmir dispute. “Do you have any sense?” wrote one Twitter user. “Lost respect” for Harbhajan Singh, added another. “Sorry guys you lost it.” India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral cricket series since 2012-2013 and have seen a new peak in tensions over Kashmir, which has been at the centre of two wars between the neighbours since 1947. Kashmir has been divided between the two since their independence seven decades ago and India frequently accuses Pakistan of organising “terrorism” on its side of the border. World Cup-winning batsman Yuvraj, who made a return from cancer before finally retiring last year, has also raised money to fight coronavirus through his ‘YouWeCan’ foundation. India, which has been under a 21-day lockdown since March 24, has so far confirmed more than 1,600 coronavirus cases and 38 deaths. Agencies
“The tourney is first week of July... patience is a virtue.” But former women’s world number one Amelie Mauresmo, the 2006 Wimbledon champion, said the 2020 season would probably need to be scrapped. “I think that we are going to have to draw a line under the 2020 tennis season,” she tweeted. The cancellation of Wimbledon could mean multiple champions Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Venus Williams have played at the All England Club for the final time. Federer and Serena will be nearly 40 by the time of the 2021 championships and Venus will be 41. Serena, beaten in last year’s final by Halep, is stuck on 23 Grand Slam singles titles — agonisingly one away from equalling Margaret Court’s record. The conditions required to play on grass
in England mean a postponement is impractical and a date later in the summer or early autumn would mean much shorter evenings. “Each week that passes, you get less and less light to play the tournament,” doubles specialist Jamie Murray told the BBC. American giant John Isner, who won the longest-ever tennis match over three days at Wimbledon in 2010, said the scrapping of the tournament would be a “tough pill to swallow”. “We may have to come to grips with the fact that we may not be playing
Wimbledon this year,” he told ESPN on Tuesday. “Wimbledon sort of has to be played this (same) time of year,” Isner said. “With that surface, the event, it seems, has to be played this time and there’s a good chance it won’t be.” The French Tennis Federation provoked widespread anger with its unilateral decision to move the French Open from its original May 24 start date to begin on September 20. That puts the start only one week after the planned date of the US Open men’s final.
Premier League accused of ‘moral vacuum’ as clubs cut staff wages
London Agencies
Premier League clubs have been accused of living in a “moral vacuum”, with players urged to take their share of the financial hit from the coronavirus pandemic as non-playing staff begin to feel the pinch. Last year’s Champions League finalists Tottenham as well as Newcastle and Norwich have faced a backlash for using the British government’s furlough scheme, which will guarantee 80 percent of employees’ income up to a maximum of £2,500 ($3,000) a month. “It sticks in the throat,” said lawmaker Julian Knight, who chairs the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, referring to the use of public funds to prop up wage bills. “This exposes the crazy economics in English football and the moral vac-
uum at its centre.” The Times said the elite should not be a “drain on the exchequer”. “(The) furlough scheme.is for clubs lower down the pyramid enduring the cash-flow crisis without gate receipts, not by the likes of Spurs and Newcastle United,” the paper said in a comment piece. That £2,500 sum would be a drop in the ocean for many Premier League stars, yet there has so far been no agreement on wage cuts or deferrals for players, unlike the situation at other top European clubs such as Juventus and Barcelona. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said he hoped discussions between the Premier League and players’ and managers’ representatives would “result in players and coaches doing their bit for the football eco-system”. Levy is in the firing line despite taking a 20 percent cut in salary for the next two months.
On Tuesday he announced a 20 percent cut for 550 non-playing staff on the same day it was revealed he was paid £7 million last season, including a £3 million bonus for the completion of the club’s new stadium, which ran well over time and budget. Players at Barcelona have taken a 70 percent pay cut during Spain’s state of emergency and will make additional contributions to ensure other employees receive full wages. The squad of Italian champions Juventus, including Cristiano Ronaldo, have agreed to have their wages stopped for four months while players at German giants Bayern Munich accepted a 20 percent pay cut. “Clearly, when players at Barcelona, or Juventus voluntarily, or some German clubs voluntarily enter into these agreements with their clubs, then good on them,” said FIFPro general secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffmann. “Where the players have the means and they step forward I think that shows very much that they understand what is happening right now and frankly we will be seeing more of that.” The chasm in player earnings between the top end of the game and the lower leagues, and even within the same clubs, complicates the role of players’ unions in finding common ground. London Mayor Sadiq Khan told the BBC that top-flight players should take the hit. He said: “Highly paid football players are people who can carry the greatest burden and they should be the first one to, with respect, sacrifice their salary, rather than the person selling the programme or the person who does catering.”
