In partnership with
Profit
GOVT ADVISES PUBLIC AGAINST WORRYING AS MPOX SURVEILLANCE, SCREENING ENHANCED Sunday, 18 August, 2024 I | 12 Safar, 1446
g
g
PM’S COORDINATOR SAYS ENHANCED SURVEILLANCE AND SCREENING MECHANISMS PUT IN PLACE AT ALL AIRPORTS AND POINTS OF ENTRY
g
Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 49 I 8 Pages I Karachi Edition
PM DIRECTS NCOC TO REMAIN ALERT AND EVALUATE SITUATION DAILY
TASKS NATIONAL CENTRE WITH ENSURING ALL REQUIRED GADGETS, KITS FOR EVALUATING VIRUS
KP’s first diagnosed monkeypox patient reported missing from home in Mardan MARDAN/ KARACHI STAFF REPORT
P
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister’s Coordinator for Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad has announced that the government has formulated a comprehensive strategy to protect the people from mpox, advising the public against worrying. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday, the PM’s coordinator stated that people need not worry as only one case was reported in the country. “Enhanced surveillance and screening mechanisms have been put in place at all airports and points of entry”, Dr Ahmad informed, adding that laboratories were allocated for diagnosis in all provinces and the federal capital. The PM’s coordinator said cases were reported from Africa and travellers from Africa, America and the Gulf countries would be monitored.
Mpox, formerly monkeypox, can spread through close contact. Usually mild, it is fatal in rare cases. It causes flulike symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body. The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the recent outbreak of the disease as a global public health emergency on Wednesday after the new variant of the virus was identified. Dr Ahmad said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the federal capital and provinces have taken steps on a joint priority basis. He said the Ministry of Health was ensuring continuous monitoring on a daily basis and the government was closely monitoring the situation. He said the ministry was in full contact with the provinces and a daily meeting was being conducted on the prime minister’s instructions. Dr Ahmad appealed to the public to isolate at home if their family had a travel history or mpox symptoms.
LHC directs Centre, PTA to submit response on nationwide internet disruptions LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday sought reply from the federal government and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to a plea against the ongoing internet disruptions plaguing the nation. Justice Shakil Ahmad issued the directives while announcing the reserved verdict on a petition filed by Noman Sarwar against the nationwide internet "shutdown." The court ordered all parties to ensure their representatives appear and provide responses during the next hearing scheduled for August 21. The directive comes as millions across the country continue to struggle with limited internet connectivity, especially when using mobile data. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's administration has linked the disruptions to testing an internet firewall aimed at controlling social media, which includes filters to block certain content. The petition names the federal government, the PTA, and several ministries as respondents, criticising the lack of justification for the social media shutdown. "Businesses and every sphere of life are being affected because of the internet’s closure. Shutting down the internet is also a violation of fundamental rights," the petition reads. A day prior, Justice Ahmad expressed displeasure over the state counsel's handling of the case, criticising their "lack of knowledge" on the issue. The government's move has faced scrutiny from various sectors for its economic impact. The chairman of the Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan warned that online businesses are now "struggling to maintain operations" due to the slowdown.
The first mpox patient in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa went missing from his home in Mardan while the Sindh Health Department issued an infection control alert to prevent the infection’s spread in private and government hospitals of Karachi. According to the health department, the individual, who had returned from Saudi Arabia, was diagnosed with carrying mpox virus in Peshawar. However, when a medical team visited the patient’s residence to provide guidelines, the house was found locked. Further inquiry with the District Health Officer (DHO) of the patient’s native area in Dir revealed that the patient was not present there either. The health ministry and relevant authorities are now intensifying their investigation and response efforts. The World Health Organization has declared recent outbreak of the disease as a public health emergency of international concern after a new variant of
Dr Ahmad instructed the public to contact a qualified doctor and follow their instructions in case of showing any symptoms of mpox. He said that symp-
the virus has been identified. Pakistan has had cases of mpox, also called monkeypox, previously. It was not immediately clear which variant was detected in the patients. Global health officials on Thursday confirmed an infection with a new strain of the mpox virus in Sweden and linked it to a growing outbreak in Africa, the first sign of its spread outside the continent a day after the World Health Organization declared the disease a global public health emergency. The WHO on Wednesday declared the outbreak in Africa a public health emergency of international concern, its highest level of alert, after cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo spread to nearby countries. There have been 27,000 cases and more than 1,100 deaths, mainly among children, in Congo since the current outbreak began in January 2023. The disease, caused by the monkeypox virus, can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever and can make some people very ill, the WHO website says.
