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Wednesday, 6 May, 2020
NEWS
CAbInet APProveS rICe exPort, reConStItutIon of MInorItIeS CoMMISSIon
been added. The programme was being implemented in a most transparent manner and on merit, Dr Sania Nishtar said. PPP HOODWINKING ‘PML-N, MASSES’: Faraz also responded to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb’s media talk from a day earlier in which she had spoken out against the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) summoning of Shehbaz Sharif. She portrayed it to be a case “as if a very virtuous, innocent and honest man has been humiliated”, said Faraz of Aurangzeb’s briefing. He said that if Shehbaz had been summoned by NAB, then it was because NAB is an institution in pursuit of the implementation of law in the land. “If you consider appearing before the law an act which tarnishes your reputation then that means you have no regard for the law,” he added. Faraz said that both the PML-N and the Pakistan People’s Party PPP were trying to hoodwink the masses with catchy slogans and critical statements at a time when the country is passing through a crisis situation. “The government believes in serving the masses but responding to criticism was its right,” he added. The minister urged the opposition to support the government’s efforts to deal with the virus and provide relief to the vulnerable segments of society. About PPP’s Sindh minister Saeed Ghani’s news conference, he said the party, which used to rule the country, was now confined to just one province because of its incompetent leadership.
SHIBLI FARAZ ACCUSES PML-N AND PPP OF PLAYING POLITICS OVER CORONAVIRUS SITUATION ISLAMABAD
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STAFF REPORT
HE federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the reconstitution of the National Commission for Minorities and allowed the export of rice and locally manufactured hand sanitisers, as Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz criticised the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for playing politics over the coronavirus situation. Briefing the media about the decisions taken in the federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Faraz said that Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar gave a comprehensive briefing on the coronavirus situation in the country. “Umar informed the members that Pakistan’s situation was far better than that of many developed countries,” he added. On the occasion, the prime minister and all the cabinet members, including ministers, ministers of state, advisers and special assistants, decided to donate their one month salary to the Prime
Minister’s COVID-19 Relief Fund 2020. According to Faraz, the federal cabinet also accorded approval to the export of rice and locally manufactured hand sanitisers to earn foreign exchange. It was also decided to include 61 food and non-food items in PSQCA’s quality control list, he added. He said the cabinet also deliberated on the issue of ban on import of goods from India, except life-saving drugs. The prime minister directed to ensure that there is no violation of the ban. Faraz said the cabinet also approved the reconstitution of the National Commission for Minorities on the recommendation of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony. The information minister said the cabinet was informed that the Committee on Election Reforms had sent its report to the Ministry of Law and Justice. The PM said that reforming the electoral system was part of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s agenda and it would remain the topmost priority of its government, he added. The prime minister also stressed the
SC summons AGP over ’30pc decrease in medicine prices’ ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday issued notice to the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP), Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and other respondents in a petition filed by private pharmaceutical companies against the reduction in prices of medicines. A three-member SC bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam and comprising Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel heard the case. During the course of proceedings, the counsel for a private pharmaceutical company said DRAP issued a circular to reduce the prices of medicines without hearing them. The prices of medicines were reduced by 30% in 2019. He said the Sindh High Court had directed the pharmaceutical companies to approach the relevant forum. According to the Drug Act, the decision of the federal government could not be challenged, he added. He said that the Supreme Court was the last forum to file an appeal. He said that the 2015 drug policy had been declared controversial by the Supreme Court. He said DRAP formulated a new policy in 2018 and reduced the prices of medicines. Justice Mushir Alam said the Supreme Court could not order DRAP to fix drug prices. The government should address the concerns of pharmaceutical companies, he added. Later, hearing of the case was adjourned till after Eidul Fitr. APP
need to reform the criminal justice system and directed the minister for law and justice to finalise the reformation process within six months. He said that modern technology should be introduced in police stations to change the “Thana” culture. The meeting was updated on the conversion of police stations to model police stations with the introduction of modern technology, Faraz added. On the PM’s directives, the cabinet was informed that 76 illegal appointments were made on senior posts in seven divisions during the previous government. The ministries concerned were directed to present reports on those appointments in the next cabinet
