VIPs are the First Priority for Sindh Gov instead of Front Line Health Workers for Vaccination

As the first phase of inoculation of frontline healthcare workers against Covid-19 continues, Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Sunday alleged that the vaccine was being administered to VIPs in Sindh.

He claimed that in the Centre, the vaccine had not even been given to Prime Minister Imran Khan, federal ministers or their families.

In a tweet, Mr Umar said complaints had been received that people other than the healthcare workers were receiving the vaccine jabs in Karachi. As a result, representatives of the Sindh government were instructed during the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) meeting to vaccinate healthcare workers only.

He said the vaccine had been given to the provincial government and therefore should inoculate healthcare personnel.

According to media reports, NCOC National Coordinator Lt Gen Hamooduz Zaman Khan has been directed to investigate the matter.

The vaccination drive was launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Feb 2 in Islamabad, which started in the rest of the country the next day.

Pakistan performs better

With the country reporting another 1,346 infections and 53 deaths and the overall positivity rate of 3.64pc on Sunday, the global ranking of Pakistan in terms of most number of cases dropped to the 30th place.

In June last year, the country was among the top 10 countries having the most Covid-19 infections.

Pakistan’s ranking is much better than the United States (US), India, Russia, United Kingdom (UK), France, Turkey, Germany, South Africa, Iran, Indonesia, Canada, Israel, Iraq and Sweden.

According to data released by the NCOC on Sunday, total number of people having been infected by Covid-19 since Feb 26, 2020 was 554,474, with 11,967 dying. The rest of the infected people had recovered. There are 32,265 active cases at present, the data revealed.

Meanwhile, majority of the frontline healthcare workers in Islamabad seem to have adopted a ‘wait and see’ policy as only 34 health professionals have so far been vaccinated against Covid-19 since the drive was launched on Feb 2.

However, District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia hoped that a large number of healthcare workers would be inoculated on Monday (today) as around 300 appointments had been called for the day.

The global data showed that the US had reported the most number of cases – over 27 million – and around 473,000 deaths. India has recorded 10.8 million cases and 155,000 deaths, Brazil, 9.4 million cases and 231,000 deaths; UK, 3.9 million cases and 112,000 deaths; Turkey, 2.5 million cases and 26,000 deaths, and Iran, over 1.4 million cases and 55,000 deaths.

However, in the US, 970,567 tests per million population were carried out, whereas in the UK, 1.12 million tests were conducted. Russia carried out 712,464 tests, Turkey, 359,156; Brazil, 133,977; India, 144,560; Iran, 114,219 whereas Pakistan conducted only 36,664 tests per million population.

Novel coronavirus was first detected in China in December 2019 which then spread to other countries. Pakistan closed its borders and took a number of steps to stop the spread. The first case of the virus was reported in Pakistan in the last week of February 2020.

On March 13 of that year, the meeting of the National Security Committee, comprising top civil and military leadership, was held to discuss the crisis which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, who had chaired the meeting, directed the relevant authorities to devise a comprehensive strategy to check the spread of the disease.

Lockdown was announced on March 16 and a number of industries, educational institutions, restaurants and marriage halls were closed. Pakistan also sealed its western border with Afghanistan and Iran and even closed Kartarpur shrine to local people.

The National Disaster Management Authority was involved to ensure availability of medical equipment and health-related supplies at the earliest.

After the construction industry was opened on Aug 7, the National Coordination Committee on Covid-19 lifted restrictions on tourism on Aug 8 and on restaurants and transport sector from Aug 10.

Educational institutions and marriage halls were opened on Sept 15, 2020.

After restrictions were eased, a large number of people thronged public spots without following the SOPs. As a result, tourist destinations in Gilgit-Baltistan had to be closed.

In October 2020, cases started to rise again and the NCOC officially declared it to be the second wave of the virus.

Initially educational institutions, from where cases were being reported, were closed and then a lockdown policy was announced for hotspots. As the situation worsened on Nov 11, the NCOC decided to increase restrictions, and finally closed educational institutions on Nov 26.

