Pakistan logs over 4,000 COVID-19 cases for second straight day

Pakistan logged more than 4,000 COVID-19 cases for the second straight day, as the Omicron variant of the virus continues to push infection rates across the country amid the fifth wave of the pandemic, data from the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) showed Sunday morning.

As per the latest statistics of the NCOC, a total of 51,236 tests were conducted in the country during the last 24 hours, of which 4,027 came back positive. The country’s positivity rate now stands at 7.8%.

Statistics 16 Jan 22:
Total Tests in Last 24 Hours: 51,236
Positive Cases: 4027
Positivity %: 7.8%
Deaths :9
Patients on Critical Care: 752

— NCOC (@OfficialNcoc) January 16, 2022

Meanwhile, nine more patients succumbed to the virus during the same period and the condition of 752 patients was stated to be critical.

A day earlier, Pakistan had reported 4,286 daily COVID-19 cases — the highest number of cases since August 25, 2021.

The positivity ratio also shot up to 8.16%, the highest since August 11, when 52,522 tests were conducted across the country, according to the NCOC data.

 

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China-Pakistan strategic partnership ensures regional, global development: President Alvi

President Dr Arif Alvi says all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China envisioned a prosperous region with the establishment of economic and trade linkages through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

During an interaction with the Chinese media, the president said Pakistan and China enjoyed excellent relations which were based upon all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.

He said that the leadership of the both countries have been consistently improving upon the historic relationship and their ties are based upon people-to-people linkages.

President Alvi said the world is in the flux, facing different challenges and issues like illegal occupation of Kashmir by India.

He said Pakistan and China have been continuously talking about peace in the world and pushing for a durable peace across the world.

The president further stressed that these changes should not be of any kind of interference in each other's affairs.

Meanwhile, President Dr Arif Alvi has shared, on Twitter, a video of Prof Gregory Stanton of Genocide Watch who predicted that genocide of Muslims will soon happen in India.

In a tweet, the President said Professor Stanton pointed to similarities between genocides in Rwanda and Haridwar.

The President said he has drawn the attention of world leaders that a fascist India has emerged with entrenched Hindutva hate ideology.

 

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Local traders protested and strike amid tourist ban in murree.

Following the administration’s decision to extend the ban on tourists entering Murree until January 17, local traders protested and observed a shutter-down strike on Saturday.

The president of the traders association confirmed that all market places remained closed due to a strike in Murree and surrounding areas.

The association, along with the local hotels association, staged a demonstration on the Murree-Islamabad expressway, urging the authorities to revoke their decision regarding a ban on the entry of tourists.

Meanwhile, the district administration has issued directives for tourists under the National Disaster Management Act 2010, under which no more than 8,000 vehicles will be allowed to enter Murree in a day after the ban is lifted on January 17.

However, the curbs will not be applicable on residents of Murree and Azad Kashmir or vehicles with government number plates.

According to the notification issued in this regard, the Rawalpindi chief traffic officer (CTO) has been directed to ensure the instructions are followed to the letter.

Moreover, vehicles, excluding LPG, petrol and food trucks, will not be allowed to enter Murree from 5pm to 5am.

The notification said that an effective system to regulate traffic will be set up in collaboration with the Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD) to regulate traffic and records of all vehicles entering Murree will be maintained.

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Local traders protested and strike amid tourist ban in murree.

Following the administration’s decision to extend the ban on tourists entering Murree until January 17, local traders protested and observed a shutter-down strike on Saturday.

The president of the traders association confirmed that all market places remained closed due to a strike in Murree and surrounding areas.

The association, along with the local hotels association, staged a demonstration on the Murree-Islamabad expressway, urging the authorities to revoke their decision regarding a ban on the entry of tourists.

Meanwhile, the district administration has issued directives for tourists under the National Disaster Management Act 2010, under which no more than 8,000 vehicles will be allowed to enter Murree in a day after the ban is lifted on January 17.

However, the curbs will not be applicable on residents of Murree and Azad Kashmir or vehicles with government number plates.

According to the notification issued in this regard, the Rawalpindi chief traffic officer (CTO) has been directed to ensure the instructions are followed to the letter.

Moreover, vehicles, excluding LPG, petrol and food trucks, will not be allowed to enter Murree from 5pm to 5am.

The notification said that an effective system to regulate traffic will be set up in collaboration with the Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD) to regulate traffic and records of all vehicles entering Murree will be maintained.