toms could take 10 to 15 days to appear and spending too much time with the patient could spread the infection.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
Nawaz-led PML-N always served masses, executed unprecedented uplift: Tarar ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday that under the leadership of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the PML-N had always done the politics of public services and strived hard to provide maximum facilities to the masses. “Nawaz Sharif, during his first term as prime minister, initiated mega development projects including South Asia’s first Motorways network in the country,” Atta Tarar said while addressing a press conference. He said that it was Nawaz Sharif who took steps for ease of doing business, initiated power generation projects, and provided facilities to investors. Tarar said that the Punjab government had taken a good step by providing subsidy to electricity consumers. “Punjab Chief Minister Mariam Nawaz has given a big relief to consumers in the province in terms of electricity,” Tarar said, adding it was a historic and unprecedented step, which would cost Rs45 billion. He said a former caretaker
minister who was also making hue and cry over power tariff, now should come forward and laud the Punjab government initiative. He said that in 2018 when the tenure of the PML-N government ended, inflation was only 4 per cent and GDP growth rate was over 6 per cent. He said that yesterday Nawaz Sharif rightly said that the people were hit by inflation and sky rocketing prices of daily use items during the era when £190 million scam emerged, when Tosha Khana and cypher cases emerged and Punjab was at the mercy of Farha Gogi and
bad governance was at its worst. He said during that time inflation reached 23 percent and the present regime with it hard work had brought it down to 11 percent and there were projections of further decrease. The government has reduced the price of petroleum products as a gift to the nation on the occasion of Independence Day when it was celebrating the victory of Arshad Nadeem in Paris Olympics. Earlier, he said the PM had provided relief worth Rs50 billion to upto 200 unit power consumers for three months. He said that the package announced by the Punjab chief minister would provide Rs14 relief per unit to consumers using upto 500 units per month. He expressed the hope that with the steps taken by the federal and Punjab governments, the masses would get considerable relief and situation would further improve in the near future. He lamented that a political leader had fostered the politics of chaos, anarchy and division in the country and he in collusion with Faiz Hameed conspired to spread unrest in the country and worked against the integrity of the country.
Govt hands over home-grown economic development plan to Dar for review g
PM FORMS MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE TO REASSESS DRAFT OF ECONOMIC PLAN INITIALLY DEVELOPED BY UK ECONOMIST STEFAN DERCON PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a seven-member ministerial committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, to develop the draft of a “home-grown economic development plan” and review the work of UK economist Stefan Dercon regarding Pkaistan’s growth. As per a media report, this move comes following the PM’s dissatisfaction with the work of Stefan Dercon, whose involvement in drafting Pakistan’s growth agenda has sparked criticism from independent economists in the country. Dercon had drafted the “home-grown” growth agenda under the supervision of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, who initially chaired the committee on the economic plan. The ministerial committee will review and reassess the draft of the Dercon Plan. Its members include Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister of Information Atta Ullah Tarar, Minister of State for Finance Ali Pervaiz Malik and Lt General Sarfraz Ahmad, the national coordinator of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). Dar chaired the committee’s first meeting, where it was agreed to review the Dercon Plan in light of the PMLN’s manifesto and the Planning Commission’s 5Es framework. The committee will also incorporate feedback from stakeholders and meeting participants to ensure a robust and cohesive draft plan as inconsistencies and a lack of cohesion were noted in the draft. The committee will align sectoral plans with the principles of the home-grown economic development plan and may re-engage Stefan Dercon if needed. Based on the committee’s work, the prime minister is expected to announce an economic plan for the remainder of his government, focusing on reducing inflation to single digits. Dercon’s plan links sustainable 6% annual growth and $60 billion in exports to the strict implementation of reforms and strong political will. However, the plan largely reiterates points already highlighted by Pakistani economists and government reports, such as the need for private investment, export orientation, and sufficient tax revenue.
