Tuesday, 28 July, 2020 I 6 Dhul-Hijjah, 1441 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 30 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition
Covid-19: imran urges restraint during eidul azha
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
P
RIME Minister Imran Khan on Monday warned of a spike in cases of the deadly coronavirus if the public ignored the standard operating procedures (SOPs) during the coming days. PM Imran’s cautionary comments came almost three weeks after he advised people not to repeat “what they did on Eidul Fitr” and exercise extra caution on Eidul Azha so that the coronavirus does not resurge. In a televised address to the nation, he said that the situation of Pakistan was quite different from China, the US, and other European countries. “Due to the smart lockdown strategy, we were able to contain the spread of coronavirus, and now the whole world is now recognising its benefits,” he noted. The premier said Pakistan’s strategy to tackle the virus had to be different than the rest of the world as most of its daily wagers were unregistered. “[At least] 70-80 per cent of labourers
in our country are not registered; therefore, our approach had to be different from the European countries. We could not take any drastic steps like imposing a curfew. We were afraid that more people will die from starvation and poverty than coronavirus itself,” he added. “India is now suffering the results of their decisions and the people are suffering in the neighbourhood,” he said. The world is admitting and accepting that lockdown was not the only solution to the virus situation, the prime minister stressed, adding that Pakistan was also focusing on the agricultural sector as “we do not want any distortions and disruptions in the food supply.” PM Imran lamented the criticism for reopening the construction sector but underlined that “we took the risk and set our priorities straight to save the people from hunger and poverty”. He added that the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme was rolled out as part of the party’s objectives to provide cushion to the vulnerable segment of the society. “There’s no precedent of the Ehsaas
Coronavirus in
Pakistan
CONFIRMED CASES:
274,802
DAY'S DEATH TOLL:
NEW CASES:
35
1,226
RECOVERED:
DEATHS:
241,026 5,853 SINDH:
118,824
PUNJAB:
92,073
KP:
BALOCHISTAN:
AJK/GB:
ISLAMABAD:
33,397
11,601
2,034/1,989 14,884
program in the world, [one] where the impoverished segment of the society was aided through transparent and synchronized operations… Even when we were imposing smart lockdown, we implemented the lockdown strategically with clusters,” he commented. The prime minister went on to thank his team for their efforts in tackling the crisis, saying: “I want to credit my team for pulling off such results. After three months, Pakistan has reported the lowest fatality rate compared to the past.” “We need to understand that the world is still experimenting with strategies to curb the virus. It has also been observed that if countries do not vigilantly make strategies for the post-pandemic world, the virus may return with a peak in the countries. We have examples of Australia, Iran, and other countries where the virus has returned and the spike of cases are reported once again,” he explained. The PM again stressed for people to heed the SOPs in the upcoming days, noting: “If we will not be cautious during the Eidul Azha and Muharram period, we might again see a spike of cases that will be devastating for the country. We have an example of Eidul Fitr, where we were reluctant to abide by the SOPs, the frontline workers were hugely impacted and we saw a surge in cases.” The prime minister said that “our research” suggested that the most effective measure to keep the virus at bay was to wear face masks. “It is quite simple and an easy preventive measure to adopt,” he said. “I am once again asking you all to be careful about the SOPS during the Eidul Azha period,” he urged. “If the nation will cooperate, we have to resume our main sectors of the country including business, construction, and tourism. We have to come back to normalcy. We will resume schools, universities, and restaurants if the numbers for the virus keep on declining. We have to battle the disease collectively as a nation together,” he added.
Govt goes after ‘sugar cartel’ g
SECP, SBP, FIA among those directed to investigate matter, submit report within 90 days ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
The federal government on Monday ordered relevant departments to launch a formal investigation and take “penal, corrective and mitigating measures” against the sugar barons accused of cartelisation and hoarding/profiteering in the investigative report of the sugar inquiry commission. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar wrote letters to Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to “undertake a comprehensive investigation” into the matter. All recipients of the letters, barring the chief secretary of Sindh, have been directed to wrap up the investigation and submit a report to the federal government within 90 days. The forensic audit of the sugar mills, the revelations of which were made public in May, had accused key political players, includ-
Punjab reports zero deaths from Covid-19 first time in two months Government imposes smart lockdown to curb Covid-19 spread LAHORE/PESHAWAR g All retail shops, markets, STAFF REPORT The Punjab government on shopping malls and plazas Monday imposed a smart quarantine across the province in an to remain closed till Aug 5 effort to curtail the coronavirus
g
infection during Eidul Azha in the light of the federal government’s directives. The announcement comes as Punjab reported zero deaths for the first time in two months. The official daily tally of confirmed infections in the province has remained below 500 over the last one week. According to the notification issued by the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, the quarantine will be effective from midnight tonight till Aug 5. During this period, all educational and training institutes, marriage halls, business centres, expo halls, restaurants, theme/amusement parks, play areas and arcades, beauty parlours and spas, cinemas and theatres will remain closed. “There shall be a complete ban on sporting tournaments/matches (indoor
ing Jahangir Tareen of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), of acting as “cartels” besides making huge profits through systematically hurting sugar growers and causing them financial losses. In his letter to the CCP, Akbar highlighted the findings of the sugar inquiry report, saying the mill owners “orchestrated ex-mill and retail price manipulation through satta, abuse of dominant position by the sugar cartel and non-provision of sugar to the utility stores corporation”. The PM’s aide directed the CCP to carry out an investigation to “determine the reasons, magnitude and inordinate delay in taking action against the sugar cartel despite earlier internal findings regarding cartelisation”. He aide also directed the SBP to investigate offences committed by mill owners that have been mentioned in the report by the sugar commission, which include loan defaults, suspicious exports proceeds realisation, disbursement of subsidy to exporters “despite payment to cane growers below the support price and misappropriation of pledged sugar stocks”.
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more inside
Five more killed as rain plays havoc in Karachi for second day STORY ON BACK PAGE
87pc reduction in coronavirusrelated deaths but risk remains, govt says STORY ON PAGE 03
and outdoor) except non-contact professional sports without spectators. All contact sports and indoor sports clubs/facilities shall remain closed,” the notification read. The notification added that there will also be a complete ban on gatherings of all kinds for social, religious, or any other purpose at any place, public or private.
“All retail shops, markets, shopping malls and plazas shall remain closed,” the notification said. However, exceptions were made for some, including pharmacies, postal services, petrol pumps and takeaway/home delivery for restaurants, which will be allowed to operate for 24 hours.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 05
IHC rejects petition to reopen schools from Aug 15
STORY ON PAGE 03
Opp APC to be held after Eidul Azha, Shehbaz to chair session
STORY ON PAGE 02