Epaper – March 26 KHI

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Thursday, 26 March, 2020 I 01 Shaban, 1441 I Rs 20.00 I Vol X No 267 I 12 Pages I Karachi Edition

Govt seeks IMF’s help Pm Imran asks ProvInces to to insulate economy ‘reassess’ comPlete lockdowns from coronavirus

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pM says not a single covid-19 case was imported from china, calls for national unity to fight virus

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Shehbaz, bilawal walk out of oline moot after imran leaves session without hearing them

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ISLAMABAD:

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STAFF REPORT

riMe Minister imran khan on Wednesday called for unity among all segments of the society, including the political parties, to fight and win the war against coronavirus (covid-19) as a nation, however, his move to go offline without hearing the speeches of the major opposition leaders saw the meeting of the parliamentary leaders of various political parties through video-link end on a bad note. “the government alone cannot fight and win this war against coronavirus. We can win this war together as a nation,” imran said during his online speech, as he briefed the parliamentary leaders about the measures taken by the government since the outbreak of coronavirus in the chinese city of Wuhan in december last year, and particularly after the arrival of pilgrims from iran via taftan border.

He gave an overview of the government’s response against covid-19, including the establishment of a quarantine centre and a make-shift screening facility at taftan, a remote area located 700 kilometres from quetta. pM imran said that since the pakistan Muslim league-nawaz (pMl-n) and pakistan people’s party (ppp) have governments in Gilgit-baltistan (Gb) and azad kashmir and kashmir (aJk) and Sindh, therefore, it is vital for all parties to sit together to take effective decisions against covid-19.

He said that the government’s decision not to bring its students back from Wuhan, despite the pressure from parents and media, went well in terms of checking the transmission of coronavirus from china to pakistan.

“However, after the outbreak of coronavirus in iran, they did not have the capacity like that of china to tackle covid-19, pakistani pilgrims had to travel back to pakistan through taftan border,” he said.

Giving the figures of covid-19 patients

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

LAHORE: Army and police personnel search vehicles on an entry point of the provincial capital on Wednesday as a lockdown has been imposed here to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the country. PPI

in pakistan, he said, it was a good omen that only 153 out of a total of around 900 coronavirus patients as of March 24, were those who had contracted the virus locally. the prime minister recalled that when there were only 21 coronavirus cases in pakistan, the government summoned the meetings of national Security committee (nSc) and national coordination committee (ncc) and decided to go for initial lockdown through closure of educational institutions, suspension of sports activities, suspension of March 23 parade and other gatherings.

He said that though he was opposed to the idea of complete lockdown for certain reasons, Sindh, balochistan, khyber pakhtunkhawa (kp) and punjab, which had the authority under 18th amendment, subsequently went for lockdown, including the suspension of transport. the prime minister said that as no country in the world initially opted for complete lockdown, confusion on this issue still persisted in pakistan.

“We should not go for complete lockdown,” he said and viewed that the suspension of transport could hurt supply chain and cause shortage of essential items, including food and petroleum products. the prime minister said that with Gb already facing the shortage of petroleum products, the suspension of transport could also affect the vital economic activities like the harvesting of wheat crop and industrial production and cause unemployment.

He further mentioned that the government had to intervene to get the port opened on tuesday after the supply of pulses stopped due to the closure of port.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

PML-N terms govt’s rescue package ‘insufficient’

china sends medical supplies to Sindh; police arrest over 400 people for hoarding, violating Section 144 LAHORE/KARACHI STAFF REPORT

the number of coronavirus deaths in the country on Wednesday touched eight after a rawalpindi woman reportedly died of the deadly virus whereas the number of total cases have crossed 1,000. according to the national dashboard, maintained by the federal ministry of health, another patient of coronavirus has passed away taking the nationwide toll to eight. the deceased had been under treatment since March 21.

Swat, hitherto safe, also reported its first case on Wednesday. district commissioner Swat Saqib raza aslam has confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the area. according to aslam, the patient had returned from the uS one week ago. His family has been quarantined. the total number of cases in the country by Wednesday evening was 1,078. Sindh has reported 413 cases so far, whereas the toll in punjab with the

emergence of new cases has reached 323. balochistan and khyber pakhtunkhwa have 119, 121 cases, respectively. islamabad as reported 20 cases so far, whereas the Gilgit-baltistan region and azad Jammu kashmir have 81 and one cases, respectively.

400 DETAINED: in the wake of a steady rise in the number of cases, the Sindh government had imposed a complete lockdown in the province, while punjab, balochistan and khyber pakhtunkhwa opted for partial lockdowns. Gilgitbaltistan and azad Jammu kashmir are also shut down due to the spread of the disease.

However, these measures adopted recently have yet to bear fruit as the authorities concerned struggle to keep people at home. in Sindh, the government arrested over 400 people found for flouting Section 144 and selling sanitizers and masks at exorbitant rates in addition to indulgence in hoarding. according to police, the people were arrested for violating Section 144

pakistan has approached the international Monetary fund (iMf) with a request of $1.4 billion to mitigate the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, prime Minister’s finance adviser Hafeez Shaikh said on Wednesday. addressing a press conference, he said this sum is separate from the current $6bn programme and that the World bank will also provide $1bn to the country to support its efforts against the corona pandemic.

He was accompanied by pM’s adviser on commerce razak dawood, federal Minister for economic affairs Hammad azhar, pM’s media aide firdous ashiq awan, pM’s Special assistant on petroleum nadeem babar and others. according to the pM’s aide, the economy was on the path of the recovery; however, after the pandemic, the government was expecting a slowdown in the economic activity throughout the country. Giving reasons for the slowdown, he said: “demand for pakistan’s exports will fall as the economies of the countries that it exports to are weakened; remittances from expatriates will be affected as countries where they are based, such as Saudi arabia and the uae, are weakened; economic activity to be reduced which will in turn reduce people’s income and taxes.” to keep the economy from crashing, the government has already announced a rs1.2 trillion relief package, he said, adding that “we have to save our own people first”.

He said that the coronavirus pandemic has put the economy on a challenging path: it would not only affect the exports but would slow down domestic economic activities and thereby reduce tax collection.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

World Bank, IMF urge debt relief for poorest countries

STORY ON PAGE 02

Eighth Pakistani succumbs to corona, over 1,000 affected g

Hafeez SHaikH SayS fund requeSted to provide additional $1.4bn to contain fallout, Wb to provide $1bn

of the code of criminal procedure and for hoarding. Sindh inspector General of police (iGp) Mushtaq ahmed Mahar has urged the general public to stay at home to prevent the spread of covid19 in karachi and other parts of the province.

HELP FROM CHINA: china on Wednesday sent a cargo plane carrying medical equipment to Sindh, posted the chinese embassy in pakistan on twitter. it said a cargo plane carrying n-95 masks and other protective equipment had been dispatched to karachi.

Sindh chief Minister Murad ali Shah arrived at Jinnah international airport to receive the donations, which consisted of 500,000 masks, including n95 masks, and 50,000 coronavirus test kits. “these masks and kits will be distributed all over the country,” the chief minister said.

Meanwhile, Sindh transport Minister owais qadir Shah urged the provincial chief executive Murad ali Shah to take strict action against people who are violating the lockdown in order for it to be effective.

“He (Murad) should impose a curfew if he has to, this is a matter of people’s health,” he said. owais added that there are reports that events are still being held in some areas, defeating the purpose of a lockdown.

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STORY ON BACK PAGE

more inside

Rupee falls to 162 against dollar in interbank bloodbath continues at pSX; index loses 1,336 points STORIES ON PAGE 09

COVID-19 deaths surpass 20,000, over 450,000 infected trump says covid-19 doesn’t deserve lockdown; congress, White House agree on $2tr rescue package STORY ON BACK PAGE

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Thursday, 26 March, 2020

NEWS

‘sheer incompetence’: pml-n terms govt’s rescue package ‘insufficient’ PARLIAMENTARY PARTY MEETING SLAMS PTI FOR INCOMPETENCE IN CONTAINING CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK LAHORE

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STAFF REPORT

HE Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) has criticised the financial stimulus package announced by the Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf government, terming it “grossly insufficient and vague” for lack of implementation mechanism.

In a statement issued after the meeting of PML-N lawmakers and senior leadership under the chairmanship of party chief Shehbaz Sharif, the major opposition party demanded the “inclusion of the clearly defined strategy and implementation mechanism presented by National Assembly Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif”.

The moot discussed the measures taken by the government in the wake of the corona pandemic. According to the statement, “The meeting concluded that the government… made a mess of a single quarantine center at Taftaan…[and] single-handedly jeopardized the lives of the entire nation.”

The PML-N said it feared that due to

“sheer incompetence of this government there was high likelihood that these quarantine facilities can become festering grounds for the virus”.

The meeting also doubted the “sincerity of the government regarding utility stores considering PTI’s track record over the sugar and wheat crisis”.

The PML-N urged the government to bring down the petrol price to Rs70/litre due to the decrease in international prices.

It also pointed out “ambiguity left by the government regarding the Rs 200 billion set for laborers and pointed out that it has not been clarified that this what proportion of this amount will be given by the federal government and what amount by the provinces”. “Neither has PTI mentioned a date nor has the government defined a mechanism for the distribution of this amount while PMLN’s plan clearly laid out a system,” it said. The PML-N alleged that Rs 100 billion to the industrial sector was the money the government owed to the industrial sector. The statement said: “The meeting also criticised the Rs

Bilawal urges federal govt to Beef up efforts against corona NEWS DESK As the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise in the country, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has urged the federal government to take stronger steps against the pandemic. Addressing a press conference through video link in Karachi on Wednesday, Bilawal asked the federal government to lead the drive against Covid-19 and take more measures before it’s too late. He urged the government to gear up efforts to provide relief to the masses during this difficult period, demanding utility bills of the people to be waived off.

Earlier on March 21, stressing that no province can handle the situation alone, the PPP chairman had called on the federal government to facilitate the lockdown and increase COVID-19 tests and assistance for those in need.

50 billion for medical workers as a blatant lie as there have been no details and mechanism… and demanded an immediate doubling of the salary of all medical staff and doctors instead.” The meeting demanded that all taxes over import of food in any form from abroad must be lifted with immediate effect, according to the statement.

The PML-N questioned the existence of emergency fund and said if the government had Rs100bn in the fund, it should import ventilators then.

It also slammed the allocation of Rs 25bn to the NDMA, saying the allocation

should have been done in January.

The meeting stressed that despite extensive cooperation and proactive contribution by the opposition to the government amid pandemic crisis, the conduct of the Prime Minister at the consultative parliamentary meeting is unacceptable.

The meeting also passed a second resolution extending condolences with the families of those who have been killed by the pandemic and also called for a national civil award for Dr Usama who laid his life while fighting with the disease while serving his country.

Wheat farmers face transportation issues amid lockdown in Sindh LAHORE HASSAN NAQVI

Amid lockdown across the country in the aftermath of coronavirus outbreak, wheat farmers in Sindh are facing issues in transporting their harvested wheat to procurement centres set up by the federal and provincial governments as part of their procurement drive.

In a high level meeting on Wednesday, Prime Minister mran Khan also feared that due to complete lockdown and expected curfew in the country, wheat farmers may face issues in bringing their harvested crops to the procurement centres.

The harvesting of wheat crop was ini-

tiated in lower Sindh about 15 days ago.

Talking to Pakistan Today, Ajmal Summo, a wheat farmer from Badin, said, "I am done with the harvesting of my wheat crop but due to curfew and complete lockdown in the province, we do not have any any transport that could take our crop to procurement centres."

Agreeing with him, Bilal Summo, another wheat farmer, requested Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to ensure that farmers are allowed or provided transport to carry the harvested crops to procurement centres. Talking to this scribe, a senior official of the national food department said that Punjab and Sindh initiated the wheat procurement process from Wednesday

(today). "Initially, 1,162 wheat procurement centres are made functional today, including 382 wheat procurement centres in Punjab, while the issue of gunny bags to the farmers is scheduled to commence from April 5."

The harvesting of wheat crop is likely to be initiated in Punjab, the largest grower of the commodity, in the first week of April. The official said that the procurement would be done on a 'first come first serve' basis.

Meanwhile, farmers in Punjab also fear the transportation issues in light of issues faced by farmers in Sindh.

Jamil Abbas, a wheat farmer from Chiniot, said that in Sindh, farmers are

finding it difficult to bring their harvested crops to the procurement centres "and we fear the same in Punjab."

Talking to this scribe, Ahsan Budh, a farmer from Muzaffargarh, said that wheat harvesting would start as per schedule because farmers never go on strike and that lockdown hardly impacts the rural side.

Moreover, he the labourer lot from villages working in cities are back home and all of them are eyeing wheat crop, so there would be no shortage of labour to cut and thresh the crop.

"Now it's the government part to see how it arranged hassle free delivery of gunny bags and smooth procurement and payment processes,” he added.

firdous urges shehbaz to bring back his foreign assets to help pakistan ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Wednesday said that National Assembly (NA) Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif should bring back his foreign assets to the country to help the government fight coronavirus pandemic instead of merely providing a “delusional roadmap”. She said this in response to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president’s speech in which he had criticised the government. “He gave a delusional roadmap and criticised the government for its shortcomings against the virus,” he said. She said that 10 years is an ideal period for any chief minister for improving and introducing new technology in the health sector but sadly Shehbaz had done not enough during his tenure. “This is not the time for politics and we should focus on spreading awareness among the masses so that we can curb the spread of this highly contagious disease,” she added. Reacting to Shehbaz and Bilawal’s walkout from the recent parliamentary leaders’ meeting, she said, “I urge them to avoid thinking selfishly and to sincerely help the government tackle the challenges it is facing.” “The opposition can criticise the government but it should also propose measures to combat the pandemic,” she added. Earlier, leaders of all parliamentary parties held a meeting via video-link. During the meeting, the prime minister talked about the initiatives taken by the government to counter the spread of COVID-19. However, soon after his speech, he left the meeting, and when the opposition learned about the premier’s walkout, they also left the meeting in protest.

7 injured, several vehicles destroyed as lpg tanker catches fire in lahore LAHORE STAFF REPORT

egypt’s al-azhar allows suspension of friday prayers ISLAMABAD: Egypt’s Al-Azhar has issued a Fatwa (edict) on the request of President Dr Arif Alvi permitting suspension of Friday prayers to control the spread of deadly coronavirus in the country. “I am thankful to Grand Imam Shaikh of Al Azhar and Supreme Council for responding to my personal request to provide guidance to us with regard to Farz Jamaat & Juma prayers in mosques during coronavirus attack,” the President said in a tweet on Wednesday. President Alvi through Egypt’s ambassador in Pakistan had sought guidance from Al- Azhar institution, an authority on Islamic injunctions, for a word on suspension of congregational prayers at mosques amid spike in coronavirus cases. The President urged the Ulema in the country for urgent action on the Fatwa of Egypt’s Al-Azhar institution that termed it purely Islamic to cancel Friday prayers over coronavirus concerns. President Alvi mentioned that the countries already suspending congregational prayers included the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan, Kuwait, Palestine, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt. The Fatwa stressed that public gatherings, including congregational prayers at mosques, could result in spread of coronavirus and the governments of Muslim countries had full jurisdiction to cancel such events. It also emphasized amending Azaan (call to prayer) with words ‘Salaat Fi Buyut-e-kum’, meaning ‘pray in your homes’ instead of the usual ‘come to prayer’. Also, families within their homes can arrange group prayers. The edict says it is obligatory for Muslims to abide by the health instructions of the state in case of crisis and avoid following unofficial information and rumors. As per credible medical reports, the coronavirus spreads very easily and quickly. In this situation, saving human lives and protecting them from all risks and threats is in line with the great concept of Islam, the Fatwa said. APP

PIA to continue flights to Gilgit-Baltistan ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

WHILE the government has decided to suspend all domestic passenger flights from March 26, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will not suspend its flights to Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) to accommodate people stranded in Islamabad and to meet emergency needs in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

According to PIA, the government has permitted domestic flight operations to and from Islamabad Interna-

tional Airport and two airports in GB with effect from March 26.

However, the suspension of all other domestic flight operations will remain effective.

Speaking to Pakistan Today, a PIA official in GB said that the regional office was earlier told that the flights would be suspended, however, through an urgent email in the evening, the head office informed that the flights would continue. The official said that the decision to continue the flights was probably made after an

intervention at the government level as there are many people stranded in the federal capital.