After the situation improved, secondary schools and colleges were opened on Jan 18, 2021 while and primary and middle institutions resumed from Feb 1.

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Fresh Elections will be the First demand of PDM in Long March

Pakistan Democratic Movement chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday said that the "long march" on March 26 will be held for one express purpose: to demand fresh elections since this government is "not acceptable".

Fazlur Rehman said this during an interview with Geo News on programme "Jirga".

He said the march will not be so "we simply come and go", adding: "We will sit there."

"Imran Khan will be put under public pressure," the PDM chief said.

PDM agrees on 'long march', contesting Senate elections together: Fazlur Rehman

Fazlur Rehman, speaking of the 11-party Opposition alliance's anti-government campaign so far, which has seen numerous rallies, said: "The people's war is fought in the people's court."

"We never needed to approach any other forum against election rigging," he said.

The PDM chief also denied any "secret talks with anyone". "I or the PDM do not need to speak secretly with anyone," he said.

Fazlur Rehman, in his wide-ranging interview, also spoke of the probe by the National Accountability Bureau against him, saying: "No one, including NAB, can hold me accountable for anything."

NAB summons Maulana Fazlur Rehman's son-in-law to declare assets, source of income

He said that he had been a parliamentarian since 1988 but did not so much as make a "mud hut" in Islamabad.

The PDM chief said that "we are all one nation against India or other enemy forces".

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VIPs are the First Priority for Sindh Gov instead of Front Line Health Workers for Vaccination

As the first phase of inoculation of frontline healthcare workers against Covid-19 continues, Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Sunday alleged that the vaccine was being administered to VIPs in Sindh.

He claimed that in the Centre, the vaccine had not even been given to Prime Minister Imran Khan, federal ministers or their families.

In a tweet, Mr Umar said complaints had been received that people other than the healthcare workers were receiving the vaccine jabs in Karachi. As a result, representatives of the Sindh government were instructed during the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) meeting to vaccinate healthcare workers only.

He said the vaccine had been given to the provincial government and therefore should inoculate healthcare personnel.

According to media reports, NCOC National Coordinator Lt Gen Hamooduz Zaman Khan has been directed to investigate the matter.

The vaccination drive was launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Feb 2 in Islamabad, which started in the rest of the country the next day.

Pakistan performs better

With the country reporting another 1,346 infections and 53 deaths and the overall positivity rate of 3.64pc on Sunday, the global ranking of Pakistan in terms of most number of cases dropped to the 30th place.

In June last year, the country was among the top 10 countries having the most Covid-19 infections.

Pakistan’s ranking is much better than the United States (US), India, Russia, United Kingdom (UK), France, Turkey, Germany, South Africa, Iran, Indonesia, Canada, Israel, Iraq and Sweden.

According to data released by the NCOC on Sunday, total number of people having been infected by Covid-19 since Feb 26, 2020 was 554,474, with 11,967 dying. The rest of the infected people had recovered. There are 32,265 active cases at present, the data revealed.

Meanwhile, majority of the frontline healthcare workers in Islamabad seem to have adopted a ‘wait and see’ policy as only 34 health professionals have so far been vaccinated against Covid-19 since the drive was launched on Feb 2.

However, District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia hoped that a large number of healthcare workers would be inoculated on Monday (today) as around 300 appointments had been called for the day.

The global data showed that the US had reported the most number of cases – over 27 million – and around 473,000 deaths. India has recorded 10.8 million cases and 155,000 deaths, Brazil, 9.4 million cases and 231,000 deaths; UK, 3.9 million cases and 112,000 deaths; Turkey, 2.5 million cases and 26,000 deaths, and Iran, over 1.4 million cases and 55,000 deaths.

However, in the US, 970,567 tests per million population were carried out, whereas in the UK, 1.12 million tests were conducted. Russia carried out 712,464 tests, Turkey, 359,156; Brazil, 133,977; India, 144,560; Iran, 114,219 whereas Pakistan conducted only 36,664 tests per million population.