SHC orders murder case against SHO, three officers over alleged staged encounter KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
The Sindh High Court ordered the registration of a murder case against an SHO and three police officers following the death of a young man in an alleged police encounter. The court rejected a plea challenging the decision to file the case against the police officials and directed that an FIR be lodged based on the evidence presented. During the proceedings, the plaintiff’s lawyer alleged that the police had taken the young man into custody and then killed him in a staged encounter. The lawyer claimed that video clips had exposed the inconsistencies in the police account. The lawyer further stated that the sessions judge in Malir had previously ruled in favour of registering a case against the police, directing the SSP Malir to record the plaintiff’s statement and file the case. According to the police, the individual was killed in a firefight with the police on July 8, 2024. The plaintiff contends that an altercation between the victim and the police led to the victim being forcibly taken on a motorcycle by the police and subsequently murdered.
NDMA issues flash flood warning amid heavy rain forecast in parts of country ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Saturday issued an advisory for potential heavy rains and flash flooding in many parts of the country, anticipating that severe weather conditions expected to persist until August 19. In the advisory issued here, the NDMA forecast widespread thunderstorm rain in Sindh, South Punjab and Balochistan, potentially leading to flash floods. “Widespread thunderstorm rain of moderate to heavy intensity with scattered very heavy and isolated extremely heavy falls is expected over Sindh along DG Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur, Zhob, Loralai, Nasirabad, Sibbi, Kalat and Makran Divisions,” it stated. Moreover, the authority said, medium to high level flash flooding is expected in the hill torrents of DG Khan division and in the Nullahs of Sibbi, Nasirabad, Zhob, Kalat Larkana and Hyderabad (Dadu and Naushahro Feroze Districts) Divisions from August 17 to August 19.
The NDMA has also issued instructions to all relevant departments to take necessary precautions to mitigate the possible effects of flooding and severe weather. The departments have been directed to enhance monitoring of developing situation to reduce response times. All civic agencies and rescue services are directed to remain alert and ensure availability of personnel and equipment during the mentioned period, especially in at-risk areas. The NDMA also asked the departments to timely evacuate people living along lowlying/flood prone areas and ensure availability of shelter, food and medicines in those camps. Meanwhile, the authority also warned locals and farmers to shift cattle away from low lying areas adjacent to rivers and their associated tributaries/nullahs. The power distribution companies (Discos) and relevant local departments have been directed to ensure necessary arrangements to avoid electrocution incidents and timely restoration of power supply. They have also been directed to coordinate with concerned departments for clear-
ance of roads in case of any blockage and obstruction, waterlogging and pre-placing of necessary emergency equipment at vulnerable and appropriate locations. India’s sudden release of water causes severe flooding in Punjab India has released a massive amount of water into the Ravi and Chenab rivers without prior notice, leading to devastating floods across Punjab. This sudden surge of water has submerged thousands of villages and affected vast swaths of farmland, causing widespread destruction. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has reported that water levels at the Qadirabad Barrage on the Chenab River are rising rapidly. Additionally, a flow of 40,000 to 50,000 cusecs of water is expected at Shahdara in the Ravi River. In response to this alarming situation, the PDMA has issued a low-level flood warning for the Ravi River, advising residents in vulnerable areas to evacuate to safer locations. The sudden release of water by India has sparked concerns of significant flooding in Punjab’s rivers and canals. The PDMA has
warned that the water level in the Chenab River could increase to between 200,000 and 250,000 cusecs, potentially leading to a high-level flood within the next 24 hours. In response to the crisis, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed all relevant departments to remain on high alert. She has also ordered continuous monitoring
of flood-prone areas, including Narowal, Sialkot, Shakargarh, and other cities. Tragically, the floods have already claimed lives. In Zafarwal, near Narowal, three young men drowned in a flooded canal. Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of two of the victims, while the search for the third is underway.