The official said that this decision might have been taken in light of the emergency needs of the remote region as intercity transport service had already been suspended since March 24 to contain the spread of coronavirus.

According to the GB Information Department, a few special buses were arranged by the government to accommodate students stranded in different provinces after educational institutes ordered them to go vacate hostels.

At least seven people sustained injuries as a tanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) caught fire near Shahdara Morr on Wednesday.

According to Rescue-1122, the tanker carrying LPG exploded and caught fire, injuring the people close to it. Rescue officials said that the fire also engulfed a nearby fuel station. A number of vehicles parked in the nearby parking area were damaged in the incident. However, rescues officials and fire brigade team immediately reached the spot and extinguished the fire. The injured were shifted to Mayo Hospital. Meanwhile, City Traffic Officer (CTO) Hammad Abid also visited Shahdara Morr to review traffic situation. DSP Traffic Amir Sadiq briefed him about the incident and the damage caused to CTP motorcycles and other vehicles by the fire.

Court extends physical remand of Mir Shakilur Rahman till April 7 LAHORE STAFF REPORT

An accountability court on Wednesday extended the physical remand of Editor-inChief of the Jang and Geo Media Group, Mir Shakilur Rahman till April 7, in a case pertaining to the purchase of a piece of land more than three decades ago.

In the hearing held into the case, Judge Jawadul Hasan heard the arguments made by the NAB prosecutor, who asked for further physical remand of the accused.

On March 12, Rahman had been arrested over a 34-year-old property transaction by NAB. On March 13, the court had given his custody to NAB for a 12-day physical remand.

“The land that was transferred to MSR 34 years ago was transferred illegally by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA),” the prosecutor told the court on Wednesday. “LDA transferred the land to Rahman on the directives of former Punjab chief minister Nawaz Sharif,” the prosecutor alleged.

“The proper rules and procedures for the transfer of the land over to Rahman were not followed. LDA made the mistake of transferring the land in bulk,” the prosecutor further argued, adding that the land was allotted to him at three different places.

“Rahman illegally got the land allotment transferred to a single place,” the prosecutor said. However, the judge reprimanded the NAB official at this point, telling him not to indulge in political arguments. The court also questioned NAB why it needed further physical remand of Rahman.

“We have summoned the former DG LDA as well. The former DG LDA has assured us of his cooperation, and he will get back to us with a detailed answer after he has reviewed the documents pertaining to the allotment and transfer of land to Rahman,” the prosecutor said.

The court also asked NAB to explain how the land in question could have been transferred over to Rahman by the LDA before the authority had taken possession of it. “LDA can only transfer over the rights to a land after it has taken posses-

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sion of it,” the court reminded the prosecutor. Rahman’s lawyer Amjad Pervaiz argued before the court that his client had obliged NAB at every juncture in the case and should be freed. He said that NAB had all the documents and files related to the case with them, and there was no reason to detain him any longer.

“NAB says it wants to arrange a meting between a former officer of the LDA and my client. Why does NAB need to arrest Rahman to hold this meeting?” the counsel argued.

“It is in their own rules that before even asking for a businessmen to come to their office, they need to have passed the complaint verification stage, and be in the inquiry or investigation stage. Yet they summoned Rahman before these rules had been followed.” The lawyer further added that NAB chairman had signed the arrest warrants of Rahman even before the latter arrived with written answers to NAB questions. “How could the Chairman NAB have seen the answers before Rahman presented them to the body?” he asked.

Pervaiz said that it seemed the NAB chief had made up his mind to arrest Rahman. “For the chairman to sign arrest warrants, he needs to see the documents of the case, and the DG NAB needs to provide an assessment in the case too,” Pervaiz outlined. “The arrest warrant then travels from Islamabad to Lahore physically. The chain of events witnessed in lead-up to the arrest of MSR indicate that the NAB chief had made up his mind to arrest MSR before giving the DG due time to assess the case,” he noted. After hearing the arguments of both parties in the case, the judge went into his chamber for an hour, and emerged without a written ruling, instead declaring verbally that he had decided to extend the physical remand of Rahman till April 7. Meanwhile, Rahman has filed a bail petition in the LHC, stating the NAB had arrested him illegally and that he was suffering from several illnesses. The antigraft watchdog had violated its SOP’s prior to the arrest, the petition said. They could not find anything on me during investigation, the petition added.

Thursday, 26 March, 2020

NEWS

COVID-19: GOVt tO fOrm VOlunteers’ task fOrCe tO assIst elDerly anD pOOr FIRDOUS STRESSES NEED FOR NATIONAL UNITY TO ERADICATE CORONAVIRUS FROM THE COUNTRY ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

He federal cabinet on Wednesday called for national unity to counter coronavirus outbreak in the country, which has so far infected over 1,000 people in different provinces.

The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan and discussed agenda items and other important issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the current financial situation.

During the meeting, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous said Foreign Minister Shah Mah-

mood Qureshi apprised the premier that his statement regarding lifting of international sanctions from Iran was not only being appreciated by the Iranians but the International Court of Justice (ICJ) had also endorsed this suggestion.

Later, briefing the media about the cabinet’s decision, Dr Firdous said that the leading role played by PM Imran in shaking the world’s conscience and raising voice in support of Iran after the coronavirus outbreak there is being admired at every level.

She said that the debt relief programme proposed by the PM and his efforts to take up the idea at international fora, including South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

textile exporters fear ‘severe liquidity crunch’, seek pm’s intervention LAHORE: Textile exporters on Wednesday made an appeal to Prime Minister Imran Khan to intervene and ensure the suspension of sales tax returns for a period of three months, complete moratorium on debt (both principal and interest), and defer all utility bills for at least three months. In a letter to the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Mohammad Azam, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) stated that under the current circumstances, where mills and offices have been shutdown, the cash flow has come to a halt and certain measures are immediately required to enable industry to keep paying its workers in accordance with the PM’s strategy on COVID19. Moreover, the notification of 7.5cents/KWh electricity for exporters has not yet been issued as this has been delayed for over a month, the letter reads. Talking to Pakistan Today, Naveed Gulzar, a textile miller from Faisalabad, said the government has already decided new energy price (of 7.5 cents/kWh) for exporters after the economic Coordination Committee (eCC)’s approval and the cabinet’s ratification. “We don’t understand the rationale or motive behind holding the notification,” he said and lamented at the government for creating hurdles at a time when there is lockdown and governments of other countries are financially supporting their industries. “We urge the Ministry of Power to not hold the notification and issue it as soon as possible so the industry could adjust prepaid amounts against current bills and cash flow is averted,” Gulzar said. Shahid Nazir, a leading exporter, said during the prevailing economic breakdown worldwide most of retailers and brands had shut their stores and stopped further shipments due to the closure of borders. “The federal government must release funds to exporters, pending on account of sales tax, income tax besides rebates,” he demanded. HASSAN NAQVI

(SAARC) and Group of 77, was also getting acknowledgment globally.

The SAPM said that the cabinet underlined the need for engaging youth and overseas Pakistanis in the government efforts to effectively combat the COVID-19.

She said that a volunteers’ task force would be formed to guide the youth in assisting destitute and elderly to fight the coronavirus pandemic. “A structure and roadmap for the task force will be announced shortly,” she said.

Dr Firdous said that the overseas Pakistan were such an asset of the country because they had always stood by the nation in testing times.

The prime minister, she said, has decided to set up an international fund for the coronavirus. Accordingly, a roadmap would be prepared in due course of time, she added.

Dr Firdous said that the cabinet deferred the first agenda related to the Ministry of energy (Power Division) and directed to present it in the next meeting.

Regarding the decisions made by it on March 12, the cabinet directed for circulating the minutes in the next meeting, she added.

The SAPM said that the cabinet unanimously approved tax exemption on the payment of profit on foreign commercial loans after a briefing from the Ministry of Finance. It also accorded approval for the reorganization of SMe Banks’ board, she added.

Dr Firdous said that the cabinet also gave approval to the appointment of the chief executive officer (CeO) of the National Ignite Technology Fund for three months, and directed the Ministry of Information and Technology to appoint CeOs of its attached departments as soon as possible.

She said that the cabinet held a detailed discussion on the National electric Vehicle Policy and directed that the matter might be discussed by the economic Coordination Committee (eCC) and after consultation with all the relevant ministries resubmitted for approval.

Moreover, on the request of the National History and Literary Heritage Division, the cabinet approved change of its name to the National Heritage and Culture Division, she added.

She further said that the cabinet decided to lease of the evacuee Trust Property Board’s (eTPB) land situ-

The prime minister said that as there was a continuous worldwide debate on the issue of lockdown, all the stakeholders in Pakistan including the political parties, should also debate the issue and re-assess the situation periodically.

“When decisions are taken under fear and pressure, these affect the society,” he remarked and mentioned that 25 per cent of the country’s population was living below the poverty line.

He said that all such issues, including lockdown, and particularly the suspension of transport, would be discussed in the meeting of NCC on Thursday.

He said that if Pakistan had to go for a complete lockdown and curfew, the government would have to supply food to people at their doorsteps especially those living in slums and temporary settlements.

ated in the Larkana district at the rate of Rs4,500 per acre.

Dr Firdous said that the current account deficit reduced by 31 per cent, trade balance improved by 34 per cent, foreign remittances increased by 5.4 per cent ($15.1 billion), and the prices of essential items registered significant decrease.

She said that national harmony was needed at the time so as to curb the coronavirus contagion through concerted efforts. All the political parties should register their suggestions regarding containing of the coronavirus at the forum of the parliament and the Prime Minister’s Office, the SAPM added.

The political parties, she said, should also realise their obligation to mobilise the entire nation in the fight against the pandemic. All the stakeholders should play their due role under the leadership of PM Imran in rooting out the menace from the country.

MQM-P alliance to cost PTI Rs7bn NEWS DESK The government has decided to include two Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) members in the federal cabinet and issue funds for Karachi and Hyderabad after the latter decided to keep its alliance intact with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

According to a local media outlet, the party will rejoin the ruling coalition in April and its leaders, Aminul Haq and Faisal Sabzwari

will likely be inducted into the cabinet as the IT minister and PM’s special assistant on planning and development, respectively.

These names were shared with Sindh Governor Imran Ismail during his recent visit to MQM-P Headquarters in Bahadurabad on Monday.

The PTI government has decided to allocate Rs6 billion for Karachi and Rs1bn for Hyderabad in development funds, the report said quoting MQM-P leaders and added that an “installment of Rs1bn

as per the commitment has been released by the federal government to the Sindh Infrastructure Development Company Limited”.

It has been decided that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and Hyderabad Metropolitan Corporation would oversee the development, which would be carried out with those funds.

A committee headed by the governor has been formed for the establishment of a university in Hyderabad.

Govt seeks IMF’s help to insulate economy from coronavirus CoNtINuED FroM PAgE 01 STIMULUS PACKAGe: Shaikh said that out of the total Rs1.25tr, Rs200bn would be spent on daily wagers and labourers: the government would provide Rs3,000 per month to the workers in coordination with the business community and provincial governments.

The adviser said that the package also included Rs100bnfor industry and exporters which would be spent to resolve liquidity issues of the business community, such as payment of refunds and deferment in interest on principal amounts.

For the agricultural and Small and Medium enterprises (SMe) sectors, Rs100bn would be spent for deferment of loans, concessional loans, and underwriting by the government for creditor subsidy, he said, adding fertilisers would also be subsidised to facilitate farmers.

Shaikh said that Rs1450bn would be spent to provide relief to around 12 million vulnerable people by providing them Rs 3000 per month for a period of four months.

In addition, he said that the government was also expanding Panagahs [shelter homes] to provide immediate relief to “very low-income people”.

The adviser said that Rs50bn would be given to the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) to provide five basic edible commodities on subsidised rates, such as flour, pulses, sugar, and ghee.

He said that the governed intended to spend Rs 280 billion to procure 8.2m tonnes of wheat during the current

season to keep the inflation in check.

He said that reduction of oil prices was also part of the relief package as the prices of per liter petrol, diesel, kerosene, light diesel oil have been reduced by Rs15.

There was a possibility of a further decrease in the POL prices as the global prices won’t see an upward trend.

In addition, Rs36bn (quantum relief) has been provided on electricity up to 300 units per month and Rs 2,000 gas bill in three monthly installments, he said, adding Rs15bn would be incurred on tax break on health and food supplies, while Rs.100 billion would be provided as Residual/energy Fund. The government will also provide Rs25bn to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Hafeez Shaikh said that the pace of spending through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) would be enhanced to generate overall economic activity, whereas efforts were also being made for fund mobilization.

The adviser said that the economy of the country was moving in the right direction and claimed that the current account deficit had also reduced from $20bn to $3bn.

Likewise, he added, the government paid back loans of Rs4,000bn whereas the revenue collection had also witnessed a 17 per cent increase during the first eight months and foreign exchange reserves of State Bank of Pakistan rose by $5bn. He said that the primary balance had remained positive, which was rarely witnessed by the Pakistan economy in the past.

PM Imran asks provinces to ‘reassess’ complete lockdowns CoNtuNIED FroM PAgE 01

03

The prime minister said that he would soon announce a programme of volunteers, who would work for supplying food to people at their doorsteps.

Reiterating that the biggest challenge during a lockdown would be to ensure the well-being of daily wagers and those living below the poverty line, the prime minister said the federal government will “reassess and discuss and come up with solutions”.

Speaking on the occasion, Special Assistant on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza said there are 1,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus so far in the country.

He said 78 per cent cases of COVID19 had come from Iran and only five per cent of cases were locally transmitted.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal said that the government has released 26 billion ru-

pees for acquiring necessary equipment and other things to fight COVID-19.

He said that 500 ventilators, injections, masks, and other things will be acquired to meet the needs in wake of the pandemic.

He said that about half million masks, including 50,000 N-95 masks have reached Karachi.

SHEHBAZ, BILAWAL PROTEST PM’S ABSENCE: Following the conclusion of Dr Mirza and NDMA chief’s speech, Shehbaz asked whether the prime minister was present in the meeting.

When National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser informed him that the premier had left, Shehbaz said that he would not remain in the meeting if “this is the level of seriousness being shown by the prime minister”.

“We are currently dealing with the greatest pandemic to hit Pakistan in its entire history and we are not here to do

politics. But if this is the level of seriousness of the government, I cannot continue this,” he added.

PPP Chairman Bilawal BhuttoZardari also protested against the PM’s action and walkout of the online session.

Shehbaz tweeted after the meeting that he was disappointed by the PM’s “intentional absence” from the meeting. “It seems he is still not ready to listen to the opposition and the whole country just saw the seriousness of its chief executive.

I was left with no option but to walk out in protest,” Shehbaz wrote.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi condemned the actions of Shehbaz and Bilawal, saying that all political parties should be presenting a united front in the current situation amid the coronavirus pandemic.

He said Shehbaz Sharif should act maturely. He said a walk out doesn’t send out the right message to the public.

Govt decides to extend validity of overseas pakistanis’ passports ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to extend the validity of the passports of overseas Pakistanis for one year and has directed the Interior Division to facilitate Pakistani nationals ostensibly in view of the travel restrictions being imposed by countries due to the coronavirus pandemic. During the federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday, Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen Mazari requested the prime minister’s intervention to resolve the difficulties being faced by Pakistani workers in the United Arab emirates (UAe). Dr Mazari, while referring to the long queues in front of the Pakistan’s embassy in Dubai, said that the Interior Division should extend the validity of their passports and National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) because otherwise they would be deported by the host government. Taking notice of the issue, PM Imran said that overseas Pakistanis are country’s precious assets as they make valuable contributions to the national economy through remittances. He informed the cabinet that in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions being imposed by the countries, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resources Development Sayed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari had already been tasked to facilitate the workers and prisoners stranded in various countries. STAFF REPORT

CtD foils terror bid in rajanpur, arrests five ‘Bla terrorists’ RAJANPUR: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and bomb disposal squad on Wednesday foiled a terrorist bid in Rojhan area here and defused two bombs out of three that were five kg each and arrested five suspected terrorists of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). According to the details, the terrorists had planted two bombs on the main highway of Rojhan tehsil which is frequently used by Arabian princes, military police and security forces. However, the CTD and bomb disposal squad responded timely and defused the devices. APP

04 KARACHI

Thursday, 26 March, 2020

WEATHER UPDATES THURSDAY

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No oNE will bE allowEd oN roads aFTEr 8pm, siNdh govT ordErs

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Transporters find unique way to earn money in lockdown KARACHI INp

Transporters in Karachi are using unique ways to earn money even during a strict lockdown for public safety, it was reported on Wednesday. According to the details, Gadap Police foiled a bid to transport 25 passengers to Hyderabad in a truck by stopping them at a check post.