Aston Martin’s return to Formula One in 2021 confirmed London Agencies
Aston Martin shareholders have approved the British luxury carmaker’s return to Formula One as a constructor in 2021, it was confirmed Wednesday in a deal that will see the Racing Point team rebranded. The announcement came after a consortium led by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll injected £260 million ($322 million) of new capital into a fundraising effort of £536 million ($664 million). “On Monday 30th of March, the shareholders of Aston Martin Lagonda approved a £536m fundraising, underpinned by an injection of £260m of new capital from Yew Tree Consortium - a group of investors led by Lawrence Stroll,” Racing Point said in a statement. “As part of this investment Mr Stroll will become Executive Chairman of Aston Martin and Aston Martin will create its own works F1 racing team.” Stroll’s son Lance currently drives for his Racing
Point team alongside Mexico’s Sergio Perez. Stroll, who bought Racing Point when it was formerly known as Force India in August 2018 when it was on the verge of going bankrupt, has previously made clear his desire to take on the F1 front-runners. “A brand with the pedigree and history of Aston Martin needs to be competing at the highest level of motorsport,” Stroll said. “I think it’s the most exciting thing that’s happened in recent memory in Formula One and it’s incredibly exciting for all stakeholders in the sport, especially the fans.” He added: “Aston Martin has been competing very
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successfully in various classes of motorsport throughout its history, but we now have an opportunity to create a works team in Formula One.” Plans to rebrand the Racing Point team were announced in January when Stroll led a rescue deal for the struggling luxury carmaker. Aston Martin has enjoyed a title partnership agreement with Red Bull Racing over the past four years, an arrangement that will come to an end after the forthcoming season. The British manufacturer last entered an F1 works team in 1960. Aston Martin is cherished by Hollywood actors, global sports stars and British royalty. Fictional superspy James Bond’s carmaker of choice had made its debut in 1964 film ‘Goldfinger’ and more recently featured in 2015’s ‘Spectre’. The brand features once more in the latest instalment, “No Time to Die”, due out this year.
Morgan says England could field two cricket teams to counter virus London: World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan says he is open to England fielding two teams on the same day at separate venues if the coronavirus outbreak leads to a compressed home international season. The England Test team, skippered by Joe Root, could face either West Indies or Pakistan, who are both due to arrive for three-match series, while Morgan’s white-ball side take on Australia in 50-over and Twenty20 matches scheduled in July. “I see every option being viable during this extraordinary time,” said England limited-overs captain Morgan during a conference call on Wednesday. “Certainly I’ve never experienced anything like it and I don’t think anyone else has. I think the serious nature of the situation economically and financially for the game is something that we have never come across.” All domestic cricket in England has been postponed until May 28 at the earliest, with the West Indies series still scheduled to start on June 4. England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Tom Harrison, announcing a £61 million ($76 million) aid package on Monday, said touring international sides were being “very flexible, innovative and massively understanding”, with Morgan indicating his teammates would adopt a similar approach. “Certainly from a players’ point of view, we want to do as much as we can to try and keep things going,” Morgan said. “If there’s an opportunity to play as much cricket as we can, I’d like to think every player would be behind it. I certainly am. “But obviously times are still uncertain at the moment... Realistically we can’t think about playing, when our first game will be, or how many we will play until the situation is downgraded from a pandemic.” One consolation for Morgan during the outbreak is that the 33-year-old Dublin-born batsman recently became a father after his wife Tara gave birth to a son, Leo. “My wife gave birth to our first child three weeks ago so we have been preoccupied looking after the baby,” said Morgan. “We’ve been isolated for a bit longer than anyone else, which is really nice. “We’ve been dealt a really good hand when it comes to things that are going on at the moment and have been bunkered away for a while, and haven’t been under pressure to go off and play cricket, which has been really nice. “It’s been good fun and a very exciting time for us.” Agencies
Thursday, 2 April, 2020
NEWS
EUrOPE tOll tOPs 30,000 as UN warNs Of wOrlD's wOrst CrIsIs sINCE wwII PARIS
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AGENCIES