Novel coronavirus was first detected in China in December 2019 which then spread to other countries. Pakistan closed its borders and took a number of steps to stop the spread. The first case of the virus was reported in Pakistan in the last week of February 2020.

On March 13 of that year, the meeting of the National Security Committee, comprising top civil and military leadership, was held to discuss the crisis which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, who had chaired the meeting, directed the relevant authorities to devise a comprehensive strategy to check the spread of the disease.

Lockdown was announced on March 16 and a number of industries, educational institutions, restaurants and marriage halls were closed. Pakistan also sealed its western border with Afghanistan and Iran and even closed Kartarpur shrine to local people.

The National Disaster Management Authority was involved to ensure availability of medical equipment and health-related supplies at the earliest.

After the construction industry was opened on Aug 7, the National Coordination Committee on Covid-19 lifted restrictions on tourism on Aug 8 and on restaurants and transport sector from Aug 10.

Educational institutions and marriage halls were opened on Sept 15, 2020.

After restrictions were eased, a large number of people thronged public spots without following the SOPs. As a result, tourist destinations in Gilgit-Baltistan had to be closed.

In October 2020, cases started to rise again and the NCOC officially declared it to be the second wave of the virus.

Initially educational institutions, from where cases were being reported, were closed and then a lockdown policy was announced for hotspots. As the situation worsened on Nov 11, the NCOC decided to increase restrictions, and finally closed educational institutions on Nov 26.

After the situation improved, secondary schools and colleges were opened on Jan 18, 2021 while and primary and middle institutions resumed from Feb 1.

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Fresh Elections will be the First demand of PDM in Long March

Pakistan Democratic Movement chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday said that the "long march" on March 26 will be held for one express purpose: to demand fresh elections since this government is "not acceptable".

Fazlur Rehman said this during an interview with Geo News on programme "Jirga".

He said the march will not be so "we simply come and go", adding: "We will sit there."

"Imran Khan will be put under public pressure," the PDM chief said.

PDM agrees on 'long march', contesting Senate elections together: Fazlur Rehman

Fazlur Rehman, speaking of the 11-party Opposition alliance's anti-government campaign so far, which has seen numerous rallies, said: "The people's war is fought in the people's court."

"We never needed to approach any other forum against election rigging," he said.

The PDM chief also denied any "secret talks with anyone". "I or the PDM do not need to speak secretly with anyone," he said.

Fazlur Rehman, in his wide-ranging interview, also spoke of the probe by the National Accountability Bureau against him, saying: "No one, including NAB, can hold me accountable for anything."

NAB summons Maulana Fazlur Rehman's son-in-law to declare assets, source of income

He said that he had been a parliamentarian since 1988 but did not so much as make a "mud hut" in Islamabad.

The PDM chief said that "we are all one nation against India or other enemy forces".

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Chances of missing Pakistani mountaineer Ali Sadpara's survival 'next to none', says son Sajid

Sajid Ali Sadpara, the son of missing Pakistani mountaineer Muhammad Ali Sadpara, has said that the chances that his father is alive "are next to none".

In a conversation with reporters in Skardu, where he arrived earlier on Sunday, Sajid said: "Rescue operations now only make sense if they are carried out to bring back his body. Otherwise, for the chance for anyone to survive at 8,000 metres [after being missing for] two to three days are next to none."

Sajid said that a team of four climbers began their climb at around 11pm-12am on February 5 (the night between Thursday and Friday).

"Unfortunately, I was without oxygen and at a height of about 8,200 metres in the winter. I felt like my health is getting affected as well as my mental well being.

"My father said he is carrying another oxygen tank which I should use. But as I began fitting the oxygen mask regulator, it leaked. So I came down," he narrated.

Sajid said that the last time he saw his father was at the bottleneck at around 8,200-8,300 metres, the most "technical portion" of the climb, at around 11am on Friday.

"I'm sure he summited the peak and was on his way back after which he encountered an accident which is why he is missing," he said.

Sajid arrives in Skardu

The Deputy Commissioner of Shigar had earlier confirmed the safe arrival of Sajid Sadpara in Skardu.