The passengers were kept in police custody for two hours as punishment before being allowed to leave for their respective homes. The transporters were charging Rs300 each from the passengers for Hyderabad. However, the police said a case would be lodged against the truck-driver for violating the travel ban amid coronavirus fears. Last week, Sindh’s transport minister had revealed that 15 transporters had been booked over violations of the lockdown and route permits of 50 vehicles were cancelled. The minister appreciated the cooperation of the masses on the lockdown announced by the provincial government and added that the virus would soon be defeated if people remained in their homes. It may be noted here that the Sindh government has imposed a 15-day ban on the entry of inter-city passenger vehicles including buses and vans in the province in order to stop the transmission of COVID19 within the province.

KARACHI

T

sTaFF repOrT

HE Sindh Home Department on Wednesday announced a strict ban on the movement of all persons from 8 pm to 8 am whereas all grocery, convenience, general and departmental stores, which were earlier allowed to remain open, would now also remain shut during the said time, until March 25.

"The preventive measures, which came into effect immediately from Wednesday, have been taken the provincial government to contain the spread of COVID-19, in exercise of powers con-

ferred Section 3(1) of the Sindh Epidemic Diseases Act 2014," said the Sindh Home Department spokesperson.

No medical stores, except those situated within or adjacent to public and private hospitals, are allowed to operate except these times either. Movement of any person is strictly prohibited during the notified time except in medical emergency or staff responding to issues related to essential services like electricity, gas, emergency and hospital staff.

The official reiterated industries except that which is related to essential food, domestic consumption and medical items are on complete lockdown and not allowed to operate at all.

Those industrial units or establishments making, producing or packaging any non-essential items or items that are unrelated to food and health shall close their operations as unnecessary gathering of factory workers and their movement in mass numbers seen during the day poses a great threat of the spread of COVID-19.

Government offices and other essential services offices, which are allowed vide an earlier order, shall operate only with skeleton staff or technical staff.

The provincial government has further empowered commissioners and deputy commissioners of their various districts and divisions in Sindh to issue any further orders, directions or notices

in coordination with respective DIGs and SSPs for the implementation of this order in letter and spirit.

Any person disobeying these directives or any person acting as a facilitator, in any manner, in defiance of this order issued under the Sindh Epidemic Diseases Act shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Assistant Commissioners (ACs), as well as personnel of law enforcing agencies above the rank of inspector or equivalent, are empowered under Section 3(1) of the relevant law to take any legal action they deem appropriate.

Ulema urge Muslims to strictly follow preventive measures to stop corona spread KARACHI app

Ulema belonging to different schools of thought in a joint resolution for protection against the Corona virus, have urged the Muslims to strictly adopt the precautionary and preventive measures to contain and stop spread of the corona virus.

This was announced in a joint declaration by Mufti Taqi Usmani while addressing a press conference at the Sindh Governor's House here on Wednesday.

The ulema have called upon the countrymen to ask for forgiveness from Allah Almighty.

The ulema also called upon the

media to play a vital role in raising awareness among the masses about the Corona virus and importance of preventive measures. Chief Executive Officer of Indus Hospital, Dr. Abdul Bari and prominent scholars including Mufti Taqi Usmani, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman and Maulana Shehenshah Hussain Naqvi expressed their views on the occasion.

They said that a unanimous resolution was approved by all Ulema in the view of the corona virus and every Muslim should follow and respect the resolution.

Mufti Taqi Usmani highlighted the aims and objectives of the resolution., while Maulana Shehhenshah Hussein Naqvi also spoke on the occasion.

K-Electric suspends physical meter reading, encourages online bill payment during lockdown Karachi: Committed to playing its due role in the fight to control the COVID-19 outbreak, KElectric has decided to suspend physical meter reading in the interest of the safety of its employees, and that of its customers. In light of this, KE bills to its residential and commercial customers will be calculated based on their average number of units consumed, in line with National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) guidelines for circumstances where physical meter reading is not possible. The power utility has also decided to extend the due date for bills below PKR 4,000 to April 10. Since bill-delivery activities may also be impacted by the current situation, customers can conveniently visit the KE website at https://www.ke.com.pk to see their payable bill amount or download duplicate bills. Customers can also receive their bill via SMS by typing ‘BILL’ space ‘13 digit Account number” and sending the SMS to 8119. To comply with COVID-19 restrictions customers are advised to avoid physically visiting banks for bill payments. press release

Addressing the occasion, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman read the text of the resolution and said that Tanzeem Ul Madaris Deeniya has also issued unanimous instructions with regard to Corona virus. He said that the pandemic "Corona virus" is indeed a warning from Almighty Allah for our reformation.

He said that the whole nation should turn to repentance and repentance and ask for forgiveness from Allah Almighty.

Mufti Muneeb said that the mosques will remain open and prayers in congregation "Ba-Jammat Namaz” of five times daily with “Azaan O Iqamah” will be continued. He said that all people should come from their house to mosques in

ablution "Ba-Wazoo" and only offer "Farz Rakt" in mosques while offer "Sunnat Rakt" at their homes.

He pointed out that on the basis of medical reasons, if the government imposes a ban on any specific number of "Namazi" or prohibits a Muslim of a certain age to enter the mosque, they will be considered to be disabled in accordance with Islamic law "the Shariah". He said that senitizers should be placed at entrance of the mosque and a general short and brief speech should be given in Urdu only for five minutes on the occasion of Friday prayers “Namaz-e-Jumma”, so as to provide religious and medical guidance related to the Corona virus.

Fresh milk prices decrease due to closure of tea shops KARACHI app

Prices of fresh milk have dropped significantly in the country’s commercial hub owing to the significant reduction in routine consumption of tea used at tea shops that are now closed. Abdul Wahab, a dairy farmer and wholesale supplier of milk told APP that the supply of milk has increased manifold but consumption has decreased due to the closure of tea shops and reduction in the use of other fresh milk products. In reply to a question on whether there were any problems in the smooth supply of milk to the city, he said that the lockdown has caused some issues related to transportation but overall, the situation is satisfactory and manageable at the moment. It may be noted here that all tea shops along with lassi stalls and ready-to-drink-milk stalls have been out of business as the government scrambles to contain the coronavirus. Milk retailer Muhammad Ramzan told APP that there has been almost 30 to 40 per cent reduction in retail prices of milk as now the commodity is being sold at Rs70 per kilogramme against its normal price of Rs110 per kilogramme, adding that this happened within a matter of two days. Milk retailers have also placed banners and posters on their shops inscribed with curtailed prices to attract customers. Many of them have also marketed special offers to attract and persuade customers so as to increase their sale while a few vendors are giving 250 to 500 grams of milk free with one kilogramme of milk.

Sindh CM approves purchase of COVID-19 testing machines, portable x-ray machines KARACHI app

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday approved the purchase of new medical equipment, including coronavirus testing machines and portable Xray systems, according to a press release from the provincial government.

The decision was made during a meeting of the provincial task force on coronavirus.

The new medical equipment ordered includes 290 ventilators, 3.2 million Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), 100,000 testing kits, 100 Rapid Kit Antigen Test Machines (RKATM), 50 RT Lamp Testing Machines and 10,000 RT Lamp Kits, and 29 portable X-ray machines. With the addition of these tools, Sindh's testing capacity will be improved.

At the time of this report, there were only 484 ventilators, of which 353 were

operational, 52 out of order, 43 yet to be installed, and 21 were in the purchasing process, the provincial health department noted.

CM Shah said while at least 5,000 more ventilators were required to meet any emergency, the purchase of an additional 290 was approved in the first phase.

The chief minister was informed that the RKATM, which was manufactured by Chinese scientists, was able to test samples through an easier system, effectively carrying out 10 tests an hour.

He, therefore, approved buying 100 machines and 100,000 antigen testing kits and directed the health department to immediately place the order. "I want their delivery as soon as possible,” he said.

Shah issued directives to ensure the RT Lamp Testing Machines and 10,000 RT Lamp Kits were delivered properly.

Health officials informed the chief minister that seven medical facilities —

including Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, Chest Clinic Lyari, taluka hospital Hala, and the district headquarters (DHQ) hospitals in Sanghar, Ghotki, Naushahro Feroze, and Kashmore — had been provided testing machines and were able to conduct 1,344 tests in six batches a day. Therefore, these health facilities are in of need 120,960 kits over the next 90

days.

Sindh health department conducted 3,718 tests, of which 413 tested positive, 3,304 were diagnosed negative, and the results of 485 were pending.

Of the 413 positive cases, 145 were from Karachi, 265 from Sukkur, two of Hyderabad, and one in Dadu, whereas 265 were pilgrims. There were 94 local transmission cases in the province, while 10 individuals were in self-isolation.

Some 100 pilgrims were in quarantine in Malir; of these, 68 have tested negative while results for the rest were yet to be released. Shah then directed that the 68 COVID-19 negative people be released from the isolation centre but advised that their data be retained in the records.

Sindh's public sector hospitals have reported 1,874 suspected cases, of which 93 have been tested. Private hospitals, on the other hand, reported 702 cases, of which 27 have undergone testing.

Thursday, 26 March, 2020

Islamabad goes under vIrtual lockdown to contaIn spread of coronavIrus ISLAMABAD

t

STAFF REPORT

HE administration of the federal capital on Wednesday imposed strict measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus amid a rise in the number of positive cases from the city.

According to health officials, 15 people have been confirmed to have contracted the virus in Islamabad. On Tuesday, the District Magistrate of Islamabad notified the closure of all markets, shopping malls, restaurants, and private offices in the city. There shall be a complete ban on intra-city, interdistrict, and inter-province movement of people by public transport, the order released by the district authority outlined.

However, soup kitchens and shelters for the poor shall remain functional in the city, the order stipulated. The authorities will also establish ration warehouses for the needy and underprivileged, it added.

Like in other parts of the country, essential services including hospitals, utilities, banks and grocery stores are allowed to function, the order underlined.

The metro bus service will be functional on select days and on specific times during the day only, but passengers have been advised to sit at a distance from one another, according to the released notification. A complete ban on gatherings of all kinds for social, religious, or any other purpose, whether they be public or private, has

also been notified.

Pakistan Army has been deployed in all the four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan to help the

abad police, the district administration, Pakistan Army, and Rangers was conducted in the capital for awareness against coronavirus on Tuesday.

The flag march started from Pakistan Sports Complex and culminated at the same point after passing through various areas of the city on Tuesday afternoon.

On the occasion, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad, Muhammad Aamir Zulfiqar Khan, said that the purpose of the campaign was to create awareness against the epidemic. "All institutions responsible for law enforcement are ensuring protection to lives and property of the citizens. People should restrict themselves at their homes and avoid unnecessary movement," he said.

05

foreign divestment crosses $1.5bn mark KARACHI MEIRYUM ALI

Total gross divestment during March 2020 has just reached $1.501 billion, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), in an expected trend of foreign outflows leaving the country due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Foreign investors divested $95 million of treasury bills (T-bills) on March 24, as per the Special Convertible Rupee Account (SCRA), which tracks inflows and outflows from foreign countries. This amount was enough to tip over total gross divestment over the $1.5 billion mark, which on March 13 stood at $1.406 billion. The net investment in T-bills from July 2019 to date now amounts to $1.598 billion. At the rate of foreign outflows leaving the country, the net investment looks certain to fall to, or even further, than the December 2019 figure of $1.450 billion. The month of March has seen a significant amount of money leave the country. Foreign investors divested $92 million of treasury T-bills on March 20, divested $47 million of T-bills on March 17 and $222 million net worth of Tbills on March 13. Similarly, on March 12, foreign investors divested $166 million of Tbills; on March 11, foreign investors divested $251 million net worth of T-bills, while on March 10, foreign investors divested $136 million of T-bills. Divestment really took off in late February, as foreign investors divested $67 million of T-bills on February 28.

sbp records 4pc decline in food imports ISLAMABAD APP

ISLAMABAD: A deserted view of the Faisal Avenue as residents of the federal capital stayed indoors as a precautionary measure against corona virus. INP

SBP raises Rs551.7bn from T-bill auction KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has reported that the government raised Rs551.7 billion through T-bills, against the auction target of Rs500 billion. The SBP conducted the auction for the sale of 3-month, 6-month and 12-month Government of Pakistan Market Treasury Bills (MTBs) and received bids amounting to over Rs1,347 billion. Bids worth Rs337.8 billion were received for 3-month T-bills, Rs209.5 billion for 6-month T-bills while 12-month government papers fetched bids amounting to Rs799.4 billion. Out of the received bids, the federal government raised Rs242.2 billion for 3-months, Rs151.9 billion for 6-months and Rs157.5 billion for 12-months. The total acceptance in the auction, including non-competitive bids, was Rs585.5 billion. The cut-off yields for all bids decreased, with the cutoff yield for 3-month bids at 11.29pc, down from 12.73pc. The yield for 6-month bids was at 11.29, down from 12.51pc, and 10.86pc for 12-month bids, down from 12pc. This is the first T-bill auction that has taken place on the back of not one, but two policy rate cuts. The central bank cut the policy rate from 13.25pc to 12.5pc on March 17, and then from 12.5pc to 11pc on March 24. MEIRYUM ALI

By SHAKeeL A. MALIK s the mankind is scrambling in the face of universal onslaught of novel coronavirus, our nation is weighing its strengths and limitations in tackling this universal health emergency of unprecedented scale.

In national discussion ignited by this gigantic challenge, our usual proclivity to lambast ourselves has muted strengths that present silver linings. Initially it was government’s refusal to bring back Pakistani students from China and belated response to the threat that triggered criticism. Later, selective screening, lack of capacity, and coordination failure between federal and provincial governments became the subjects of hot debate in mainstream and social media. Add to all this fake news on social media that run the risk of pushing the nation into mental trauma.

Unfair comparisons of situation in Pakistan have been drawn with frightening situations in Italy and Iran without understanding different set off factors in our and other countries. Just take one minor factor of greeting habits (which are not the tradition in our society) in foreign countries that contributed to exponential spread of the virus.

The biggest strength of our battle-hardened people is the strong resilience to confront national, regional and global crises including earthquake of 2005, floods of 2010, a long war against terrorism, and dengue fever outbreaks. The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged Pakistan’s demonstration of how government and societal approaches could be made to work. Dr Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala, WHO’s country head appreciated Pakistan’s timely measures against coronavirus threat, terming these as “best national response.” Our health and administrative authorities are not resting on accolades as a cross-country national effort is in progress to wipe out the Covid-19.

The corona challenge has not thus caught us offguard. During successive calamities in our national jour-

A

civil administration as the number of patients of the virus continues to rise at an exponential rate across the country.

A flag march by personnel of Islam-

NEWS

'PIA losses may surge to Rs6bn by end-March' ISLAMABAD APP

Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan on Wednesday feared that the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)’s losses might reach up to Rs6 billion by the end of this month.

The national flag-carrier had so far suffered a loss of Rs4 billion after coronavirus cases started emerging in the country, the minister said in a statement .

He said the Aviation industry all over world had faced immense losses due to spread of the virus. “Similarly, PIA has also incurred a loss of Rs 4 billion till March 25.” The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had incurred a loss of Rs600 mil-

lion during a period from March 1-15, which was expected to increase, Khan said. He said the national flag-carrier had organised 27 special flights to bring back 8,824 stranded Pakistanis from Saudi Arabia, who had gone there to perform Umrah. He said as many as 40 Pakistanis from Doha and 100 from Dubai were also brought back, who had stuck there because of the negative corona test requirement. The minister said Pakistan was already passing through difficult economic conditions, but this virus multiplied its economic hardships.

He appealed to all segments of the society including media to support the present government in its fight against the virus, which had badly affected even the strongest economies of the world.

Challenge that’s viral ney, the nation has always risen to the upheavals. The philanthropic and giving spirit has been the key factor.

In the aftermath of lockdowns, the people are ready to follow government’s care protocols and financially support those living below poverty line.