HE coronavirus pandemic has claimed more than 30,000 lives in Europe alone, a global tally showed Wednesday, in what the head of the United Nations has described as humanity’s worst crisis since World War II. Italy and Spain bore the brunt of the crisis, accounting for three in every four deaths on the continent, as the grim tally hit another milestone even though half of the planet’s population is already under some form of lockdown in a battle to halt contagion. Spain reported a record 864 deaths in 24 hours, pushing the country’s number of fatalities past 9,000. The toll is only dwarfed by Italy’s, where the virus has killed nearly 12,500 people. Since emerging in China in December, COVID-19 has spread across the globe, claiming over 43,000 lives and infecting more than 860,000 people, according to an AFP tally. President Donald Trump has warned of a “very, very painful two weeks” as the United States registered its deadliest 24 hours of what he called a “plague”. In a scramble to halt the contagion, governments have shut schools, most shops, and ordered millions of people to work from home. Cancellations of key events on the global calendar have swept both the sports and cultural worlds, with the Edinburgh arts festival the latest to be scrapped. For UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the extraordinary upheaval spurred by the virus presents a real danger to the relative peace the world has seen over the last few decades. The disease “represents a threat to everybody in the world and… an economic impact that will bring a recession that probably has no parallel in the recent
SINCE EMERGING IN CHINA IN DEC, COVID-19 HAS CLAIMED OVER 43,000 LIVES, INFECTED MORE THAN 860,000 PEOPLE
past,” he said. “The combination of the two facts and the risk that it contributes to enhanced instability, enhanced unrest, and enhanced conflict are things that make us believe that this is the most challenging crisis we have faced since the Second World War.” ECONOMIC DESPERATION: With most business activity grinding to a halt for an undetermined period of time, scenes of economic desperation and unrest were emerging across the globe. In Italy, queues were lengthening at soup kitchens while some supermarkets were reportedly pillaged. Half a million more people now need help to afford meals, Italy’s biggest union for the agriculture sector Coldiretti said, adding to the 2.7 million already in need last year. “Usually we serve 152,525 people. But now we’ve 70,000 more requests,” confirmed Roberto Tuorto, who runs a food aid association. It was crucial to “ensure that the economic crisis unleashed by the virus doesn’t become a security crisis,” he warned. The economic pain of lockdowns is especially acute in poorer nations.
In Tunisia several hundred protested a week-old lockdown that has disproportionately hit the poor. “Never mind coronavirus, we’re going to die anyway! Let us work!” shouted one protester in the demonstration on the outskirts of the capital Tunis. Africa’s biggest city Lagos was just into its second full day of lockdown on Wednesday — but with some of the world’s biggest slums, home to millions who live hand-to-mouth, containment will be a challenge. SHARPENING TONE: Wary of a collapse of the world’s economy, the globe’s leading central bankers have pumped billions of liquidity into the system. Last week, G20 leaders in turn said they were injecting $5 trillion into the global economy to head off a feared deep recession. But with the spread of the virus far from abating, stock markets fell again in Asia and Europe on Wednesday. In the European Union, the terms of a rescue plan threatened to divide the bloc. Worst-hit Italy and Spain are leading a push for a shared debt instrument —
dubbed “coronabonds”, but talk of shared debt is a red line for Germany and other northern countries. The tone sharpened this week, with some Italian politicians even taking out an advertisement in a major German newspaper to remind Europe’s biggest economy of WWII debts to jolt it into action. ASYMPTOMATIC CASES: The economic cost of the crisis was still piling up as lockdowns remain at the forefront of official disease-stopping arsenals — a strategy increasingly borne out by science. Researchers said China’s decision to shutter Wuhan, ground zero for the pandemic, may have prevented hundreds of thousands of new cases. “Our analysis suggests that without the Wuhan travel ban and the national emergency response there would have been more than 700,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases outside of Wuhan” by mid February, said Oxford University’s Christopher Dye. At the same time, focus is now turning to how asymptomatic cases may be fuelling the spread. China on Wednesday said it has more than 1,300 asymptomatic coronavirus cases, the first time it has released such data following public concern over people who have tested positive but are not showing symptoms. Experts agree that asymptomatic patients are likely to be infectious, but it remains unknown how responsible they are for spreading the deadly virus. Chinese respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan said in a state media interview last week that asymptomatic carriers could potentially infect “3 to 3.5 people each”. Germany and France were also ramping up testing of the population to establish how many already have immunity. PAINFUL CHOICES: For now, the focus of the health sector in the hardest hit countries remains the scramble for available facilities to treat patients.