He said helicopters had searched the area with Sajid and Dawa Sherpa who was leading the K2 winter expedition, up to an elevation of 7,800 metres but "found no clues due to bad weather".

Mountaineers go missing

Sadpara and two other mountaineers with him — John Snorri from Iceland and Juan Pablo Mohr from Chile — had gone missing on Saturday after which a search operation to retrieve them was launched.

Helicopters flew to a height of 7,000 metres on Saturday afternoon in their attempt to locate the missing mountaineers but were unable to find any clue to their whereabouts.

It had been reported two days ago that Sadpara and his team had successfully summited the 8,611-metre K2 — the world's second highest mountain — late Friday, a month after their first attempt failed.

However, their support teams had since then cautioned that the climbers' status is unclear and there has been no communication from their end since Friday.

Sadpara's son safely reaches camp

On Saturday afternoon, Waqas Johar, Assistant Commissioner Shigar, Gilgit-Baltistan, said that there has been no success in finding the missing mountaineers so far and that weather conditions are "not good" at K2.

He said that Ali's son, Sajid Sadpara, who had been waiting at Camp 2 has now begun to descend.

In a subsequent update, he said that Sajid has reached Camp 1.

Mountaineers set off on journey

Sadpara, Snorri and Mohr had departed for their journey a day after Sadpara's birthday in the wee hours of Wednesday, asking fans and admirers to "keep us in your prayers".

They had started their attempt for the final summit in the early hours of Friday, hoping to accomplish the herculean feat by Friday afternoon.

According to updates posted on Snorri's facebook account on Friday, at 12:29pm, the GPS stopped working and had not updated in six hours.

It stated that Sajid had to return due to his oxygen regulator not working. "They were at a bottle neck at around 10am," the account said.

Citing feedback from Sajid, the account stated that everyone was fine otherwise and going at a good pace until he had been with them.

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Chances of missing Pakistani mountaineer Ali Sadpara's survival 'next to none', says son Sajid

Sajid Ali Sadpara, the son of missing Pakistani mountaineer Muhammad Ali Sadpara, has said that the chances that his father is alive "are next to none".

In a conversation with reporters in Skardu, where he arrived earlier on Sunday, Sajid said: "Rescue operations now only make sense if they are carried out to bring back his body. Otherwise, for the chance for anyone to survive at 8,000 metres [after being missing for] two to three days are next to none."

Sajid said that a team of four climbers began their climb at around 11pm-12am on February 5 (the night between Thursday and Friday).

"Unfortunately, I was without oxygen and at a height of about 8,200 metres in the winter. I felt like my health is getting affected as well as my mental well being.

"My father said he is carrying another oxygen tank which I should use. But as I began fitting the oxygen mask regulator, it leaked. So I came down," he narrated.

Sajid said that the last time he saw his father was at the bottleneck at around 8,200-8,300 metres, the most "technical portion" of the climb, at around 11am on Friday.

"I'm sure he summited the peak and was on his way back after which he encountered an accident which is why he is missing," he said.

Sajid arrives in Skardu

The Deputy Commissioner of Shigar had earlier confirmed the safe arrival of Sajid Sadpara in Skardu.

He said helicopters had searched the area with Sajid and Dawa Sherpa who was leading the K2 winter expedition, up to an elevation of 7,800 metres but "found no clues due to bad weather".

Mountaineers go missing

Sadpara and two other mountaineers with him — John Snorri from Iceland and Juan Pablo Mohr from Chile — had gone missing on Saturday after which a search operation to retrieve them was launched.

Helicopters flew to a height of 7,000 metres on Saturday afternoon in their attempt to locate the missing mountaineers but were unable to find any clue to their whereabouts.

It had been reported two days ago that Sadpara and his team had successfully summited the 8,611-metre K2 — the world's second highest mountain — late Friday, a month after their first attempt failed.

However, their support teams had since then cautioned that the climbers' status is unclear and there has been no communication from their end since Friday.

Sadpara's son safely reaches camp

On Saturday afternoon, Waqas Johar, Assistant Commissioner Shigar, Gilgit-Baltistan, said that there has been no success in finding the missing mountaineers so far and that weather conditions are "not good" at K2.

