NCOC issues Ramadan SOPs amid COVID-19 third wave

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) issued on Wednesday new standard operating procedures (SOPs) to contain the spread of coronavirus during the holy month of Ramadan.

A special meeting of NCOC was chaired for this by Asad Umar on Tuesday. According to a declaration issued by the NCOC, the forum has decided to implement “broader lockdowns”, with stringent enforcement protocols where no mobility will be allowed except in emergency situations.
Saturdays and Sundays will be observed as closed days at the national level.

All indoor and outdoor activities, including social, cultural, political, sports, and other miscellaneous events, will be banned. “Outdoor dining will be allowed from iftar till midnight, example 11:59 pm, with strict SOPs, while takeaways will be allowed,” the notification read.

Cinemas, shrines, and amusement parks will remain closed.

Amid the spread of the pandemic in the third wave, the inter-provincial transport will remain suspended for two days a week (Saturdays and Sundays) which will continue to be enforced till midnight April 25-26.

Market timings will be from sehri till 6 pm. For Taraweeh prayers, NCOC said that it should be organised in open spaces as far as possible.

The forum called for civil administration at every tier to engage ulemas and community leaders for assistance in the enforcement of COVID-19 SOPs during Ramadan.

Stringent protocols for tourism have been imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu Kashmir and tourist sites elsewhere.

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Corona claims 135 more lives, 4,681 fresh infections reported in Pakistan

Pakistan reported 135 deaths from coronavirus on Wednesday, making it the country’s highest death toll since June 29 last year,reported.

The latest statistics of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) showed the COVID-19 has claimed 135 more lives, taking the overall death toll to 15,754.

During the period, 4,681 fresh infections were reported from across the country.

During the period of a day, the total count of active cases was recorded at 75,034 and the positivity rate stood at 9.73 per cent.

The health facilities across the country conducted 48,092 coronavirus detection tests, taking the total number of COVID-19 tests to 10,878, 086 since the first case was reported.

In order to provide more facilities to the citizens willing to get vaccinated against coronavirus, the National Command Operations Centre (NCOC) on Tuesday sought provinces input on the opening of COVID vaccination centres in two shifts.

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Corona claims 135 more lives, 4,681 fresh infections reported in Pakistan

Pakistan reported 135 deaths from coronavirus on Wednesday, making it the country’s highest death toll since June 29 last year,reported.

The latest statistics of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) showed the COVID-19 has claimed 135 more lives, taking the overall death toll to 15,754.

During the period, 4,681 fresh infections were reported from across the country.

During the period of a day, the total count of active cases was recorded at 75,034 and the positivity rate stood at 9.73 per cent.

The health facilities across the country conducted 48,092 coronavirus detection tests, taking the total number of COVID-19 tests to 10,878, 086 since the first case was reported.

In order to provide more facilities to the citizens willing to get vaccinated against coronavirus, the National Command Operations Centre (NCOC) on Tuesday sought provinces input on the opening of COVID vaccination centres in two shifts.

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US pauses J&J COVID-19 vaccine over rare blood clots

US federal health agencies on Tuesday recommended pausing the use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine after six women under 50 given the shot developed rare blood clots, dealing a fresh setback to efforts to tackle the pandemic.

Following the news, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) said it was delaying the rollout of the vaccine to Europe, a week after regulators there said they were reviewing rare blood clots in four recipients of the shot in the United States.

The moves come after European regulators said earlier this month they had found a possible link between AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine and a similar rare blood clotting problem that led to a small number of deaths.

J&J’s single dose vaccine – most COVID-19 shots are delivered over two doses – and AstraZeneca’s low-cost vaccine are seen as vital tools in the fight against a pandemic that has claimed more than three million lives.

The White House said the pause would not have a “significant” impact on its plan to administer about three million shots per day and a total of 200 million shots before President Joe Biden’s 100th day in office.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said one person had died from the rare blood clotting condition after taking the J&J vaccine and another was in a critical condition.

Immunology experts stressed the risk posed by the J&J vaccine appeared extremely low, and that the shot remained a valuable tool against the risks of COVID-19. However they acknowledged the need for health officials to proceed with caution to understand the best ways to mitigate any risk.

“Even if causally linked to the vaccine: 6 cases with about 7 million doses (lower than the risk of clots with oral contraceptives) is not something to panic about,” Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore, said in an email.

“People are asking me if they should cancel their J&J vaccine appointments and I have told them not to but I know many will and this will stall progress in controlling the pandemic.”