meeting, Faraz said. Briefing about the implementation of decisions taken during 81 cabinet meetings, Faraz said that a total 1,630 decisions were made out of which 1,376 ( 86%) had been implemented whereas 114 decisions ( 7%) were in the implementation stage. The minister said that SAPM on Social Welfare Dr Sania Nishtar briefed the cabinet about the ongoing process of financial help of vulnerable segments of the society through the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme. It was informed that in addition to 400,000 families as per the data of previous governments, almost 810,000 new ones had
Ahmadis excluded from National Commission for Minorities ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
The federal government on Tuesday withdrew its decision of including Ahmadis in the National Commission for Minorities. According to sources, following recommendations from Ministry of Religious Affairs, the government withdrew its earlier decision to give representation to the Ahmadi community in the minorities commission. They said that the decision was reconsidered after the move sparked fierce criticism from the religious right on mainstream and social media platforms. Meanwhile, the federal cabinet has approved the re-
constitution of the commission. A Hindu community member from Sindh, Chela Ram Kewlani has been named as chairman of the commission. Maulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad and Mufti Gulzar Ahmed Naeemi will represent the Muslim community in the commission. Three members each have been selected from Hindu and Christian community, while two members have been named from Sikh community and one member each will represent Kelash and Parsi communities in the commission. No Ahmadi has been included in the commission. The chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology will be the commission’s ex-officio member while the religious affairs secretary will also act as the commission’s secretary.
One injured in Kurrum imambargah blast PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT
At least one man was injured in an explosion at an imambargah in Lower Kurram’s Shoorki area on Tuesday, according to reports. Per details, the building of the mosque collapsed from the impact of the explosion, injuring the caretaker of the premises.
A local police officer told reporters that the blast occurred at 4am in the morning. He said that police suspect that explosive material had been planted at the mosque. On Sunday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bomb Disposal Unit defused an improvised explosive device in Dabar area of Mamond tehsil. In January this year, nine people were injured in a hand grenade attack near the Karkhano police checkpost in Peshawar.
193 nationals repatriated from India
The COVID-19 Pandemic
LAHORE: At least 193 nationals, who were stranded in India following the outbreak of the coronavirus, were repatriated via the Wagah border crossing on Tuesday. The stranded nationals, including women and children, were screened and transferred to quarantine centres as they crossed over into Lahore. Reportedly, these citizens had gone to India on family visits, medical treatment and attending religious ceremonies. Several nationals had reached the border crossing on Monday evening but were sent back by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and spent the night in Amritsar. Later, they arrived at the border in several groups. STAFF REPORT
The world is facing a global pandemic called the novel coronavirus or COVID19. What started off as a disease spread by, reportedly, bats in Wuhan, China, has now become, unarguably, one of the greatest threats to the world. The disease was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, capital of China’s Hubei province, and resulted in the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. As of April 29, 2020, there have been more than 3.11 million reported cases across the world, with more than 217,000 deaths, and around 932,000 recoveries. In Pakistan, more than 14,885 confirmed cases have been reported, 3,425 patients have recovered, and 327 have died. Almost every country is struggling to fight against the coronavirus; health officials in Pakistan are also doing their best to control its spread. Pakistan’s top health official has stated that the intensity of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is not as severe in Pakistan as it is in many other countries. But the numbers speak otherwise. The official data has shown thatconfirmed cases are increasing day by day. In this global outbreak, people should act smart and responsible instead of putting everything on government. Many countries have opted for a lockdown and precautions have been recommended. The most common precautions include social distancing, avoiding handshakes, refraining from
By FAHAD HASSAn CHoHAn