Pakistani, Chinese coronavirus patients' genome 99pc identical: study KARACHI STAFF REPORT
Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences, Mohammad Ali Jinnah University, Karachi (MAJU) Prof Dr Kamran Azim has said that a recent study conducted in the USA had revealed that 69 FDA approved medicines which could be used for “drug targeting” and “drugrepurposing” for the treatment of COVID-19 infection. In his interview given to MAJU Media and Research Cell, he said that in a recent research conducted by the scientists of biosciences department of the university, it had been revealed that the genome of Pakistani and Chinese coronavirus patient is more than 99 per cent identical with each other. He said that it was not true that genome of Pakistani and Chinese corona virus patients does not match with each other. He also dispelled this misconception that corona virus was artificially created as a biological weapon in a laboratory. Prof Kamran Azim said that according to a study conducted by a well-known immunology and microbiology researcher, Kristian Andersen from USA revealed that SARS-CoV-2 virus, the causative agent of COVID-19 pandemic evolved from naturally occurring strains. He advised the people sitting at home due to lockdown in the city to take balance diet to strengthen their body immune system by using vegetable and fruits. He also asked them to use garlic, ginger and onions in a sufficient quantity and drink ginger tea before sleeping. He also informed that as per another study conducted by WHO, deaths of male patient above 50 years is on much higher side in comparison to female patients who died due to coronavirus attacks worldwide. He said those people were already suffering in coronary, blood pressure, diabetes and cancer diseases.
Preliminary study finds UK lockdown is slowing spread of COVID-19 LONDON AGENCIES
Afghan govt, Taliban prisoner swap to begin from this week KABUL AGENCIES
Afghanistan will release some Taliban prisoners this week as part of confidence building measure crucial for the success of the peace deal signed between America and the Taliban to end nearly two decades of war, officials said on Wednesday. A three-member Taliban team arrived in Kabul on Tuesday to begin a prisoner exchange process and met with Afghan officials despite a nationwide lockdown implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo termed Tuesday’s developments as “good news”, a week after he had visited both government leaders in Kabul and Taliban representatives in the Qatari capital Doha, where the Afghan militants have an office, to urge them to move forward with the peace process. A Taliban spokesman said on Wednesday that at least 100 captured Taliban fighters would be freed soon, the first step to in ultimate exchange of 6,000 prisoners held by the Afghan government and the insurgent group. “One hundred prisoners will be released in first batch, then both sides will assess whether releasing 100
PAKISTAN WELCOMES BREAKTHROUGH IN INTRA-AFGHAN PEACE TALKS per day is working out well or not,” said Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the militant group. Discussions were underway on technicalities related to the release and the provision for medical checkup for those being freed, Mujahid said, adding that the lockdown due to coronavirus added to the challenge. The Taliban was making transport arrangements to ensure that old and sick fighters released from the Afghan jails were received by their families but had no plans to provide financial assistance. Javid Faisal, a spokesman for the country’s National Security Council in a tweet said both sides were holding “face-to-face discussions” over the prisoner exchanges. Despite the talks and the lockdown, violence has not ebbed. Eight civilians, including children were killed in an explosion when their vehicle hit a landmine planted by the Taliban in southern Helmand province on Wednesday, a provincial official said. Neither the Taliban or any other
group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast. Taliban fighters say security forces are the target of their roadside bombs and landmines, but civilians are frequently hurt or killed. PAKISTAN WELCOMES BREAKTHROUGH IN PEACE TALKS: Meanwhile, Pakistan also welcomed the breakthrough in intra-Afghan peace dialogue, stating that the formation of the negotiation team would pave the way for an intra-Afghan negotiation process. “Pakistan believes that it is an important step which reflects the commitment of the leadership to according priority to peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan,” said an official handout issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The statement said that the US-Taliban Peace Agreement has provided a historic opportunity to establish durable peace and stability in Afghanistan, which can be realised by resolving differences, eschewing recrimination, working constructively together, and cooperating in the supreme interest of the country. “We hope that all concerned parties will pursue reduction in violence as a common cause in its earnest. Pakistan will continue to support a peaceful, stable, united, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan, at peace with itself and with its neighbours,” the statement concluded.