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Prime accused Zahir Jaffer must be sentenced to death, Noor Mukadam father said

Father of murder victim Noor Mukadam, Shaukat Ali Mukadam, said in a court statement on Saturday that his daughter was killed unjustly and that the prime accused, Zahir Jaffer, "must be sentenced to death.

The statement was recorded during a hearing by District and Sessions Court Islamabad Judge Ata Rabbani.

The court ordered that Zahir and others appear before the court, after which the accused, his gardener and watchman were brought in.

After Noor's father recorded his statement, he was cross-examined by Zahir's lawyers.

Mukadam, who is a former Pakistani diplomat, remarked that he has appeared in court for the first time in his life. 

Noor's father said that he has "no personal enmity with anyone".

He said that Noor had not informed him that she was going to Lahore. 

"Normally she would inform me before going anywhere, although sometimes she would reach the place and then inform me," he told the court, adding that after she went missing, he contacted her friends, went to their houses and searched for her everywhere. 

He said that the names of Noor's friends were not added to the FIR.

Mukadam said that Noor called him on July 20 to inform him that she was going to Lahore. "I did not search for her again," he said.

Noor's father said that there is no evidence that the mobile phone found at the scene belongs to his daughter.

He stated that he was familiar with the Jaffer family but was unfamiliar with the others accused, and that an identity parade only of the Jaffers was conducted, and not of any other person in jail.

According to Mukadam, he named the gardener, Jan Mohammad, on August 8 after viewing CCTV footage. In my statement then, I had said that the gardener "did not open the gate and continued to keep it closed".

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Govt announced a Rs3.01 increase in petrol prices.

The government on Saturday announced a Rs3.01 increase in the price of petrol owing to the rising petroleum prices in the international market.

According to a notification by the Finance Division, besides petrol, an increase in other petroleum products will also be enforced starting January 16.

Petrol, with the Rs3.01 increase, will now cost Rs147.83 per litre, whereas high speed diesel (HSD), with an increase of Rs3, will now cost Rs144.62 per litre.

In addition, kerosene will cost Rs3 more and will thus be priced at Rs116.48 per litre, while light diesel oil will become Rs3.33 dearer to cost Rs114.54 per litre.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) had recommended a Rs5.52 per litre increase in the price of petrol and Rs6.19 per litre in HSD prices.

"The petroleum products are showing fourth straight weekly gain and witnessed an increase of 6.2% just in last week in the international market," the statement read.

It further said that the prices in the international market are at the highest level since last year.

The Finance Division said that the existing sales tax rate and petroleum levy on various petroleum products are much below the budgeted targets.

"Against the recommendation of OGRA [...] the Prime Minister has directed to absorb the international prices through further cut in sales tax from last fortnight," the statement read.

"The finance ministry will take Rs2.6 billion revenue hit due to reduced sales tax. Therefore, the government has decided to make partial increase in the prices of the petroleum products in order to provide relief to the end consumers," it added.

 

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Prime accused Zahir Jaffer must be sentenced to death, Noor Mukadam father said

Father of murder victim Noor Mukadam, Shaukat Ali Mukadam, said in a court statement on Saturday that his daughter was killed unjustly and that the prime accused, Zahir Jaffer, "must be sentenced to death.

The statement was recorded during a hearing by District and Sessions Court Islamabad Judge Ata Rabbani.

The court ordered that Zahir and others appear before the court, after which the accused, his gardener and watchman were brought in.

After Noor's father recorded his statement, he was cross-examined by Zahir's lawyers.

Mukadam, who is a former Pakistani diplomat, remarked that he has appeared in court for the first time in his life. 

Noor's father said that he has "no personal enmity with anyone".

He said that Noor had not informed him that she was going to Lahore. 

"Normally she would inform me before going anywhere, although sometimes she would reach the place and then inform me," he told the court, adding that after she went missing, he contacted her friends, went to their houses and searched for her everywhere. 

He said that the names of Noor's friends were not added to the FIR.

Mukadam said that Noor called him on July 20 to inform him that she was going to Lahore. "I did not search for her again," he said.

Noor's father said that there is no evidence that the mobile phone found at the scene belongs to his daughter.

He stated that he was familiar with the Jaffer family but was unfamiliar with the others accused, and that an identity parade only of the Jaffers was conducted, and not of any other person in jail.

According to Mukadam, he named the gardener, Jan Mohammad, on August 8 after viewing CCTV footage. In my statement then, I had said that the gardener "did not open the gate and continued to keep it closed".

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