The Covid-19 didn’t find us in complacent mood as our government had been in frequent contact with Chinese authorities on the issue since November 2019 owing to presence of large number of Pakistani students in Wuhan city and elsewhere in China. Due to exchanges in the context of CPEC, initial preparations kicked off by end of last year. Due to this close engagement between the two governments, our authorities were learning lessons on mitigating techniques and public health security, though in that phase we were not expecting Covid’s sharp world-wide dispersal and Iran factor. The care protocols including entry-point screening procedures, lockdowns, quarantines, and social distancing were already in the knowledge of our authorities who immediately started to follow these as soon as the initial cases surfaced in our territories.

Pakistan and China being all-weather strategic friends, we are in a vantage position to benefit from China’s spectacular success in eradicating the deadly virus. President Arif Alvi, accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Planning & Development Minister Asad Umar, was the first Head of State to visit China to show solidarity after China emerged victorious from the crisis. China is fast building our capacities by providing material, financial, professional and technical help. The first batch of 200 Chinese physicians is already in Pakistan to share their expertise regarding diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of Covid19. China has provided thirty thousand testing kits, huge

supplies of masks and protective clothing, epidemic prevention facilities, in addition to funds to build an isolation centre in Pakistan.

Pakistan took a prudent decision to resist airlifting its students back home. This move while giving four Pakistani students an opportunity to recover, kept the virus at bay until end February when it made its way into our country through Zaireen returning from Iran. This gave Pakistan a period of around three months to learn from and put in place best practices in China and elsewhere in the world. Our medical experts are working on available options of anti-pandemic medicines and the procedure of passive immunization that was practiced in China.

In disease susceptibility, three factors including immunity in various races, demographic structures and climate are the key determinants. While we are told that there is no proven linkage between warm climate and low incidence of coronavirus, there is still a common observation that the disease is taking much greater toll in lives in countries with low temperatures than countries with warmer climates. According to nCoV2019.live, out of 14,750 deaths which took place around the world due to Covid-19 as of 23rd March, 8,734 deaths were reported in European and Scandinavian regions, while only 79 deaths were reported in Middle East and South Asian regions minus Iran as it is relatively not warm in March with temperature ranging from 7 to 15 degrees Celsius.

As the Covid-19 entered Pakistan at a time when spring had set in, there is no strong likelihood of sharp spike in positive cases and deaths. Hope springs from the fact that in end March (a month from the time when first case appeared in Pakistan) there are over 800 confirmed confirmed cases with six casualties.

Our demographic structure is another factor that pro-

The import of food products into the country decreased by 3.92 per cent during the first eight months of the current financial year (2019-20) as compared to the corresponding period of last year, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported on Wednesday. Food imports into the country during July-February FY20 were recorded at $1,610.657 million, as against the import of $1,676.530 million during July-February FY19.

The food commodities that contributed to the negative growth included edible fruits and nuts, import of which dipped from $23.535 million last year to $22.129 million during the period under review, showing a decline of 5.97pc. The import of coffee, tea, mate drink and spices decreased by 7.55pc, from $423.468 million to $391.471 million, whereas the import of oil seeds and oleaginous fruits also dropped by 10.32pc, from $846.571 million to $759.193 million. Similarly, milling industry imports declined by 32.75pc, from $15.293 million to $10.284 million, while the import of vegetable saps and extracts plunged by 5.45pc, from $12.183 million last year to $11.519 million.

The import of edible vegetable, however, witnessed a growth of 12.95pc, from $289.757 million to $327.282 million, whereas the import of cereals increased by 34.10pc, from $46.484 million to $62.336 million.

vides hope. Majority of the corona victims in terms of fatalities are persons above 70 or 80 years of age. In Italy, very few deaths have been reported below the age of 60 years while a large percentage of casualties could be seen in the age bracket of 80 years and above, particularly in people who had history of other disease(s). In Pakistan less than 5 percent of population falls within the vulnerable age segment of 64 years and above. This raises the possibility of not many people succumbing to the virus.

Much will, however, depend on how persons from diverse age segments are quarantined and treated.

Physical immunity in our people is higher than in most of the developed countries owing to the hard environment we live in. Due to combination of high immunity and warm climate, the casualty figures in African countries are still in one digit with over 700 positive cases. Though said sarcastically, it is true to a large extent that our people have developed strong immune system through consuming adulterated foods, polluted water as well as inhaling polluted air. Flu, for instance, has never been an issue in our country while it’s dreaded in European countries, especially in elderly population. Excessively clean and germ free environment has brought down the immunity levels in most of European and other developed countries.

We are also at each other’s necks due to taking the pandemic in a casual manner. This perhaps is not the case as people from the whole spectrum of society are conscious of the virus and are educating themselves and one another on its dangers and socio- hygienic measures. The memes and humorous video clips on social media and whatsapp are aimed at keeping low the anxiety level.

There is a dire psychological need to lower stress and depression caused by the pandemic. In this regard, meditation is a great force of our people that always comes to our rescue in testing times. Quarantining ourselves has provided to welcome respite to introspect and employ it as spiritual strength.

The writer is an Islamabad-based free lancer.

Thursday, 26 March, 2020

06 COMMENT

The world besieged

Coping with the rigours of lockdown Much more needs to be done

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he fast spread of the coronavirus makes it urgent to initiate large scale testing of the perceived cases to locate all virus carriers in the country and isolate them in properly quarantined camps. This cannot be done without a countrywide lockdown first which alone can limit interaction between the virus carriers and healthy citizens, thus bringing down the currently phenomenal rate of increase in the number of the patients.

The PM wants voluntary self-isolation without recourse to coercive measures like a curfew. experience has amply shown that the social intermixing cannot be stopped by preaching alone. After a day-long “janta curfew” India too found it could not be sustained voluntarily and announced a countrywide lockdown. This explains why an otherwise reluctant Punjab government too has been persuaded to go for a lockdown for 14 days.

The number of those who will be adversely affected by the lockdown would no doubt run into millions. The Sindh government has taken a number of measures to alleviate their hardships. More are under consideration.

The PM has announced a direct relief of Rs 3,0000 for seven million vulnerable families. An additional Rs 5 billion have been allocated to the Utility Stores Corporation to continue providing essential goods at affordable rates. The reduction in the prices of petroleum products by Rs 15 per litre only is somewhat miserly. had it been above 30 percent it would have led to a perceptible reduction in the prices of commodities of everyday use.

The stimulus package for industries includes the policy rate cut by 150 basis points to 11 percent, deferred debt-service payments, sales tax refunds and Rs 10 billion for small and medium size enterpises and agriculture. The measures would provide a significant relief to the industrialists with the expectation that they would preserve jobs and pass part of the profits on to the industrial workers during the testing times ahead . What remains to be seen is whether the government can ensure that a part of the benefits reaches the industrial workforce.

The federal government needs to take note of the measures being devised by Sindh government to provide food to the needy during the lockdowns and implement the scheme, keeping in view the concrete conditions in every province and region outside Sindh.

M Fazal elahI

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eRVeWRACKIng indeed! The virulent Coronavirus ‘COVID-19’ disease is affecting over 162 countries and territories around the world, and 1 international conveyance (the Diamond Princess cruise ship harbored in Yokohama, Japan).

It wouldn’t be inappropriate to say that the perilous COROnAVIRUS PAnDeMIC has sent shiver down the spines of millions of people across the globe. People are getting affected by the day. People are dying every day. Those at the helm of governance in countries across the world, including Pakistan, are relentlessly engaged 24/7 to not only tighten its grip over this deadly disease but also find effective ways and means to completely eradicate it.

What does COVID-19 mean? COVID-19 is a highly infectious respiratory disease caused by a new coronavirus. The disease was discovered in China in December 2019 and has since spread around the world.

The pace at which this deadly disease is spreading and taking its toll on human lives across the globe leaves the world community totally perplexed to understand how to grapple with this gruesome menace.

According to the latest figures, 425,711 people were confirmed as having the coronavirus across the world

by Thursday morning. Roughly 18,952 people up to then had lost their valuable lives to this ghastly disease. The number of people who have recovered so far stands at 109,225. The number of active cases worldwide stands at 294,755. Reported serious and critical cases are 13,130. however, a fact that cannot be overlooked is that while China was initially the worst affected country of the world, the recovery rate there is indeed very encouraging.

According to those figures, among some of the badly affected affluent countries of the world China ranks at number one with the number of affected people standing at 81,218, followed by Italy 69,176, the USA 54,823, Spain 42,058, germany 32,991, Iran 24,811, France 22,304, Switzerland 9877, South Korea 9137, UK 8077, netherlands 5560, Austria

The USA acts

Implications of the Oil War

Peace does not seem to be coming to Afghanistan

U

S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has found that his failure to convince the Afghan government to release Taliban prisoners ahead of a withdrawal of US troops has jeopardized the USA’s peace agreement with the Taliban. In a meeting with Afghan President Ashraf ghani, he failed to persuade him to carry out the prisoner release, or to patch matters up with Abdullah Abdullah. Four years ago, Mr Abdullah had been persuaded to accept the position of Chief executive and to let Mr ghani assume the Presidency after a disputed election. President ghani’s re-election resulted in a replay, with Mr Abdullah once again the main candidate, once again defeated, and once again refusing to accept the results. Indeed, he went to the extent of having an inauguration ceremony for himself at the very moment President ghani was being re-inaugurated for a second term. Mr Pompeo thus needed to combine the two governments into one, not for the release of prisoners, but so the Taliban may have a credible interlocutor for the next stage of the peace deal, supposed to be the intraAfghan talks which are supposed to produce a lasting peace.

There are now unmistakable signs of the US-Taliban agreement coming unstuck. Wednesday’s attack on a Kabul gurdwara for which ISIL has claimed responsibility indicates that the ability of the Taliban to deliver peace on behalf of the armed opposition might not be as complete as the USA might have thought. If the Taliban fail to deliver on peace, then not just the Afghan government, but the USA will begin to wonder whether they are Wasting their time or not.

This might afford satisfaction to Taliban opponents, but it does not bring peace to Afghanistan. Pakistan has been one of the regional powers most desirous of peace in Afghanistan, but its only role so far was to persuade the Taliban to an agreement, apart from providing a home to the refugees created by the various conflicts that have bedeviled the country for the last four decades. It should be careful to ensure that it plays a positive role in the establishment of peace.

The differing Saudi and Russian approaches to the epidemic have created it Fareha IqtIdar

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he international oil market witnessed its gravest fall in prices since 1991, during the first third of this month. The oil price crash startled the global market which was apprehensive of the influence of the coronavirus pandemic on world economy. Such a drastic dip in a single day; occurred three decades back, when US forces undertook an air attack on Iraqi forces subsequent to their foray into Kuwait.

The recent crash was set off by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as it steeply slashed the oil prices. The act was in retaliation to Russia. On 6 March, during a meeting in Vienna between the Organization of Oil Producing Countries (OPeC) and Russia, the biggest oil exporter outside it, the festering inconsistencies between their outlooks on oil prices finally came out into the open. Saudi Arabia asked the Russian representatives to reduce their oil supply so that the prices of oil in the international market could remain higher during the coronavirus pandemic. As for Moscow, it had participated in Vienna meeting inclined to curtail the growth of US shale production. Despite the willingness to find a middle ground, Moscow was not ready to make such steep and prolonged production cuts that Riyadh demanded. Therefore, Russia declined to put a restriction on the volume of oil it had been producing. As the Saudi-Russian talks in Vienna came to an end, rather than any agreement, the two states had turned against each other in terms of oil production and sale. Saudi Arabia has thus started an oil price war between OPeC, Russia and the USA. Russia has turned weary of the policy of reducing its oil supply in order to ensure stability of oil prices; and was now of the view that such a strategy provides greater growth opportunity to the US shale firms.

The plunge has been exacerbated by the dwindling demand of oil caused by the global spread of the novel coronavirus. The pandemic ignited a succession of cuts in oil prices. The contagion has negatively affected the energy requirements across the world, primarily in China that is the largest importer of crude oil. however the virus that was first reported in China has now been de-

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done and continue to blatantly do all that we could to annoy him and invite his wrath. We, the human beings, have crossed all bounds of graciousness and 5283 and Belgium 5269. Predictably, in terms of brazenly defied all his commandments. We have deaths that have occurred so far among the countries challenged his patience endlessly and all we have got cited above, due to COVID-19, Italy has suffered the in return is the agony of the coronavirus.

Unambiguously, the magnitude of the crisis that most fatalities with 6820 dead, while China, initially the leader is now second, with 3,281 fatalities fol- confronts the world today is gargantuan. This crisis lowed by Spain 2991, Iran 1934, France 1100, USA cannot be effectively resolved unless collective en778, UK 442,. Pakistan too has been affected, though deavors are made to address it. Time has come for the not seriously, by the deadly coronavirus pandemic. world to stand united against the deadly coronavirus.

According to the latest update the number of people The affluent countries of the world must come forward and extend every possible support, technical affected by the disease in Pakistan stands at 183. and monetary, to the less no matter whatever the privileged nations of the above statistics depict, one world to come to grips with is compelled to acknowlthis life-threatening disease edge that the gruesome Parallel to the relentless with unwavering fortitude coronavirus pandemic has and endurance. Failure to do engulfed the entire world worldly endeavors that we so, may, god forbid, make with varying intensity. The continue to make to fight this the world confront a catasunparalleled magnitude trophe of unfathomable with which this disease has nerve-wracking virus COVIDmagnitude. struck communities across It is a passionate appeal the world is compelling all, let us all, as stated above, 19, to the world community that, the affluent and the poor alike, to realize that raise our hands in prayers and parallel to the relentless worldly endeavors that we mankind is extremely vulbow our heads in reverence continue to make to fight nerable to natural calamithis nerve-wracking virus ties, and that the only before the Almighty and COVID-19, let us all, as superpower who can provide relief from such sincerely seek His forgiveness stated above, raise our hands in prayers and bow our calamities is none but the for all our wrongdoings heads in reverence before Almighty. the Almighty and sincerely In this era of phenomeseek his forgiveness for all nal scientific advancement, our wrongdoings. people, particularly those Beg him to pardon all our sins, bestow his belonging to the affluent societies of the world, may consider my belief a little too orthodox to appreciate. benevolence on us, and provide relief to us from the Some may also find it amusing. But as an enlightened lethal Coronavirus. he will certainly listen to the sufMuslim my conviction of the supremacy of Allah fering mankind for whom he has unparalleled love.

Almighty stands unshakable. he is the most benefi- however, once he does let us all vow to ourselves that we will all abide by all his commandments in cent and the most merciful.

Regardless of our caste, creed or religion we all letter and spirit; sincerely respect each other’s exisbelong to Allah Almighty and to him we will return. tence and rights, bring an end to the conflicts we conhe is the only power, rather the superpower, which tinue to wage against each other, across the world, has a hold over our destiny, and it is only he who can and endeavor to make this world a bastion of peace. provide relief to mankind from all sorts of calamities.

M Fazal Elahi is a freelance columnist Undeniably, we, the creation of god Almighty, have

The epidemic is a strain for the healthy too

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clared a pandemic, causing a cancellation of the majority of international flights and shutting down of industrial units. Assets and markets throughout the world have been adversely affected by the price slash.

The current oil war appears to be one with no clear winner. All parties will face monetary loss irrespective of the buyers they may retain. however, they have been gauging their success in the energy market on the basis of greater sales and market share irrespective of the sale price. With the continued tanking of oil prices, and the fast spreading pandemic, US oil firms are declaring budget cuts.

Shale oil had brought with it an economic boon and lower oil prices will be detrimental to the US oil companies. Although US oil firms got caught in the middle, the USA still continues to be the largest oil producer in the world. however, following the current trajectory, Saudi Arabia is expected to take second spot. In the case of the OPeC states, their production cost is the minimum. On the other hand, as they have high consumption rates and offer sub-

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sidized prices for their populations, OPeC states are required to maintain a relatively higher price, around $70 per barrel, to avoid a deficit. Moscow maintains it is well-shielded from the Saudi price cut as its budget is set up on a rather low price of oil. however, it is expected to depreciate a little from its place in the energy market. The party to bear the greatest burnt will be the oil-dependent countries. It is foreseen that the tussle might culminate only when Saudi Arabia will successfully resume its position as the oil market leader.

For Pakistan, the decrease in oil prices will be beneficial for the state as the imports of the country are oil-based. The current oil price cuts will reduce the oil import bill of the country. The oil and gas exploration and production sectors, on the other hand, would be poorly hit by the lowered prices. In addition, it is not expected that the consumers in Pakistan would get to benefit directly from the lower oil prices in the international market.

Fareha Iqtidar is a freelance columnist

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Thursday, 26 March, 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

Curbing the outbreak

Climate-resilient agriculture, necessity not an option Luxury of time is not there

Younus sandeela

P

akIsTan’s dependence on agriculture is huge, far bigger than we realize. The sector’s contribution to national GDP is close to a quarter. a huge percentage of exports directly or indirectly depend on agriculture. The sector also employs about half of country’s workforce.

With more than 60 percent of the population residing in the rural areas, agriculture is intertwined with economic, social and cultural aspects of life in general. With this kind of dependence, any change in agricultural productivity could have a huge impact on general the wellbeing of the entire nation.

Climate change is a reality that is all set to change every aspect of life on planet Earth. The monster that has been quietly feeding on our greed-driven mistakes for decades is now slowly getting unleashed and it has already demonstrated its intentions of ransacking and disrupting life on this planet in the most painful of ways. We humans are now going to reap what we sowed.

Because of a higher dependence on agriculture and greater susceptibility to climate-changerelated threats due to the country’s geographic location, the risk to its agriculture and in turn to its food security is a more pressing issue for Pakistan than most other countries.

Pakistan’s large agricultural base meant that people living in the country never even remotely feared a food shortage. Unfortunately, this too is likely to change. already, farmers have started to feel the pinch of untimely rains, change in temperatures, shortage of water and degradation of soil. Excessive rains and snowfall during last couple of years were welcomed by the farming community due to the precarious water situation that prevailed in the country prior to the start of the wet season. However, this blessing came with a price. The last crops of cotton and mango suffered productivity shortfalls entirely due to climate-change-related factors, mainly off-time rains. Wheat, which is going to be harvested soon, is likely to also suffer same fate and for the same reason.

Unexpectedly heavy monsoon and excessive snowfall during the last couple of years is a sign of changing climatic patterns which point towards the potential risk of an unexpectedly prolonged

dry spell as well in the future. and with limited and those that can withstand excessive moisture, water storage capacity, agricultural productivity must be introduced. Farmers must be trained to in Pakistan could hugely get affected should the grow more than one crop in each season. also, efforts must be made to remove inefficiencies in water situation worsen in coming years.

It is extremely important that planners at the water distribution so that farmers can yield good policy level clearly understand the intricacies of returns, at least when things do not get disrupted climate change and its impact on agriculture and due to erratic weather conditions. similarly, qualfood security. There is an urgent need to create ity of inputs such as seed, fertilizers, pesticides remedial measures to counter the threat. so far, and so on must be ascertained to ensure that unfortunately there seems to be limited under- human greed and inefficiencies do not add to the standing or the resolve to act decisively. One miseries of farming community. self-sufficiency thing which must be understood clearly is that in seed and fertilizers is an absolute must.

Creating platforms to effectively dissemiluxury of time is no more there. Promoting Climate-smart agriculture is not an option any- nate real-time weather conditions as well as forecasts and to enable farmers, particularly the more, it is a necessity.

Climate-smart agriculture has three clearly small ones, to access this information in a timely defined components namely; mitigation, adap- manner is extremely important. seminars and tation and resilience. Whereas, mitigation is a roadshows meant to educate farming community about climate change wider subject requiring and how to cope with actions to curb the it, must be regularly orgreenhouse gases ganized all across the which necessarily recountry, particularly in quires a collective efClimate change is an the rural areas. Work fort by the entire world irreversible phenomenon, aton increasing space for community and indifood storage by buildvidual actions of one least so it seems in the ing grain silos must be country or community initiated immediately. may have little or no immediate term. Unless efforts Concurrently efforts impact, adaptation and resilience are pretty are made in a timely manner to must be made to build reserves of staple food much local subjects. effectively cope with the for at-least three years.

Due to limited or no covercontrol of any one challenges emanating from it, age Improving as well as distribucountry or community tion of agriculture over actions required to we, as a nation, may find insurance at grass root mitigate the causes of ourselves in an extremely level, creating alternaclimate change, it is marketing chanmore practical to painful situation which may be tive nels and developing mainly focus on the storage facilities, “adaptation” and “reimpossible to deal with. If not would greatly increase silience” aspects. This handled intelligently the net the resilience of the approach of focusing farming community. only on adaptation and impact of climate change may similarly, encouraging resilience is called commercial activities “Climate-Resilient be far more painful than the in rural areas, particuagriculture” larly setting up downBroadly speaking, ones caused by terrorism or stream agro-processing adaptation means adeconomic slowdown facilities, would create justing farming pracnonagricultural sources tices to prepare for experienced by the nation in of livelihood for the climate-related disruppeople most exposed to tions. Careful crop sethe recent past the brunt of climate lection, amending farm change. This would management practices, also create much adjusting the level of needed alternate mardependence as well as usage of infrastructure and machinery are all dis- keting channels for agricultural produce.

Climate change is an irreversible phenomecussions that form part of the “adaptation” component of Climate Resilient agriculture. ability non, at-least so it seems in the immediate term. to effectively cope with the damage, once al- Unless efforts are made in a timely manner to efready caused by climate-change-related events, fectively cope with the challenges emanating is referred to as “resilience”. Providing financial from it, we, as a nation, may find ourselves in support to affectees, temporary or permanent mi- an extremely painful situation which may be imgration, completely or partially adopting non- possible to deal with. If not handled intelligently agricultural livelihood, are examples of the net impact of climate change may be far “resilience” within the context of Climate-Re- more painful than the ones caused by terrorism silient agriculture. The importance of educating or economic slowdown experienced by the nafarmers and other stakeholders in the food sup- tion in the recent past. ply chain in Pakistan about adaptation as well as Younus Sandeela can be reached at resilience, cannot be overemphasized. new, hardier crops, both drought-tolerant ysandeela@yahoo.com

sInDH chief minister, syed Murad ali shah is actively taking appreciated measures to deal with the Coronavirus threat which are really praiseworthy.

Firstly, he has requested a lockdown for 3 days(march 21-23) to bring stoppage in the spread of deadly coronavirus in sindh and this lockdown brings positive outcomes and the ratio of corona patients decreases largely.

Moreover closure of educational sectors was his best decision ever because the quantity of students is in millions in the entire province, if any one student became a Corona patient then because of that single student teacher and including his classmates would be at risk of Coronavirus. secondly, our Chief Minister announced to launch a mobile-service to provide different nutritions to the needy people on free of cost who are affected by Coronavirus pandemic across sindh. Currently, sindh government has ensured to make surgical masks available for citizens at low prices and has enacted strict laws on medical shopkeepers who sell coronavirus commodities (Detole, sanitizer and Mask etc) on increased prices. Considering the utmost hard work of syed Murad ali shah and his activeness during the current outbreak of Coronavirus, the World Health Organisation (WHO) appreciated him and ranked him 4th position in best leading politician, in the act of coronavirus eradication.

In a nutshell, I suggest chief ministers of remaining provinces Jam kamal khan (Balochistan), Usman Buzdar(Punjab) and Mahmood khan (kpk) to do not ignore this issue because this is the world pandemic disease which is grasper currently and even, a country like China succumbed in front of Covid-19(coronavirus) then how Pakistan can eradicate and curb when it spread largely.

SamEEr Umrani Karachi

Flawed strategy COROna virus has hastily burgeoned all over the word. It proves a piecemeal catastrophe for nations. It was also an alarming situation but the government should not completely take precautionary measures against Coronavirus and they did not secure men and women who came from China and Iran. Government has no strategy of screening tests who came from outside of countries or manoeuvred the affected men and women. whereas girly people are considering social media’s mediocre rumors, which is completely baseless. In order to this situation people are suffering starvation and lack of cuisine do not use to parche fundamental amenities.

It was polarized by the government to remain their homes. Governments should also spur for their nation and regularly provide foodstuff. On the other hand, the Government has to take precautionary measures and completely coerce their doctors to scrutinize patients who have suffered from fatal diseases. It must be refuted to take hefty charges during a lockdown situation because it will lead to colossal crime. Come what may we have to communal scramble against Coronavirus by staying at home, don’t shake hands and avoid congregating. We are completely fending and disseminating cognizance in a correct way about health and supplications due to this Pakistan will be free from Coronavirus.

PUnhaL Khan Larkana

Anonymous heroes sInDH Chief Minister Murad ali shah on Monday Received “anonymous” Donation of Rs.1 Million for the sindh Coronavirus Emergency Fund. Today I Received this anonymous donation made to “sindh Coronavirus Emergency Fund”, along with a Letter from the Donor, he wrote in a Twitter post, sharing the Letter and Cheque. He said : such acts of kindness strengthen our resolve to continue fighting this challenge, & reassure us that humanity stands tall during such extraordinary times! I am a retired person of 88 years. In response to your appeal, I submit herewith a cheque of a humble amount in face of unheard and Dreadful Epidemic, read the #Letter sent to the Chief minister along with the Cheque by the anonymous Donor SamEEn hUmaYUn Karachi

Bravo government!

RECEnTLy, an hideous virus namely COVID-19 has made days restless and night sleepless of people. People seem so frightened and streets have lost its affection and felicitations. Truly, many have lost their loved ones due the virus. Corona-virus emerges from Wuhan, and globally reached 195 countries, have affected more than 395,000 people, and more than 17,000 people have died due to the contiguous disease. Painfully, the virus did not reduce its skirmish and is disseminating exponentially day by day. among the all vulnerable countries, one of them is Pakistan. Reportedly, 1,000 are the confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pakistan such as 413 cases in sindh, Punjab 296, Baluchistan 115, khyber Pakhtunkhwa 78, Islamabad Capital Territory 16, and Gilgit-Baltistan 81. Besides, 7 people have been died. now, both federal and provincial governments determined and have imposed the lockdown every corner of the country. In fact, lockdown will give birth to myriad problems predominantly for those who work on the daily basis to sustain the burden of their families. Plausibly, government of Pakistan is trying hard to reduce backlash of the virus. an incentive package was unveiled by the government for the people who are facing strenuous circumstances. The higher authority has allocated 200 bn for labour force, 150 to vulnerable families, price of petroleum products reduced by Rs15 per litre, and stipend for poor families increased from 2,000 to 3,000 rupees per month. There is no question that powerful elements of the country are doing commendable job to secure the people from unwelcome wrath. They have made ameliorate strategies in the right time and at the right place. navEEd abbaS maitLo islamabad

CORRIGENDUM Mr. Bashir Riaz's article titled ‘Remembering Our Mother of Democracy’ appearing in the Mar 25th issue was mistakenly attributed to Mr. Muhammad Tahir Iqbal. The error is regretted.

Thursday, 26 March, 2020

08 WORLD VIEW

The virus wiLL spread eiTher way, so sTop The shuTdown

Countries are starting to hoard food WHENEVER THERE’S A DISRUPTION FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT’S THE LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES WITH WEAK CURRENCIES THAT GET HURT THE MOST

KEEP SHUTDOWNS SHORT, KEEP THE ECONOMY GOING, KEEP SCHOOLS IN SESSION, KEEP JOBS INTACT, AND FOCUS SINGLE-MINDEDLY ON BUILDING THE CAPACITY WE NEED TO SURVIVE THIS INTO OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

USA TodAy JosePh ladaPo

“w

HEN we see ourselves in a situation which must be endured and gone through, it is best to make up our minds to it. Meet it with firmness, and accommodate everything to it in the best way practicable. This lessens the evil, while fretting and fuming only serves to increase your own torment.” (Thomas Jefferson).

We are fretting and we are fuming. as a country, we have been caught miserably flat-footed after receiving warnings about what lay ahead when cases of CoVID-19 began exploding in Wuhan, China. Messages from local and state leaders about how to respond to the pandemic change almost daily — a sure sign they have no idea what they are doing. Shutdowns are happening here in California and in New York, and will probably spread to the rest of the nation.

I spent the past week taking care of patients with CoVID-19 at uCLa’s flagship hospital, and the atmosphere there is, appropriately, one of crisis — like other hospitals around the country.

Epidemiologists around the world have studied patterns of our social contacts, studied our population density and studied the CoVID-19 virus’ transmission characteristics. For better or worse, we actually have a lot of data to work with, thanks to the countries that have already been struck hard. additionally, epidemiologists have been accurately modeling disease outbreaks for years.

Here’s the problem: because of the (understandable) fear and hysteria of the moment, few u.S. leaders are seriously talking about the endgame. The epidemiologic models I’ve seen indicate that the shutdowns and school closures will temporarily slow the virus’ spread, but when they’re lifted, we will essentially emerge right back where we started. and, by the

way, no matter what, our hospitals will still be overwhelmed. There has already been too much community spread to prevent this inevitability.

We don’t have a totalitarian government like China, and we value our civil liberties too much to take the measures (i.e., total lockdown) that would be needed to rapidly decrease the infection rate to zero. This means that, even with shutdowns, the virus will still spread. unfortunately, this also means that rates of “community immunity,” often referred to as “herd immunity,” will slow. as a result, we will always be vulnerable to the virus spreading rapidly again as soon as shutdown measures are lifted, unless they are immediately reimplemented — over and over and over again.

The only potential savior that would prevent this scenario is an effective vaccine, but the estimates I’ve seen put us 12–18 months away from making that a reality. Clinical trials are underway and will hopefully yield effective treatment, but a cure is unlikely. Either way, the models indicate that our hospitals, at current capacity, will be overwhelmed, with or without shutdowns. as americans, we could, if we set our minds to it, stay locked down for 18 months — but we won’t. Can you imagine a united States in which children are forced to forgo proper schooling, unemployment and poverty decimate millions more lives, and our economy is strangled into a persistent depression? and all for a virus that, when all is said and done, most people will recover from — even the elderly (death rates are highest in adults older than 80, at 10-20%)?

The lockdown cost will be staggering — far more costly than CoVID19’s horrific wrath. This terrible trade-off is the path upon which we’ve set ourselves because our public health system was unprepared for a pandemic.

Please don’t believe politicians who say we can control this pandemic with a few weeks of shutdown. None of the models I’ve seen (or history’s teachings, or common

sense) supports this as a possibility. as soon as restrictions are lifted, the virus will once again tear through our communities with abandon, until one day (hopefully) we have an effective vaccine. To contain a virus with shutdowns, you must either go big — which is what China did — or you don’t go at all. In this country, we hold liberty too dearly to go big; eventually, citizens will push back — hard.

Tragically, over the coming weeks, as the numbers of people sickened and killed by CoVID-19 increase — and they will — the resulting fear and the hysteria will be used to try to prolong the shutdowns. This move might work in some states that lean left, but states that lean right will resist.

Short of a miracle, expect to see a tragedy unlike anything we’ve seen in generations. Heartbreakingly, people you know will die.

Celebrities and politicians we all know will die. Hospitals will be overwhelmed and helpless.

Here is my prescription for local and state leaders: Keep shutdowns short, keep the economy going, keep schools in session, keep jobs intact, and focus singlemindedly on building the capacity we need to survive this into our health care system.

We desperately need more intensive care unit beds and ventilators to give the severely ill a chance of survival: borrow them, buy them, build them, convert structures to coronavirus-dedicated centers, etc. We must do whatever is necessary — and do it yesterday. and for heaven’s sake, where on earth are the CoVID-19 tests? at this point, no matter what we do, we tragically will lose many americans. Short of a miracle treatment, it’s too late for any other outcome. However, our economy, people’s jobs and livelihoods, and the education of our children should not become collateral damage. We must not let ill-informed, fear-fueled policy compound the casualties of CoVID-19. Dr. Joseph a. Ladapo is an associate professor of medicine in the division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services research at David Geffen School of Medicine at uCLa.

BloomBerg

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isis almeida and agnieszka de sousa

T’S not just grocery shoppers who are hoarding pantry staples. Some governments are moving to secure domestic food supplies during the conoravirus pandemic. Kazakhstan, one of the world’s biggest shippers of wheat flour, banned exports of that product along with others, including carrots, sugar and potatoes. Vietnam temporarily suspended new rice export contracts. Serbia has stopped the flow of its sunflower oil and other goods, while russia is leaving the door open to shipment bans and said it’s assessing the situation weekly.

To be perfectly clear, there have been just a handful of moves and no sure signs that much more is on the horizon. Still, what’s been happening has raised a question: Is this the start of a wave of food nationalism that will further disrupt supply chains and trade flows? “We’re starting to see this happening already -- and all we can see is that the lockdown is going to get worse,” said Tim benton, research director in emerging risks at think tank Chatham House in London.

Though food supplies are ample, logistical hurdles are making it harder to get products where they need to be as the coronavirus unleashes unprecedented measures, panic buying and the threat of labor crunches. Consumers across the globe are still loading their pantries -- and the economic fallout from the virus is just starting. The specter of more trade restrictions is stirring memories of how protectionism can often end up causing more harm than good.

That adage rings especially true now as the moves would be driven by anxiety and not made in response to crop failures or other supply problems. as it is, many governments have employed extreme measures, setting curfews and limits on crowds or even on people venturing out for anything but to acquire essentials. That could spill over to food policy, said ann berg, an independent consultant and veteran agricultural trader who started her career at Louis Dreyfus Co. in 1974. “You could see wartime rationing, price controls and domestic stockpiling,” she said.

Some nations are adding to their strategic reserves. China, the biggest rice grower and consumer, pledged to buy more than ever before from its domestic harvest, even though the government already holds massive stockpiles of rice and wheat, enough for one year of consumption. Key wheat importers including algeria and Turkey have also issued new tenders, and Morocco said a suspension on wheat-import duties would last through mid-June. as governments take nationalistic approaches, they risk disrupting an international system that has become increasingly interconnected in recent decades.

Kazakhstan had already stopped exports of other food staples, like buckwheat and onions, before the move this week to cut off wheat-flour shipments. That latest action was a much bigger step, with the potential to affect companies around the world that rely on the supplies to make bread.

For some commodities, a handful of countries,

or even fewer, make up the bulk of exportable supplies. Disruptions to those shipments would have major global ramifications. Take, for example, russia, which has emerged as the world’s top wheat exporter and a key supplier to North africa. Vietnam is the third-largest rice exporter, sending many of its cargoes to the Philippines.

“If governments are not working collectively and cooperatively to ensure there is a global supply, if they’re just putting their nations first, you can end up in a situation where things get worse,” said benton of Chatham House.

He warned that frenzied shopping coupled with protectionist policies could eventually lead to higher food prices -- a cycle that could end up perpetuating itself. “If you’re panic buying on the market for next year’s harvest, then prices will go up, and as prices go up, policy makers will panic more,” he said. and higher grocery bills can have major ramifications. bread costs have a long history of kick-starting unrest and political instability. During the food price spikes of 2011 and 2008, there were food riots in more than 30 nations across africa, asia and the Middle East. “Without the food supply, societies just totally break,” benton said. unlike previous periods of rampant food inflation, global inventories of staple crops like corn, wheat, soybeans and rice are plentiful, said Dan Kowalski, vice president of research at Cobank, a $145 billion lender to the agriculture industry, adding he doesn’t expect “dramatic” gains for prices now.

While the spikes of the last decade were initially caused by climate problems for crops, policies exacerbated the consequences. In 2010, russia experienced a record heat wave that damaged the wheat crop. The government responded by banning exports to make sure domestic consumers had enough. The united Nations’ measure of global food prices reached a record high by February 2011.

“Given the problem that we are facing now, it’s not the moment to put these types of policies into place,” said Maximo Torero, chief economist at the uN’s Food and agriculture organization. “on the contrary, it’s the moment to cooperate and coordinate.” of course, the few bans in place may not last, and signs of a return to normal could prevent countries from taking drastic measures. once consumers start to see more products on shelves, they may stop hoarding, in turn allowing governments to back off.

X5 retail, russia’s biggest grocer, said demand for staple foods is starting to stabilize. In the u.S., major stores like Walmart Inc. have cut store hours to allow workers to restock.

In the meantime, some food prices have already started going up because of the spike in buying.

Wheat futures in Chicago, the global benchmark, have climbed more than 6% in March as consumers buy up flour. u.S. wholesale beef has shot up to the highest since 2015, and egg prices are higher. at the same time, the u.S. dollar is surging against a host of emerging-market currencies. That reduces purchasing power for countries that ship in commodities, which are usually priced in greenbacks. In the end, whenever there’s a disruption for whatever reason, berg said, “it’s the least-developed countries with weak currencies that get hurt the most.” With assistance by Yuliya Fedorinova, and anatoly Medetsky.

India's poorest 'fear hunger may kill us before coronavirus'

BBC

L

Vikas Pandey

abour Chowk in Noida is usually brimming with hundreds of men looking for jobs as construction labourers. The small intersection of roads in this suburban area of Delhi is a hotspot where builders come to hire workers. but it was eerily quiet when I drove there on Sunday during the initial lockdown.

Everything was still - one could never imagine listening to the sound of birds chirping

in such a busy area. but I did - almost in disbelief. I soon spotted a group of men huddled in a corner. I stopped and asked them, from a safe distance, if they were following the lockdown. ramesh Kumar, who comes from banda district in uttar Pradesh state, said that he knew "there won't be anybody to hire us, but we still took our chances". "I earn 600 rupees ($8; £6.50) every day and I have five people to feed. We will run out of food in a few days. I know the risk of coronavirus, but I can't see my children hungry," he said.

Millions of other daily-wage earners are in a similar situation. The lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday evening means they are now facing no prospect of income for the next three weeks. The likelihood is, some will run out of food in the coming days. India has reported more than 500 confirmed cases and at least 10 people have died.

Several state governments, including uttar Pradesh in the north, Kerala in the south and the national capital Delhi, have promised direct cash transfers into the accounts of workers like Mr Kumar. Prime Minister Modi's government has also prom-

ised to help daily-wage earners affected by the lockdown. but there are logistical challenges. at least 90% of India's workforce is employed in the informal sector, according to the International Labour organization, working in roles like security guards, cleaners, rickshaw pullers, streets vendors, garbage collectors and domestic helps. Most do not have access to pensions, sick leave, paid leave or any kind of insurance.

Many do not have bank accounts, relying on cash to meet their daily needs. Lots are migrant workers, which means that they are technically residents of a different state to the one where they work. Then there is the problem of the floating population: people who do not live in any state for a long period as they move around to find work. akhilesh Yadav, the former chief minister of uttar Pradesh, admits these challenges are huge, acknowledging that "nobody in any government has faced them before". "all governments need to act lightning fast because the situation is changing every day.

We need to activate big community kitchens and deliver food to people who need it. We need to hand out cash or rice and wheat - irrespective of who comes from which state,"

he said. Mr Yadav is particularly worried about his state, which is India's most populous, with an estimated 220m residents. "We have got to stop people from travelling to one city from another to avoid community transmission. and one way of doing is to ensure food security. People rush to their villages in times of crisis," he added. uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi adityanath has said that a team of workers was tracking those who have arrived from other states and everybody who needs help will be supported by his government. Indian railways has now suspended all passenger services until 31 March. but just days before the suspension kicked in on 23 March, hundreds of thousands of migrant workers travelled in packed trains from outbreak-hit cities like Delhi, Mumbai and ahmedabad to their villages in uttar Pradesh and bihar states. That has heightened the risk of community transmission and experts fear that the coming two weeks are the most challenging for India.

However, not everybody could afford to travel to their villages. Kishan Lal, who works as rickshaw puller in the northern city of allahabad, said he had not made any money in the past four days. "I need to earn

to feed my family. I have heard that the government is going to give us money - though I have no idea when and how," he said. His friend ali Hasan, who works as a cleaner in a shop, said he had run out of money to buy food. "The shop shut down two days ago and I haven't been paid. I don't know when it will open. I am very scared. I have a family, how am I going to feed them?" he asked.

Millions of Indians also earn money as street entrepreneurs - people who own small businesses and employ people like themselves. Mohammed Sabir, who runs a tiny stall selling yogurt-based drinks in Delhi, says he had hired two people recently, anticipating more business during the summers.

"Now I can't pay them. I don't have any money. My family earns some money from farming in my village. but their crops were damaged this year due to hailstorms, so they were looking at me for support. "I feel so helpless. I fear that hunger may kill many like us before coronavirus," he said. all monuments are also shut in the country and that has had an impact on many who make money from tourism. additional reporting and pictures by Vivek Singh in allahabad.

Thursday, 26 March, 2020

BUSINESS 09

CORPORATE CORNER

Rupee falls to 162 agaInst dollaR In InteRbank ReCent Slump In Rupee’S Value IS BeInG attRIButeD tO SlaSh In pOlICy Rate KARACHI

t

LAHORE: Carrefour, operated in Pakistan by Majid Al Futtaim, has implemented strict hygiene and safety protocols across all its stores in the country for the health and wellbeing of its customers amid COVID-19 outbreak. p r e s s r e l e a s e

COVID-19: JS Bank offers urgent financing to hospitals LAHORE: Playing its role in facilitating the nation and its institutions to fight the coronavirus pandemic, JS Bank has introduced financing of up to Rs200 million to hospital and medical centers for the purchase of equipment to detect, contain and treat patients infected by COVID-19. Under this State Bank-designed scheme, all medical centers registered with federal or provincial health governing bodies, engaged in the control and eradication of COVID-19 will be eligible to avail the credit line at a minimal mark-up rate of only 3pc per annum for a duration of 5 years. This plan enables these health facilities to bolster their operational mechanisms through purchase of additional equipment and relevant tools for the purpose. press release

Sindh Bank executives pledge one-day salary to govt’s coronavirus initiative KARACHI: The executives of Sindh Bank have pledged one day’s salary towards the Sindh government’s Coronavirus Emergency Fund Account. The broad objective of the fund is to provide relief for the coronavirus pandemic in the Province of Sindh including subsidizing cost of tests, treatment, hospitalization and any other measures including bearing costs during the quarantine period of affected persons/families and procure/distribute medicines and physical infrastructure schemes. Generous donations can be made to the Government of Sindh Coronavirus Emergency Fund Account online or at any of the Sindh bank branches across Pakistan. press release

SCO partners with VRG to launch digital payment products ISLAMABAD: Special Communications Organization (SCO) and Virtual Remittance Gateway (VRG) Pakistan have signed an agreement to launch digital payment products & services and Mobile Wallet for S-Paisa customers in AJ&K and GB. By signing this contract, SCO has achieved yet another milestone towards the provision of AMA (Asaan Mobile Account) scheme that is a main focus of SBP’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS). This will also facilitate the poor and marginalized sections of the society towards adopting digital payments to connect to any bank by using just a feature phone even with 2G coverage. press release

arIBa sHaHID

HE Pakistani rupee was quoted to be trading at 162 in the interbank, sliding to its lowest since June 2019 in early trade on Wednesday. So far, the central bank has not intervened.

According to Sami Tariq, Head of Research and business development at Arif Habib Limited, “This should be temporary. As commodity prices are down, yield differential will attract investments again. However, risk aversion at present is resulting in appreciation of

the dollar against other currencies.” The recent slump in the value of the rupee is attributed to the slash in the policy rate.

On Wednesday, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) cut the policy rate by 150 basis points, from 12.5pc to 11pc. This follows a policy cut from just last Tuesday, where the SBP cut the policy rate from 13.25pc to 12pc. The policy rate cut can be seen as a reason for hot money leaving the country. The SBP maintains that foriegn money outflows are due to a general ‘flight to safety’. Many developed countries are divesting from emerging markets due to the COVID-19 crisis, in order to have liquidity. While stock markets are

falling drastically, global economic fears surrounding the COVID-19 crisis have resulted in liquidity selling. Thereby, capital flight is a common sight as sovereign debt is liquidated.

Earlier on 17 March, at the MPC meeting, SBP Governor Reza Baqir clarified the exchange rate policy, saying the central bank will intervene whenever there is volatility, but it will not try and actively suppress demand and supply in order to determine the direction of dollar rates. The federal government has also announced a Rs1.2 trillion stimulus package amid lockdown across the country.

Around Rs200 billion has been allocated

for labourers and Rs100 billion tax refunds will go to exporters and industry.

According to the AKD securities report “PM Package – No antidote for uncertainty”: “On the flip side, the aggressive easing at this stage could further accelerate the hot money outflows – which nevertheless are likely to continue amidst global risk aversion – putting more pressure on rupee in the near term.

Looking ahead, we do not rule out further monetary action from the SBP considering extraordinary times.”

On the contrary, in the international currency market, the dollar has slipped.

The euro traded at $1.0808 up 0.15pc after four straight days of gains. The dollar dropped 0.3pc against the yen to 110.85, off a one-month high of 111.715 touched the previous day.

Bloodbath continues at PSX; index loses 1,336 points KARACHI

I

sTaFF repOrT

NVESTORS of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed another turbulent session on Wednesday, with the KSE-100 Index nosediving to its six-year low intraday, causing a market halt for the 8th time this month.

According to market analysts, despite the State Bank of Pakistan announcing a 150 basis points cut in interest rates and the government giving petroleum relief to the masses, nothing could trigger positivity at the PSX on Wednesday.

“The market had opened on a positive note with a 100-point gain

and 4.35 million shares [volume].

This was primarily due to the relief package announced by the prime minister last evening.

The eventual decline in the index could be attributed to the government’s indecision on the fate of market-related relaxation, which the industry looked forward to, on account of capital gains tax (CGT) or similar such relief,” said an analyst at Arif Habib Ltd. Shedding 1,395.69 points, the benchmark KSE-100 Index fell to its intraday low at 27,169.14 (a level last seen in 2014). Failing to find any positive triggers, the index closed lower by 1,336.03 points at 27,228.80. I may be noted that the

index has lost 28pc in its value so far this year (-11,000 points this month).

Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index plunged 2,533.03 points to end at 41,370.78, while the KSE All Share Index lost 763.38 points, settling at 20,131.87. Out of the total traded shares, 76 advanced and 176 declined.

The overall trading volumes increased from 98.75 million in the last session to 144.88 million, with Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (MLCF -7.43pc), K-Electric Limited (KEL +4.91pc) and Unity Foods Limited (UNITY +0.86pc) topping the volume chart. The scripts had exchanged 14.45 million, 11.62 million and 7.94 million shares, respectively.

Sectors that painted the KSE-100

Index red included banking (-430.09 points), cement (-148.68 points) and oil & gas exploration (-132.37 points). Among the companies, Engro Corporation Limited (ENGRO 130.73 points), Habib Bank Limited (HBL -129.42 points) and Hub Power Company Limited (HUBC -99.85 points) damaged the index the most.

The oil & gas marketing sector turned out to be the top loser of the day, losing 6.81pc in its cumulative market capitalization. Pakistan State Oil Company Limited (PSO 7.39pc), Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGP -6.95pc), Hascol Petroleum Limited (HASCOL -7.58pc) and Shell Pakistan Limited (SHEL 5.92pc) closed in the red.

SBp relaxes import rules for medical supplies Govt to procure record wheat KARACHI worth Rs280bn: Asad Umar MeIrYUM alI

The State Bank of Pakistan has relaxed import regulations on medical equipment in order to help the country fight the COVID-19 pandemic, it said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

"All importers can now make Import Advance Payment and Import on Open Account without any limit for the import of medical equipment, medicines and other ancillary items to treat COVID-19," the statement reads.

"This applies to all federal and provincial government departments, hospitals in public and private sectors, charitable organizations, manufacturers and commercial importers."

International donor agencies and foriegn government can also send medical equipment more easily now, as banks in Pakistan have now been allowed to approve the Electronic Import Form.

The rising number of cases of

COVID-19 in Pakistan have prompted the SBP to take action.

"An effective strategy to fight against the menace of COVID-19 requires timely availability of needed equipment. In the backdrop of unprecedented spread of the deadly virus, SBP has taken these measures to facilitate the import of much needed equipment in a seamless manner," the SBP said.

This is not the only action the SBP has taken to help hospitals and the medical industry. Earlier on March 17, along with announcing the policy rate cut, the SBP also announced a Rs5-billion scheme for hospitals.

Under the refinance facility to combat COVID-19, finance will be provided to banks at zero per cent, who can then lend to hospitals at 3pc for five years.

Commenting on the scheme, SBP Governor Reza Baqir at the time said they were still waiting to see how the virus unfolded in Pakistan, that there is no limit to helping hospitals.

ISLAMABAD app

The government would procure a record quantity of wheat worth Rs280 billion this year, said Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Minister Asad Umar on Wednesday. “The government is going ahead with record wheat procurement this year. This will inject Rs280 billion in the market to help ease liquidity problems,” the minister said while talking to a news channel.

Hailing the economic package announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, Asad Umar said the package would help those daily wagers who were not able to earn their livelihood during the lockdown period.

He said the package would also help exporters whose liquidity had badly hurt due to the global economic slowdown. “The government is trying

its best to restore their liquidity by providing them a generous package worth of Rs100 billion.” For the construction industry, the minister said the government would announce a separate package in a week or two.

He said the construction industry would engage over 30 industries; business activity in all these sectors would accelerate while job opportunities would be created.

Replying to a question regarding the State Bank of Pakistan’s announcement of revising down interest rate by 1.5 per cent or 150 basis points, the minister welcomed the decision and said this would give benefit, especially to the business community. He said earlier in its routine meeting, the Monetary Policy Committee had reduced interest rate by 75 basis points and now it reduced by 1,500 points, taking the total to 225 points.

‘Govt working on local manufacturing of ventilators’ OffICIal SayS BODy On COROnaVIRuS wIll SOOn teSt DRuGS that aRe BelIeVeD tO Be uSeful In CuRInG the DISeaSe LAHORE HassaN NaQVI

Amidst the outbreak of coronavirus in the country, the Prime Minister's Task Force on Knowledge Economy had recently asked the developers to submit before March 26th (tomorrow) the prototypes of their indigenously-designed ventilators.

As per details, the total number of ventilators across the country for critically-ill COVID-19 patients stand at 1,700, which are significantly less keeping in mind the sensitivity of the outbreak as well as the global shortage of ventilators.

Talking to this scribe, PM’s Task Force on Knowledge Economy Deputy Chair Dr Attaur Rehman said that they are currently working on the local manufacturing of ventilators and for this purpose, local developers have been asked to come up with their prototypes (submit one page product specification

by March 26th).

"These prototypes will be evaluated for mass production of ventilators to meet the national requirement." On a query, he said that once the prototypes are ready, the details would be shared with the health ministry and other relevant departments, following

SayS DeVelOpeRS haVe Been aSkeD tO SuBmIt VentIlatOR pROtOtypeS SO they COulD Be eValuateD fOR maSS pRODuCtIOn which a final decision regarding the manufacturing of ventilators in Pakistan would be made.

Dr Rehman, who is also heading the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Task Force on Coronavirus (Covid-19), further informed that they will start "clinical trials of some drugs from next week" at the University of Health Sciences, adding that the drugs are “likely to help cure the patients of COVID-19”.

Lauding the initiative, Dr Sehar Raza, an anesthesiologist at Ganga Ram Hospital, said, "It will be a great achievement if we manage to develop and manufacture expensive

devices like ventilators in Pakistan."

She explained, "Ventilators are mechanical breathing machines which are essential for critical patients of COVID-19 -- a disease that directly affects the patient’s lungs. In severe cases, the patients develop pneumonia that can fill the lower lungs with fluid and cause difficulty in breathing; the condition can lead to a critical deficiency of oxygen [in a patient’s body]. A ventilator thus provides life-saving oxygenation when the patient is not able to do it on his/her own."

Commenting on the development, Amir Zafar Durrani, a develop-

ment sector expert, said the retooling of existing industries to produce emergency equipment happens worldwide and this should be taken seriously without compromising internal competition and standards.

Agreeing with him, technology enthusiast Malik Ahsan Raza said it is important, especially under the prevailing circumstances, to tap the untapped potential of Pakistani entrepreneurs. "Hopefully, many wonderful prototypes will be pitched.

Pakistan has long been ignoring the

potential of startups. This time, I hope, the skilled youth will come up with great ideas," Raza said.

He, however, said the government needs to speed up the process and make it free from bureaucratic hurdles. On the other hand, economist Dr Farida Faisal was of the opinion that designs of prototypes are readily available while their testing results have more or less been satisfactory. "But commercialisation is far more important from a practical viewpoint," she maintained.

Thursday, 26 March, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS Coronavirus prompts a run on guns in us TULSA

g

AGENCIES

un sales have exploded in the united States in the last two weeks as the coronavirus outbreak worsens, with people stocking up on weapons and ammunition out of fear the pandemic might lead to social unrest. “We have had about an 800 percent increase in sales,” said David Stone, owner of Dong’s Guns, Ammo and Reloading in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “I’m still not out of any caliber but I’m getting close to running out.”

Stone told AFP that the overall majority of customers rushing to stock up on firearms and ammunition are first-time buyers grabbing anything available.

“It’s fear over coronavirus,” he said. “I don’t understand it myself and I think it’s unreasonable.”

Several other store owners across the united States said they have also seen a surge in sales as people fear social order will unravel if the health and economic crisis caused by the virus escalates.

“We have men, women, young, middle-aged, older, everybody buying guns,” she said. “And all ethnic backgrounds — black, Asian, Indian, Hispanic.” She said one customer who came into the store recently decided it was time to arm himself after he witnessed two women fighting over the last case of bottled water at a store.

“We have customers who are also scared because law enforcement is being told to not respond as much because they are so short-staffed,” she added. “So a lot of people are scared that someone is going to break into

VATICAN CITY AGENCIES

their home… to steal cash, their toilet paper, their bottled water, their food.” utah resident nick Silverri said fears over gun shops being shut down across the country as more and more states impose lockdowns have driven sales, along with concerns by advocates who worry that the right to

bear arms — as laid out in the second amendment of the uS constitution — could be threatened.

“A lot of people want to protect themselves,” he said. “If people are out of work for a while and they start looting, they want to have the ability to protect themselves, their assets and their family.”

Facebook revenue slips as usage leaps during pandemic SILICON VALLEY AGENCIES

Facebook on Tuesday said the coronavirus pandemic has users flocking to its services while it undermines ad revenue on which the world’s biggest social network depends. Online voice and video calls at Facebook-owned Messenger and WhatsApp have more than doubled in places hit hard by the new coronavirus, according to a post by vice president of analytics Alex Schultz and Jay Parikh, vice president of engineering.

“As the pandemic expands and more people practice physically distancing themselves from one another, this has also meant that many more people are using our apps,” Parikh and Schultz said.

Much of the increased use has been at Facebook’s free messaging services which don’t generate ad revenue, accord-

pope, world's Christians join in prayer to end coronavirus

ing to the executives.

“We don’t monetize many of the services where we’re seeing increased engagement, and we’ve seen a weaken-

ing in our ads business in countries taking aggressive actions to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” Parikh and Schultz said. Soaring use at Facebook’s

“family” of services and across the internet industry have been unprecedented, they added.

Facebook, which has more than two billion users, is among numerous firms expected to take a hit from the crisis, which has already altered many consumer and online habits. Online advertising is expected to be affected by the pandemic as many marketing campaigns are cut back, and ad targeting is thrown into chaos.

Twitter on Monday dialed back its earnings expectations for the current quarter, citing the pandemic’s impact on its advertising revenue, even though the service has become a hub of conversation about the crisis.

Twitter withdrew an earlier forecast for the first quarter of 2020 and now expects an operating loss along with declining revenues.

Pope Francis and Christians worldwide recited “The Lord’s Prayer” on Wednesday to ask God to stop the coronavirus pandemic which has infected nearly half a million people, disrupted countless lives and shut down churches and other public venues. Francis invited all other Christian leaders and individual Christians on Sunday to recite the ‘Our Father’ prayer simultaneously at noon Italian time (1100 GMT) on Wednesday. “In this moment, we want to implore (God’s) mercy for a humanity so sorely tried by the coronavirus pandemic. We do it together, Christians of every Church and Community, of every tradition, of every age, language and nation,” he said. In an introduction to the “Our Father”, which is also known as “The Lord’s Prayer”, he said it was also for “the sick and their families, health workers and those who assist them, for authorities, police forces and volunteers, for the (religious) ministers of our communities”. There are about 2.3 billion Christians in the world, of whom some 1.3 billion are Roman Catholics.

The 83-year-old Francis prayed from inside the Vatican, where he has been holed up for the past few weeks as a precaution as Italy has imposed stringent measures to tackle what has become the world’s worst outbreak of the disease. The pope has been holding his general audiences and Sunday blessings over the internet and television from the official papal library instead of before crowds numbering tens of thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square. Francis’ Easter activities next month also will be held without the direct participation of the faithful, the Vatican has said. Masses in Italy and many other countries around the world have been suspended so that people do not gather in large numbers but most churches are still open for individual prayer.

CLEANER HANDS, BLUER SKIES

What has coronavirus done for us?

WASHINGTON AGENCIES

Deaths, economic meltdown and a planet on lockdown: the coronavirus pandemic has brought us waves of bad news, but squint and you might just see a few bright spots.

From better hygiene that has reduced other infectious diseases to people reaching out as they self-isolate, here are some slivers of silver linings during a bleak moment.

WASH YOUR HANDS! The message from health professionals has been clear from the start of the outbreak: wash your hands.

Everyone from celebrities to politicians has had a go at demonstrating correct technique — including singing “Happy Birthday” twice through to make sure you scrub long enough, and hand sanitiser has flown off the shelves.

All that extra hygiene appears to be paying off, at least in some countries, including Japan, where the number of flu cases appears to be sharply down.

Japan recorded 7.21 million cases by early March — usually around the peak of the flu season that runs until May. That was far below figures for previous years, including the 21.04 million infections seen during the 2017/18 season.

“We estimate that one of the reasons behind it is that people are now much more aware of the need to wash hands… given the spread of the new coronavirus,” Japanese health ministry official Daisha Inoue told AFP. CARBON CURBS: Factory shutdowns, travel bans and a squeeze on demand spell economic disaster, but it isn’t all bad news for the environment.

In the four weeks to March 1, China’s CO2 emissions fell 200 million tonnes, or 25 percent, compared to the same period last year, according to the Centre for Research

on Energy and Clean Air. That’s a decline equivalent to annual CO2 emissions from Argentina, Egypt or Vietnam.

The slowdown in China also saw coal consumption at power plants there down 36 percent, and the use of oil at refineries drop by nearly as much.

Air travel is also grinding to a virtual halt, achieving at least a short-term drop-off in emissions from a highly polluting industry.

And there have been other environmental benefits, including crystal-clear waters in Venice canals usually choked with touristladen boats. unfortunately, experts say the cleaner air may be short-lived.

Once the health crisis is over, experts expect countries will double down to try to make up for lost time, with climate change concerns likely to be sidelined in a race to recover economic growth.

SAVE THE PANGOLINS: The source of the coronavirus remains in question, but early tracking focused on a market in China’s Wuhan where a variety of live wildlife was on sale for consumption.

A number of animals, including bats and the highly endangered pangolin, have been identified as possible culprits for the virus.

As a result, China in February declared an immediate and “comprehensive” ban on the trade and consumption of wild animals that was welcomed by environmentalists.

Beijing implemented similar measures following the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s, but the trade and consumption of wild animals, including bats and snakes, made a comeback. This time the ban is permanent, raising hopes that it could end the local trade in wildlife.

“I do think the government has seen the toll it takes on national economy and society

is much bigger than the benefit that wild-eating business brings,” said Jeff He, China director at the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Reports linking the virus to the pangolin have also scared off would-be consumers of the scaly mammals elsewhere, with bushmeat vendors in Gabon reporting a plunge in sales.

APART, TOGETHER:? One of the most difficult aspects of the stringent lockdowns imposed to slow the spread of the virus has

been loneliness, with families and friends forced to endure weeks or even months apart.

But some people have found the measures are creating a sense of community spirit and prompting them to make more of an effort to check in with family and reconnect with friends.

In Colombia, where a nearly three-week period of self-isolation is now in place, 43year-old Andrea uribe has organised everything from group exercise classes to family

talent shows using video messaging programs including Zoom.

“I have called my parents more often; I have talked to friends that I usually don’t talk to… I have organised Zoom meetings with friends in multiple countries,” uribe, who works in development, told AFP. “It is wonderful to be forced to be there for one another. It has made me more creative. It just shows that we need to be present in people’s lives.”

Thursday, 26 March, 2020

SPORTS 11

ToKyo bEginS olympiC TaSK of rEorganiSing gamES tokyo

J

Agencies

APAN set about the unprecedented task of reorganising the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Wednesday after making the tough decision to postpone the Games by a year as the coronavirus pandemic locks down one third of the planet.

The dramatic step to shift the Olympics, never before seen in peacetime, upends every aspect of the organisation -- including venues, security, ticketing and accommodation. It is not even clear exactly when the rescheduled Games will take place. International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach on Wednesday left the door open for them to be staged in the spring instead of the normal summer slot.

"This is not restricted just to the summer months," Bach said in a conference call.

"All the options are on the table, before and including the summer of 2021." In a move symbolic of the difficulties, Olympic countdown clocks in Tokyo switched from displaying the number of days to go to simply show today's date and the time.

"It's like taking seven years to build the world's biggest jigsaw puzzle and, with just one piece to go, having to start again but now with less time to finish," tweeted Craig Spence, spokesman for the International Paralympic Committee. Japan has framed Tokyo 2020 as the "Recovery Games" -- a chance to show the world it has bounced back from the "triple disaster" in 2011 when a massive earthquake sparked a tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear meltdown.

The delayed event -- still to be called Tokyo 2020 -- will now be a "testament to mankind's defeat of the new virus", said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He repeated that message in a call with US President Donald Trump, in which the

Kane 'will be off' if Spurs don't win trophies, warns Shearer London: Tottenham forward Harry Kane will leave the club next year if they fail to win a trophy in that time, Premier League all-time top-scorer Alan Shearer has warned. Kane is yet to lift silverware in his career despite an eyecatching goalscoring record for both club and country. The England captain has not played since January due to a serious hamstring injury and was on the losing side as Tottenham lost to Liverpool in last season's Champions League final. That is the closest the 26-year-old has come to major honours and Shearer feels it may be time to move on if that does not change in the coming months. "My guess is, if he doesn't win anything in the next 12 months then he has to leave," Shearer told the Match of the Day: Top 10 podcast. "He'll do another year, I think, and if nothing comes in terms of trophies, then he'll be off." Shearer sits at the top of the Premier League scoring charts with 260 goals.

Asked if Kane, currently on 136 goals, could one day overtake his tally, the former Blackburn and Newcastle striker said: "It depends on his fitness, where he is and what success he's had at whatever club he's at -- whether that's at Spurs or somewhere else. Agencies

Coronavirus leaves English cricket facing uncertain season London: Despite the early spring chill, English cricketers would normally be turning their thoughts to outdoor practice. Instead, they face a prolonged period in limbo. The impact of the coronavirus means there will be no sound of leather on willow and no hardy supporters wrapped up in woollies braving the bitter earlyseason conditions. Last week the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that no professional cricket would be played before May 28 at the earliest. The traditional County Championship, comprising four-day first-class matches, has long had to co-exist with a range of other limited-overs, or white-ball, formats. And this season the plan was to throw the Hundred into the mix, with a cast of high-profile overseas stars including Australia Test captain Steve Smith. ECB chiefs were hoping the Hundred -- a 100 balls-per-side tournament featuring eight new franchises, all with men's and women's teams -- would attract a new audience. Former England captain Nasser Hussain has suggested the Championship, much less lucrative for the counties than the Twenty20 Blast, could be scrapped in an unprecedented peacetime move in response to the shortened season. Agencies

leaders agreed the Games would be "proof that humans have beaten the new coronavirus", a Japanese government spokesman said. The Olympic flame "could become the light at the end of the tunnel in which the world finds itself at present", Japan and the IOC said in a joint statement.

WAY BIGGER THAn ME: The quadrennial Olympics, which has weathered boycotts, terrorist attacks and protests, is the highest-profile event affected by the virus

that has killed thousands and postponed or cancelled sports competitions worldwide.

The IOC had come under fire for appearing out of touch by sticking to its schedule, but it eventually bowed to the inevitable, citing the need to protect the health of athletes.

Bach said the postponement was "about protecting human life", with more than 11,000 athletes expected along with 90,000 volunteers, and hundreds of thousands of officials and spectators from all over the world.

US swimming star Ryan Lochte summed up the combination of disappointment and relief expressed by most athletes, after many had voiced anger at being asked to continue training during the pandemic.

"I was a little pissed off because I've been training my butt off and I've been feeling great," the 12-time Olympic medallist told the Los Angeles Times. "But this whole thing is way bigger than me," Lochte added.

There were similar feelings on the streets

Feverish fans fuelled virus at Italy Champion's League match Rome Agencies

Ecstatic fans cheering and hugging at the Champion's League game between Atalanta and Valencia in February boosted the spread of the coronavirus, the mayor of the worst-hit Italian city said Tuesday.

Bergamo, in the northern Lombardy region, is now Italy's worst-hit province, with nearly 6,728 infections.

Its football team Atalanta had been having a stellar season, with a historic Champions League qualification. Its game against Spanish rival Valencia on February 19 at the San Siro stadium in Milan had been feverishly awaited by fans.

Atalanta pulled off a stunning 4-1 victory -- each goal met with shouts of glee, fans clutching at each other in excitement.

Bergamo Mayor Giorgio Gori told foreign journalists the match was "among the sad explanations" for the high infection rate in the city and wider province.

"Some 40,000 Bergamo inhabitants went to Milan to watch the game. Others watched it from their homes, in families, in groups, at the bar," he said.

"It's clear that evening was a situation in which the virus was widely spread," he added. But Gori said he didn't think it was "the starting point". Instead he believed

of Tokyo, which had won widespread praise for its preparations, with tickets in high demand and venues completed well ahead of schedule. "It is disappointing for sure, but when you think about the health of athletes as well as spectators, I understand," IT engineer Momoko Doku told AFP on the bustling Shibuya crossing. The Japanese media were also broadly supportive, although the Tokyo Shimbun daily screamed "surprise and embarrassment". "It is like all the efforts of the last seven years are back to square one," the Nikkei business daily said.

LET US HoPE: The Olympic torch relay, due to begin from Fukushima Thursday, has also been postponed but the flame will stay in the area until it is safe to begin.

Organisers have to wrestle with a host of unanswered questions: are the venues still available? What to do with ticket-holders and volunteers? How to fit the Games into a crowded 2021 sporting schedule? The athlete's village was due to be renovated into more than 4,000 luxury apartments, hundreds of which have already been snapped up. Tens of thousands of hotel rooms will need to be cancelled and rebooked.

"I cannot tell you what the situation is," Bach said when asked about how the postponement might affect the village. "It's one of the many thousand of questions the taskforce has to address." Japan and the organising committee were spending $12.6 billion on the Games and experts say they may need to spend around half that again to rearrange the event -- before hopefully recouping the losses when the Olympics are held.

Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori, an 82-year former prime minister and cancer survivor, pointed to his own health battles as inspiration for the difficult times ahead.

"We have no choice but to have hope. I myself suffered cancer... But I was saved by a new drug. I am here, allowed to live.

Bergamo's troubles began when a patient at the Fenaroli Hospital in Alzano was admitted with coronavirus but it went undetected, allowing him to infect others.

Two weeks after the historic match in Milan the curve of the number of those infected in Bergamo began to rise steeply and the town has become the epicentre for the pandemic in Europe.

Some 4,178 people have died so far in Lombardy, out of a total of over 6,820 in Italy. Gori said he thought the statistics failed to represent the real toll on Bergamo and the surrounding region because "there are certainly many elderly people who died at home, without it having been possible to take them to hospital".

"These people are not included in the official statistics. No tests have been done on them either before or after death".

Spanish club Valencia have said that 35 per cent of their team and staff have tested positive for coronavirus, following the trip to Milan. Atalanta on Tuesday confirmed that goalkeeper Marco Sportiello, who played in Valencia on March 10 as the Italian club qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals, had become their first player to test positive for COVID-19.

"Marco is currently asymptomatic," the team said in a statement. "The preventive quarantine, to which Marco and all the members of the first team had been subjected, will end on March 27."

Brighton promise 1,000 tickets to healthcare sta BRighton Agencies

Brighton have kicked off a club-to-club "baton" system for donating match tickets to frontline healthcare workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic as Watford offered the use of their stadium to a local hospital.

Premier League strugglers Brighton announced they had decided to donate 1,000 tickets to workers battling the crisis and have invited others in the Premier League, English Football League, Scotland and Northern Ireland to do the same when football resumes. "We are working on a range of things across all areas of the community and I hope this will just be the start," said chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber.

"We fully appreciate football is the last thing on anyone's minds at this moment, but we feel this is a small way in which we can show our gratitude for those NHS (National Health Service) staff on the frontline who are fighting the battle on behalf of all of us and give them something to look forward to."

Barber suggested a club-to-club baton system and nominated south-coast rivals Bournemouth as

the next in line. Bournemouth chairman Jeff Mostyn was keen to rise to the challenge, saying: "We are absolutely delighted to match Brighton's gesture and commit to 1,000 tickets."

Fellow Premier League side Watford have offered the use of their Vicarage Road stadium to Watford General Hospital. With football in England postponed until April 30 at the earliest, Watford are set to open up the ground for a range of NHS purposes. "We need to forget football right now and concentrate on doing all we can to support the NHS and, in particular, Watford General Hospital," Watford chairman and chief executive Scott Duxbury said in a joint statement announcing the move.

Vicarage Road is now set to host NHS staff inductions, offer space for urgent meetings, childcare facilities and warehouse space. Christine Allen, the chief executive of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, praised Watford for their support.

"Right now, we are doing all we can to make sure we can focus on caring for our sickest patients. We have found ourselves needing extra space very quickly," she said. "For example, we are running refresher training to our clinical staff so that they can care for patients with breathing difficulties."

CMYK

Thursday, 26 March, 2020

NEWS

coviD-19 Deaths surPass 20,000, over 450,000 infecteD TRUMP SAYS COVID-19 DOESN’T DESERVE LOCKDOWN; CONGRESS, WHITE HOUSE AGREE ON $2 TRILLION RESCUE PACKAGE

a

AGeNcIeS

S coronavirus pandemic continues to batter the world, at least 20,000 people have lost their lives and over 452,000 people have contracted the virus despite lockdowns that have put over 1.3 billion in self-isolation.

On Wednesday, the number of people killed in Spain by COVID-19 touched 3,400 people, making it the second European country with a death toll higher than in China.

Spain has at least 47,610 coronavirus cases, the country’s Ministry of Health says.

turkey charges 20 saudis over Khashoggi murder ANKARA AGENCIES

Turkish prosecutors have charged 20 suspects including two former top aides to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the 2018 murder of Riyadh critic Jamal Khashoggi. Prosecutors accuse Saudi Arabia’s deputy intelligence chief Ahmed al-Assiri and the royal court’s media czar Saud al-Qahtani of leading the operation against Khashoggi and giving orders to a Saudi hit team.

Khashoggi, 59, a commentator who wrote for The Washington Post, was killed after he entered the Saudi consulate on October 2, 2018, to obtain paperwork for his wedding to Turkish fiancee Hatice Cengiz. The Saudi insider-turned-critic was strangled and his body cut into pieces by a 15-man Saudi squad inside the consulate, according to Turkish officials. His remains have never been found despite repeated calls by Turkish officials for the Saudis to cooperate. Riyadh insists he was killed in a “rogue” operation. But the CIA, a UN special envoy and Ankara have directly linked the Saudi crown prince to the killing, a charge the kingdom vehemently denies.

MONSTROUS KILLING: Turkey carried out its own investigation after being unhappy with Saudi Arabia’s explanations. The Istanbul prosecutor’s office said in a statement that Assiri and Qahtani were charged with “instigating the deliberate and monstrous killing, causing torment”. The murder caused relations to between Ankara and Riyadh — which have a longstanding geopolitical rivalry — to worsen. Saudis, who enjoy investing and holidaying in Turkey, were urged to boycott the country last year. Turkey is a key backer of Qatar, especially after a Riyadh-led economic blockade began against the Gulf state in 2017, and is accused of supporting groups including the Muslim Brotherhood. Saudi Arabia views the Brotherhood as an existential threat.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed Ankara will not give up the case. “This happened in my country, how am I not going to follow up on that? Of course I’m going to follow up. This is our responsibility,” Erdogan told Fox News last year.

‘INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE’: Eighteen other suspects — including intelligence operative Maher Mutreb who frequently travelled with the crown prince on foreign tours, forensic expert Salah al-Tubaigy and Fahad al-Balawi, a member of the Saudi royal guard — were also charged with “deliberately and monstrously killing, causing torment”.

They face life in jail if convicted. Mutreb, Tubaigy and Balawi had been among 11 people on trial in Riyadh. Western officials said many of those accused defended themselves by saying they were carrying out Assiri’s orders, describing him as the operation’s ringleader.

Of that number, nearly 8,000 people were confirmed to have the virus in the past 24 hours. As of Wednesday, nearly 27,000 people were hospitalized in Spain due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the health ministry said in its latest update on the coronavirus.

ITALY DEATH TOLL 296: The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in the northern region of Lombardy, which has borne the brunt of Italy’s contagion, has risen by around 296 in a day to some 4,474, Reuters said on Wednesday.

The figure is down sharply compared to some 402 deaths on Tuesday. If confirmed, it will be the lowest daily death toll in Lombardy since March 19. The number of cases in the region, which includes Italy’s financial capital Milan, increased by some 1,643 to roughly 32,346, it said. The nationwide tally will be released around 6.00 p.m. (1700 GMT). On Tuesday, the national death toll stood at 6,820, the highest in the world.

‘IRAN FEARS SECOND WAVE’: Iran may face a second outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, a government spokesman said on Wednesday, as the Islamic Republic banned internal travel and traditional gath-

erings in parks during the Persian New Year holiday period, Reuters reports. President Hassan Rouhani has banned any new trips between cities, Rabiei said, and “violators will be confronted legally”. The escalating outbreak in Iran has killed 2,077 people so far, health ministry official Kianush Jahanpur said on Wednesday, with 143 deaths recorded in the past 24 hours.

TRUMP SEES AN END TO COVID-19: US President Donald Trump declared the beginning of the end of the coronavirus crisis in the United States on Tuesday and called for a quick end to social distancing, even as New York’s governor compared the growing pandemic to a “bullet train.”

Trump, who is keen to get his reelection campaign back on track, said that social distancing has caused too much pain to the US economy, prompting Congress to debate a historic rescue package.

“Our country — it’s not built to shut down,” he said on Fox News. “You can destroy a country this way by closing it down.”

“I would love to have the country opened up and just raring to go by Easter,” said Trump, declaring he could see “light at

Britain's Prince charles tests Positive for coronavirus LONDON: Prince Charles, heir apparent to the British throne, has tested positive for coronavirus, Clarence House said on Wednesday. The future king, 71, had been displaying mild symptoms but remains in “good health”. According to Clarence House: “He has been displaying mild symptoms but otherwise remains in good health and has been working from home throughout the last few days as usual.” His wife Camilla, 72, tested negative for the bug, with the couple now selfisolating in Scotland. They added: “In accordance with [British] government and medical advice, the Prince and the Duchess are now selfisolating at home in Scotland. “The tests were carried out by the NHS in Aberdeenshire where they met the criteria required for testing. “It is not possible to ascertain from whom the prince caught the virus owing to the high number of engagements he carried out in his public role during recent weeks.” Prince Charles had only just met with Prince Albert of Monaco earlier this month, who later tested positive for coronavirus. AGENCIES

the end of the tunnel.”

The president said he looked forward to “packed” churches on Easter, which is on April 12 — less than three weeks away.

Health experts have advised the measures as the foundation for preventing the easily transmitted, potentially fatal illness from multiplying uncontrollably.

The administration on March 16 declared “15 Days to Slow the Spread,” a period that expires early next week.

But Trump made clear on Tuesday that he thinks the response to coronavirus deaths has been blown out of proportion, saying “we lose much more than that to automobile accidents. We didn’t call up the automobile companies to say, ‘Stop making cars.'”

Later, Trump appeared to retreat from his Easter goal at a press conference alongside the renowned government infectious

diseases specialist Anthony Fauci.

“We’ll only do it if it’s good,” Trump said, adding that the reopening could be limited to a “portion” of the nation. He mentioned areas like farm country, Texas and the west, often sparsely populated. His own press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, quarantined since coming into contact with Brazilian officials almost two weeks ago, has tested negative, the White House said on Tuesday. $2 TRILLION: The plunge in activity and warnings of recession or even depression are a brutal reversal for what was until a few weeks ago a humming economy, with record-low unemployment. Congressional leaders said on Tuesday they were getting closer all the time to delivering a major boost by passing a nearly $2 trillion rescue package for businesses, ordinary Americans and hospitals reeling from the shutdown.

25 dead as gunmen attack Sikh religious complex in Kabul KABUL AGENCIES

At least 25 people died and 8 were wounded as a Sikh religious complex in the Afghan capital of Kabul was attacked by unidentified gunmen and suicide bombers on Wednesday, the Afghan government said.

According to the government, all the attackers were killed by the Afghan security forces. Several hours after the early morning attack was launched, Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said in a message to journalists an operation by the security forces was over and all of the attackers had been killed. He did not say how many.

The ministry later said 25 people who had been in the religious compound had been killed, eight wounded and 80 rescued.

Sikhs have been the target of attack by militants before in South Asia. A Taliban spokesman, in a message on Twitter, denied responsibility for the attack.

Narender Singh Khalsa, a member of parliament who represents the tiny Sikh

community, earlier said he had reports that four people had been killed and up to 200 people trapped inside the temple in the early morning attack.

“Three suicide bombers entered a dharamsala,” he said, referring to a sanctuary area in a temple compound.

“The gunmen started their attack at a time when the dharamsala was full of worshippers,” he said. The attack comes a day after the United States said it would cut its aid to the government by $1 billion over frustrations that feuding political leaders could not reach an agreement and form a team to negotiate with the Taliban. The Interior Ministry spokesman said Afghan security forces had cleared one floor of the complex and were moving slowly to try and avoid civilian casualties. Sikhs are a small religious minority in Afghanistan with numbers fewer than 300 families. In 2018, a suicide bombing targeting the Sikh community and claimed by the Daesh militant group killed more than a dozen people in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad. The United States last month struck a deal with the Tal-

iban on the withdrawal of US-led international troops but the agreement does not include Daesh militants.

PAKISTAN CONDEMNS ATTACK: Pakistan strongly condemned the ‘heinous terrorist attack’ on Gurdwara (Sikh temple) on Wednesday, said the Foreign Office.

“Such despicable attacks have no political, religious or moral justification and must be rejected outright,”according to the

FO. The FO said that Pakistan condemns terrorism in ‘all its forms and manifestations’, adding that all places of worship must be respected. “Our hearts go out to the families who have lost their loved ones in this inhuman act and we pray for the swiftest recovery of the injured. We also express our abiding solidarity with the fraternal people of Afghanistan,” read the official statement from the ministry.

World Bank, IMF urge debt relief for poorest countries WASHINGTON AGENCIES

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund on Wednesday urged official bilateral creditors to provide immediate debt relief to the world’s poorest countries as they grapple with severe consequences of the rapidly spreading coronavirus.

In a joint statement, the institutions called on official bilateral creditors to immediately suspend debt payments from International Development Association (IDA) countries, if requested. Those nations, home to a quarter of the world’s population and two-thirds of the world’s population living in extreme poverty, will be hardest hit by the pandemic, they said.

“This will help with IDA countries’ immediate liquidity needs to tackle challenges posed by the coronavirus outbreak and allow time for an assessment of the crisis impact and financing needs for each country,” the IMF and the World Bank said.

Most of the 76 countries receiving IDA support have gross national income per capita of below $1,175, a threshold that is updated annually. The World Bank and the IMF said suspending debt payments, consistent with national laws of the creditor countries, would provide “a global sense of relief for developing countries” and send a strong signal to financial markets.

un launches $2Bn Plan to comBat coronavirus in vulneraBle countries NEW YORK: The United Nations on Wednesday launched a $2 billion plan to fight coronavirus in the world’s poorest countries countries, saying nobody was safe if such nations were left exposed. “This is the moment to step up for the vulnerable,” SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres said while unveiling the Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID-19. The virus – which began in China and spread fast through Europe – is now penetrating Africa, Asia and Latin America, hitting countries that already face humanitarian crisis because of conflict, natural disasters and climate change.

Nations reeling from conflict, poverty and deficient health care will be unable to contain the coronavirus without significant international assistance, the UN chief said. COVID-19 has killed more than 16,000 people worldwide and there are nearly 400,000 reported cases. AGENCIES

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