Lockdown and social distancing measures introduced by the British government to slow the spread of COVID-19 may already be working, according to preliminary research findings, and could soon see Britain’s epidemic of infections declining. Scientists used an online survey to ask 1,300 people in Britain to list their contacts for the previous day – and found that the average number of contacts now is more than 70 per cent lower than before the lockdown. “If we see similar changes across the UK population, we would expect to see the epidemic to start to decline,” said John Edmunds, who led the study at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). He added, however, that the findings were very preliminary and should not be seen as suggesting “job done”. “Rather, they should be used as motivation for us all to keep following UK government instructions,” Edmunds said. “It’s imperative we don’t take our foot off the pedal. We must continue to stop transmission of the virus to reduce the burden on the National Health Service now and over the coming months.” Like many other countries affected by the pandemic of disease caused by the new coronavirus, Britain has imposed strict social distancing measures including shop and school closures. Authorities are also asking everyone to stay at home except for essential travel.
India manhunt after religious gathering becomes virus hotspot NEW DELHI AGENCIES
A large religious gathering of the Tableeghi Jamaat in New Delhi has sparked a manhunt across India for suspected coronavirus cases after being linked to dozens of infections and several deaths. The gathering emerged as one of India’s major virus hotspots after thousands flocked to an Islamic religious centre in the Nizamuddin West neighbourhood of Delhi. Some returned home to other states after the gathering, but many remained in the vicinity, saying they were trapped because public transport had been shut down due to the virus. Late Monday and Tuesday, the warren of lanes near the religious centre — near several prominent Sufi shrines — were taped off by officials in hazmat suits.
More than 1,000 people were taken in buses from the area by police, with 335 admitted to hospital and the rest quarantined, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain told reporters on Tuesday. At least 10 attendees — including six in southern Telangana state and three in Delhi — have died from Covid-19 in the past few days, authorities said. The Press Trust of India said around 8,000 people took part in the event, with Telangana officials saying at least 1,000 attendees were from that state alone. GRAVE CRIME: Infections in other states and territories have also been linked to the gathering. Delhi officials estimated that almost 300 foreigners attended the gathering, the Press Trust of India reported. Their whereabouts were not immediately known. “A grave crime has been committed,”
Jain said of the event, which took place as the Delhi government started to introduce restrictions on large gatherings on March 13. The centre, the global headquarters for the Tableeghi Jamaat missionary movement, insisted it had followed regulations. It said attendees were stranded after public transport was shut down ahead of a nationwide curfew imposed from March 25. “We were always taking this issue seriously, we had been in touch with authorities to arrange for transport for the attendees,” Musharraf Ali, a member of the movement, told reporters on Tuesday. It was not yet clear if the Indian outbreak is linked to another Tableeghi Jamaat event that was held in Malaysia from February 27 to March 1. About half of Malaysia’s 2,626 infections have been directly linked to that event, which was attended by 16,000 people — including 1,500 foreigners.
Published by Arif Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad. Ph: 051-2204545. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk