PM Imran Khan calls NCC meeting as COVID-19 infections surge across Pakistan

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday summoned a National Coordination Committee meeting tomorrow to discuss the growing trend of COVID-19 infections in the country.

Sources said that the premier will be briefed by the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) on the coronavirus situation.

The development comes hours after Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said the government was deliberating over additional measures to contain the rising spread of coronavirus in the population.

Taking to Twitter, Umar said the NCOC discussed additional measures today to control the rising spread of COVID-19.

"Recommendations will be tabled in the NCC being called for tomorrow," he continued. "Need to take immediate measures which have the most impact on disease spread without curtailing economic activity."

COVID-19 resurge

Pakistan's positivity rate surged past 4% on Sunday - the highest since August. The country recorded 1,123 new Covid-19 cases in a single day - highest in over three months. At least 12 people succumbed to the virus.

The federal authorities have issued multiple warnings in the past few days on the ignorance towards implementation of Covid-19 SOPs as a second wave hits the country.

Last week, NCOC issued fresh rules regarding the closure of wedding halls and shopping malls and made the wearing of face mask mandatory.

"NCOC has tightened restrictions on some high-risk public activities but the rising spread of the disease can only be controlled if people believe in the need for precautions," said Umar.

Early this month, NCOC said that it has observed wedding halls and indoor restaurants to be "high contributors" to the spread of the contagious disease.

Following the observation, on October 9, the body issued new guidelines for wedding halls, saying that it was officially restricting the number of guests and limiting functions till 10pm.

For indoor events, a maximum of 300 guests has been allowed and for outdoor events, a maximum of 500 guests, with the gathering to only last 2 hours.

The statement said that if wedding halls are found to be in violation of the SOPs then they will be closed off at a “specified time” and a heavy fine will also be imposed. It further said that the closure of SOPs-defying wedding halls will come into effect two weeks after the notices are served so people get “sufficient time” to search for alternate venues.

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Zalmay Khalilzad calls on COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa to discuss Afghan peace: ISPR

United States (US) Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad on Monday called on Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters (GHQ).

According to the ISPR, both of them discussed the regional security situation and the Afghan peace process besides also discussing Pakistan-Afghan border management and measures needed for lasting peace in the neighboring war-torn country.

Zalmay Khalilzad lauded the efforts of Pakistan for peace in the region during his meeting with COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa.

It is pertinent to mention here that Zalmay Khalilzad, who had remained active in finalizing a historic deal between the United States and Afghan Taliban, is now working with Pakistan to make intra-Afghan dialogue a success.

He had frequently visited the country and met with the COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa for the purpose.

In one such meeting US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, and commander of NATO’s Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan General Austin Scott Miller called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Rawalpindi on October 08.

Detailing the meeting, the ISPR, said that matters related to peace and stability in the region, Pak-Afghan border management, current developments in the Afghan peace process, and other issues were discussed in the meeting.

The visiting dignitaries appreciated the positive role being played by Pakistan for Afghan peace process, said ISPR.

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Gunmen kill at least 20 students in attack on Kabul university

Gunmen attacked Kabul University's campus on Monday, killing at least20 students and trading fire with security forces, a senior Afghan government source and witnesses said.

The attackers were targeting students and fired on them as they fled in the Afghan capital, one witness said.

“They were shooting at every student they saw,” Fathullah Moradi told Reuters, saying he had managed to escape through one of the university's gates with a group of friends.

The Taliban said their fighters were not involved in the assault. No other group immediately claimed responsibility.

Witnesses said the attack followed an explosion in the area.

“At least 20 killed many others wounded,” the senior government official told Reuters on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to media.

Gunfight at Kabul University continues five hours after a group of attackers entered the university compound.

Sources say 20 people have been killed in the attack. pic.twitter.com/9zyGz3N1d4

— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) November 2, 2020

Several attackers had entered the campus and were fighting with security forces, interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said. At least 40 people were injured, a police source said.

Nato Senior Civilian Representative to Afghanistan Stefano Pontecorvo condemned the attack.

“This is the second attack on educational institutions in Kabul in ten days. Afghan children and youth need to feel safe going to school,” he said in a statement.

An attack late last month on an education centre in Kabul killed 24 people, mostly students.

Violence has plagued Afghanistan while government and Taliban negotiators have been meeting in Qatar to try to broker a peace deal and as the United States brings home its troops.

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Punjab minister Mian Aslam Iqbal recovers from covid-19

Punjab Minister for Industries and Trade, Mian Aslam Iqbal on Monday has recovered from the novel coronavirus.

“Thanks to Allah, I have been recovered from the coronavirus”, Mian Aslam Iqbal said in his statement.

The minister vowed not to leave masses alone in the present situation.

It is worthwhile to mention here that on October 15, Mian Aslam Iqbal had tested positive for the coronavirus,

Sources relayed Minister for Industries and Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal took a Covid-19 test after he felt unwell last evening. The result of his test came back positive, after which he put himself in quarantine at his home.

On the other hand, as many as 1,123 fresh cases of the coronavirus emerged across the country during the last 24 hours, pushing the national tally of cases to 335,093.

According to the latest details disclosed by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 12 more people died due to the highly contagious disease, taking the death toll to 6,835.

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Covid 19: 1,123 new cases reported in Pakistan

As many as 1,123 fresh cases of the coronavirus emerged across the country during the last 24 hours, pushing the national tally of cases to 335,093.

According to the latest details disclosed by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 12 more people died due to the highly contagious disease, taking the death toll to 6,835.

There are a total of 13,242 active cases of the coronavirus as 315,016 patients have recuperated.

Thus far, Sindh has reported 146,331 cases, Punjab 104,554 cases, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 39,649, Balochistan 15,954, Islamabad 20,089, Gilgit Baltistan 4,279 and Azad Jammu and Kashmir 4,237.

707 of the patients under treatment in hospitals across the country are said to be in critical condition.

On October 31, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs and Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf leader Ali Haider Zaidi and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) key leader Senator Dr Musadik Malik had announced to have tested positive for the coronavirus.

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Covid 19: Lockdown in England could be extended

The one-month lockdown for England announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson this weekend could be extended as Britain struggles to contain a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior cabinet member said on Sunday.

After resisting the prospect of a new national lockdown for most of last month, Johnson announced on Saturday that new restrictions across England would kick in after midnight on Thursday morning and last until Dec. 2.

The United Kingdom, which has the biggest official death toll in Europe from COVID-19, is grappling with more than 20,000 new coronavirus cases a day and scientists have warned a worst-case scenario of 80,000 dead could be exceeded this winter.

Asked if a lockdown could be extended beyond early December, senior cabinet minister Michael Gove told Sky News: “Yes.”

Britain has reported 46,717 COVID-19 deaths - defined as those dying within 28 days of a positive test. A broader measure of those with COVID-19 on their death certificates puts the toll at 58,925.

“We can definitively say that unless we take action now, the (health service) is going to be overwhelmed in ways that none of us could countenance,” Gove said.

Several cabinet ministers hinted England’s lockdown could extend to next year, with the government considering a brief relaxation over the Christmas period, according to The Times.

The cabinet ministers said they believed it would be “very difficult” to end the lockdown if coronavirus-related deaths and hospital admissions were still rising, the newspaper reported.

The new lockdown announcement came 10 days after Johnson told parliament it would “make no sense at all” to “turn the lights out with a full national lockdown”.

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Covid 19: 1,123 new cases reported in Pakistan

As many as 1,123 fresh cases of the coronavirus emerged across the country during the last 24 hours, pushing the national tally of cases to 335,093.

According to the latest details disclosed by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 12 more people died due to the highly contagious disease, taking the death toll to 6,835.

There are a total of 13,242 active cases of the coronavirus as 315,016 patients have recuperated.

Thus far, Sindh has reported 146,331 cases, Punjab 104,554 cases, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 39,649, Balochistan 15,954, Islamabad 20,089, Gilgit Baltistan 4,279 and Azad Jammu and Kashmir 4,237.

707 of the patients under treatment in hospitals across the country are said to be in critical condition.

On October 31, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs and Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf leader Ali Haider Zaidi and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) key leader Senator Dr Musadik Malik had announced to have tested positive for the coronavirus.

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