FDA acting commissioner Janet Woodcock said it expected the pause to be a matter of days, and it was aimed at providing information to healthcare providers so that they can diagnose, treat and report such blood clots.

FDA official Peter Marks said that part of the reason for the pause was to warn doctors that administering the standard treatments for clots can cause tremendous harm, or be fatal.

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Fakhar Zaman available for third South Africa T20I

Left-handed batsman Fakhar Zaman is available for selection for the third T20I against South Africa.

According to sources, team management is hopeful that in-form Fakhar will be fit and ready for the third T20I of the four-match series.

The 31-year-old Fakhar had complained of a minor allergy in his left leg before the second T20I, therefore it was decided to rest him. Sharjeel Khan replaced him and batted as an opener.

It must be noted that the series is level at 1-1. The third T20I will be played tomorrow at SuperSport Park, Centurion.

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PPL receives Rs903m from Byco via NAB

The Paki­stan Petroleum Limited has received Rs903.218 million from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against outstanding receivables from Byco Petroleum Pakistan Lim­ited, the company ann­ounced on Monday.

The PPL informed the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) about it in a regulatory filing and said that the company would pursue for remaining over Rs253m.

“In pursuance of Rule 5.6.1 of your Rules, we hereby inform you that the company has received a pay order for Rs903.218 million from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against long outstanding receivables of the Company from Byco Petroleum Pakistan Limited,” the filing said.

“The company had recognised a provision against the debts due from Byco to the tune of the principal amount of Rs1,156.220 million. The provision will be reversed to the extent of the aforementioned amount of Rs903.218 million. The company is pursuing recovery of the remaining amount [principal as well as late payment surcharge] through NAB and the suit for recovery filed by it in the high court of Sindh at Karachi,” it added.

Financial market sources privy to the development said that NAB had last week distributed cheques amounting to Rs1.01bn amongst various state functionaries including the Sindh government, PPL, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) after making different recoveries.

A source said: “A few years ago a complaint was received from PPL, wherein it was alleged that the ministry of petroleum had allocated condensate of Hala Block to Byco, but it wilfully did not make the payments for it after the lapse of seven years. Byco COO Kamran Iftikhar Lari, however, has made plea bargain. In October 2020, he moved an application under Section 25(b) of the National Acco­untability Ordinance, 1999 before an accountability court pleading to accept his plea bargain. The NAB chairman had accepted the plea bargain and had subsequently forwarded the matter to the court for its approval.”

The spokesman for the Byco Pakistan when contacted said that the amount was actually paid by the company.

“It’s true that plea bargain deal was requested by Mr Lari, which was accepted by the NAB but the amount was actually paid by Byco,” he said.

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Biden sends Ramazan greetings, says his govt will protect rights and safety of all people

As Muslims in America prepared to hold their first fast of the holy month on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden sent their greetings to those observing Ramazan in a statement that touched upon the Muslim community's contribution to the country as well difficulties faced by its members.

"Jill and I send our warmest greetings and best wishes to Muslim communities in the United States and around the world. Ramadan Kareem," said the US president in a statement.

"As many of our fellow Americans begin fasting tomorrow, we are reminded of how difficult this year has been. In this pandemic, friends and loved ones cannot yet gather together in celebration and congregation, and far too many families will sit down for iftar with loved ones missing.

"Yet, our Muslim communities begin the month of revelation with renewed hope."

Joe Biden spoke about how Muslim Americans have enriched the United States since its founding. "They are as diverse and vibrant as the America they have helped build. Today, Muslims are leading in our efforts to fight Covid-19, playing a pioneering role in vaccine development and serving as frontline health care workers.

"They are creating jobs as entrepreneurs and business owners, risking their lives as first responders, teaching in our schools, serving as dedicated public servants across the nation, and playing a leading role in our ongoing struggle for racial equity and social justice."

The president acknowledged that Muslim Americans continue to be targeted by bullying, bigotry, and hate crimes. "This prejudice and these attacks are wrong. They are unacceptable. And they must stop. No one in America should ever live in fear of expressing his or her faith. And my administration will work tirelessly to protect the rights and safety of all people."

"On my first day as President, I was proud to end the shameful Muslim travel ban, and I will continue to stand up for human rights everywhere, including for Uyghurs in China, Rohingya in Burma, and Muslim communities all over the world," he said.

"As we remember those who we have lost since last Ramadan, we are hopeful for brighter days ahead. The Holy Quran reminds us that 'God is the light of the heavens and earth', who leads us out of darkness to the light. Although our White House festivities will be held virtually this Ramazan, Jill and I look forward to resuming the traditional White House Eid celebration in person next year, inshAllah."

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