He said that Ali's son, Sajid Sadpara, who had been waiting at Camp 2 has now begun to descend.

In a subsequent update, he said that Sajid has reached Camp 1.

Mountaineers set off on journey

Sadpara, Snorri and Mohr had departed for their journey a day after Sadpara's birthday in the wee hours of Wednesday, asking fans and admirers to "keep us in your prayers".

They had started their attempt for the final summit in the early hours of Friday, hoping to accomplish the herculean feat by Friday afternoon.

According to updates posted on Snorri's facebook account on Friday, at 12:29pm, the GPS stopped working and had not updated in six hours.

It stated that Sajid had to return due to his oxygen regulator not working. "They were at a bottle neck at around 10am," the account said.

Citing feedback from Sajid, the account stated that everyone was fine otherwise and going at a good pace until he had been with them.

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Chances of missing Pakistani mountaineer Ali Sadpara's survival 'next to none', says son Sajid

Sajid Ali Sadpara, the son of missing Pakistani mountaineer Muhammad Ali Sadpara, has said that the chances that his father is alive "are next to none".

In a conversation with reporters in Skardu, where he arrived earlier on Sunday, Sajid said: "Rescue operations now only make sense if they are carried out to bring back his body. Otherwise, for the chance for anyone to survive at 8,000 metres [after being missing for] two to three days are next to none."

Sajid said that a team of four climbers began their climb at around 11pm-12am on February 5 (the night between Thursday and Friday).

"Unfortunately, I was without oxygen and at a height of about 8,200 metres in the winter. I felt like my health is getting affected as well as my mental well being.

"My father said he is carrying another oxygen tank which I should use. But as I began fitting the oxygen mask regulator, it leaked. So I came down," he narrated.

Sajid said that the last time he saw his father was at the bottleneck at around 8,200-8,300 metres, the most "technical portion" of the climb, at around 11am on Friday.

"I'm sure he summited the peak and was on his way back after which he encountered an accident which is why he is missing," he said.

Sajid arrives in Skardu

The Deputy Commissioner of Shigar had earlier confirmed the safe arrival of Sajid Sadpara in Skardu.

He said helicopters had searched the area with Sajid and Dawa Sherpa who was leading the K2 winter expedition, up to an elevation of 7,800 metres but "found no clues due to bad weather".

Mountaineers go missing

Sadpara and two other mountaineers with him — John Snorri from Iceland and Juan Pablo Mohr from Chile — had gone missing on Saturday after which a search operation to retrieve them was launched.

Helicopters flew to a height of 7,000 metres on Saturday afternoon in their attempt to locate the missing mountaineers but were unable to find any clue to their whereabouts.

It had been reported two days ago that Sadpara and his team had successfully summited the 8,611-metre K2 — the world's second highest mountain — late Friday, a month after their first attempt failed.

However, their support teams had since then cautioned that the climbers' status is unclear and there has been no communication from their end since Friday.

Sadpara's son safely reaches camp

On Saturday afternoon, Waqas Johar, Assistant Commissioner Shigar, Gilgit-Baltistan, said that there has been no success in finding the missing mountaineers so far and that weather conditions are "not good" at K2.

He said that Ali's son, Sajid Sadpara, who had been waiting at Camp 2 has now begun to descend.

In a subsequent update, he said that Sajid has reached Camp 1.

Mountaineers set off on journey

Sadpara, Snorri and Mohr had departed for their journey a day after Sadpara's birthday in the wee hours of Wednesday, asking fans and admirers to "keep us in your prayers".

They had started their attempt for the final summit in the early hours of Friday, hoping to accomplish the herculean feat by Friday afternoon.

According to updates posted on Snorri's facebook account on Friday, at 12:29pm, the GPS stopped working and had not updated in six hours.

It stated that Sajid had to return due to his oxygen regulator not working. "They were at a bottle neck at around 10am," the account said.

Citing feedback from Sajid, the account stated that everyone was fine otherwise and going at a good pace until he had been with them.

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