going in public places, and using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser or soap. But, unfortunately, not every person is acting upon the advice of government and doctors. We have to ask ourselves:are we really taking this pandemic seriously? Because even now I see people who don’t care about the deadliness of the coronavirus, or perhaps they just don’t know much about it. Either way, citizens should be more responsible in this situation because not everything is government’s fault. The terrifying fact is that there is still no official vaccine for the coronavirus, and antibiotics don’t work on this virus.And that is because it is a virus, not a bacterium. The present treatment for viruses also does not seem to work on the coronavirus because it is a new virus and there’s less information about it as of now. Despite that, there have been recoveries from this disease, which might be a silver lining. But that does not justify peoplegoing out and gathering in any area as the disease is still pretty deadly. This pandemic has affected the daily wager in Pakistan so badly that we cannot even imagine. And that is why Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program, which is providing relief on the basis of merit, transparency and impartiality. The prime minister directedMNAs and MPAs, throughout the country, to play a vibrant role in providing relief to people in their individual constituencies, especially dur-
CMYK
IHC extends Abbasi’s protective bail till May 27 ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday extended the protective bail of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and ex-secretary petroleum Arshad Mirza for three more weeks till May 27, in a reference pertaining to illegal appointment of managing director Pakistan State Oil (PSO). A division bench comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Mohsin Akhter Kiyani conducted hearing on the bail petition of the above-mentioned accused in a reference initiated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The petitioners pleaded that the court had earlier granted them protective bail till May 12, but they could not approach the trial court in Karachi due to lockdown across the country. They pleaded that the NAB could arrest them after expiry of the bail time, adding that they were unable to reach Karachi due to closure of roads in wake of cornonavirus spread across the country. The petitioners prayed the court to extend their protective bail till their appearance before accountability court in Karachi. On the query of the bench, Abbasi’s lawyer contended that his client did not appear before the trial court, however, his counsel attended the proceeding. APP
ing the holy month of Ramazan. Reportedly, the Ehsaas programme is playing its role in helping the needy. As government is doing what is necessary, I think it would not be appropriate if doctors are not appreciated in this time of crisis. This pandemic, and all previous ones,are a clear example of how doctors are the true heroes of a nation. They have played a vital role in the fight against COVID-19, and this, in my opinion, is the perfect time to appreciate them for their service. Apart from what we see and read in media, there have been a lot of theories regarding the coronavirus that seem terrifyingeven if they are not true. One that is the most popular among conspiracy theorists is that this is not a pandemic that just happened by chance. According to them, this virus was actually spread on purpose and the objective behind it was depopulation. We have all heard stories ofsecret societies andtheselected elite thatis said to control the world. Is this pandemic actually part of a plan? A step towards a“new world order”? Well, there is still no hard evidence supporting these theories,so one can only guess. It’s safe to say that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the economy of underdeveloped countries;many of these countries, such as Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, are not economically strong so they will have to face far greater damages. The International Monetary Fund expects the global GDP to fall by three percent in 2020. Pakistan will, inevitably, be impacted by both the global and domestic developments arising from
the spread of the coronavirus.Pakistan’s economy was reported to be recovering slowly but now the spread of the coronavirus is most likely to become a major obstacle in the way. Another major problem in countries like Pakistan is the lack of medical facilities. It’s no secret that Pakistan’s healthcare facilities are quite weak, and we do not have enough to support our entire population. Our doctors and nurses are doing everything that is in their power to provide the best possible treatment. One can only pray that the coronavirus does not cause more damage than it already has. Countries like Pakistan cannot afford the coronavirus spreading exponentially. Lack of awareness remains a huge issue. It is evident that people are not taking this pandemic seriously and don’t understand how their actions can affect the ones around them. Infected people may still be going out to family gatherings, public parks or other places. With limited resources there is only so much that government can do; people, therefore, have to protect themselves and the ones around them by staying indoors and disinfecting their houses. Where the coronavirus might sound frightening, it is how people behave that would help to control the virus. It is upto us to practise the methods recommended by the World Health Organization: social distancing and using alcohol-based sanitisers and soaps. Proper sanitary methods are required, use of masks and gloves is essential, and awareness about the virus and its deadliness, in my opinion,are of the utmost importance. Government alone cannot fight the coronavirus.
