LAHORE: Two months after Pakistan detected its first coronavirus patient on February 26, the country’s senior most health official, Dr. Zafar Mirza, admitted in a press briefing that the state could only test 6,500 samples of the virus in a day.
A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) insisted that Pakistan should be conducting over 50,000 tests per day.
Pakistan had fallen short of the ambitious April 7 target set by federal minister Asad Umar who chaired the National Command and Control Center (NCOC), the central body for decision-making about COVID-19 in the country.
Umar had promised to push the testing beyond 25,000 per day by end April — a target that couldn’t be met.
Even by May, the capacity was low, and the actual tests being conducted were even lower, below 14,000 per day.
Test numbers were barely crawling at a time when the government had begun phasing out restrictive measures for the population of over 207 million.
But the month of June saw a major turnaround. Pakistan registered an astronomical rise, both in its testing capacity and the specimens it was diagnosing.
On June 17, it listed its capacity as 32,000 tests per day for active cases. Four days later, that number almost doubled.
Pakistan now has the infrastructure to test over 71,780 samples in a day at 132 commercial and public laboratories, according to the NCOC.
There are three functioning labs each in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, five in Balochistan, 16 in Islamabad, 17 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 26 in Sindh, 33 in Punjab, 26 run by the armed forces and three by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
But a closer examination of the data by Arab News highlighted discrepancies in the official tally of each province and that of the central body.
According to the data on the NCOC website, there are three medical labs in Gilgit-Baltistan with a capacity to diagnose 200 samples daily.
But Faizullah Firaq, the spokesperson for Gilgit-Baltistan, told Arab News that of these, there are only two civilian testing labs for the whole federating unit, with a maximum output of only 70 tests per day.
Similarly, the NCOC notes down 16 laboratories in Islamabad, even though Dr. Hasan Orooj, the director general health in the capital city, told Arab News there were only 13 labs in the capital.
The capacity of the laboratories according to the NCOC totals to under 15,000 tests, much below the proclaimed 71,780 capacity.
Although, it is unclear how many samples can the labs run by the Pakistan military diagnose. But the military added seven new labs to its tally in a single day on June 22.
Even with the increase in test capacity, as claimed, Pakistan has only managed to hit the 31,681 tests per day mark, its highest to date, on June 19.
A senior health official, who sits in the meetings of the NCOC, credited the increase in testing to the government quickly rolling out new laboratories. “In fact, we can test over 78,000 per day,” he said, over the phone on Tuesday, requesting not to be named. “The NCOC website has to be updated,” he added.
Further adding to the confusion was a statement by Pakistan’s information minister. In a press briefing on Tuesday, the minister said the country’s testing capacity was 50,000 tests daily from 129 labs.
While Pakistan’s testing numbers are ambiguous, how many people should the country ideally be testing per day?
“At a minimum, the number of tests should reflect the number of suspected new cases that appear each day,” Frederico Guanais, the deputy head of the health division at the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), told Arab News via email, “Everyone that has flu-like symptoms, plus all of the people that were in contact with them within the previous 14 days.”
One good metric is provided by France.
The European nation starts from the number of new cases it is recording, Guanais explained.
It then assumes that on average one person has 25 contacts. Finally, it adds one-third of that number to the total and sets a target for its testing campaign.
Using the French formula, if Pakistan is recording 6,000 new cases per day of Covid-19, that should equal to 200,000 tests per day, “which is significantly lower” than the upward to 30,000 tests it is carrying out right now, Guanais adds.
Another guiding principal, to determine a testing benchmark is through the positive-test approach.
The positivity of tests is the percentage of tests that come back positive. As a rule, countries should aim to keep this number low.
According to the WHO in March, countries where testing has been done fairly extensively the positivity percentage ranges between 3% and 12%.
Frederico Guanais agrees. He cites the findings of Our World in Data, which shows that in South Korea and Germany, the positive tests never crossed 10%, even at the peak of their infections. Moreover, their latest percentage is below 1%.
“Higher positive rates suggest that tests are being conducted only on people with very high probability of having the infection,” Guanais said, “Many people with mild or no symptoms are probably not being detected.”
Pakistan’s positivity rate, as per a WHO report, is 16%. “Pakistan is above the 3% to 12% indicated by WHO. This suggests that Pakistan should probably be testing more,” the OECD health official added.
“It is important to test quickly, but also test in a targeted fashion. In a way that can be described as hunting the virus, instead of chasing after it,” Guanais said.
Should Pakistan’s baffling COVID-19 test numbers ring alarm bells?
https://arab.news/vmukx
Should Pakistan’s baffling COVID-19 test numbers ring alarm bells?
- Figures reported by provincial authorities vary from those quoted by central body dealing with outbreak
- Pakistan has only managed to hit the 31,681 tests per day mark against the 50,000 suggested by WHO
Champions Trophy preparations in full swing as Karachi stadium upgradation nears completion
- PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi says the National Stadium will be ready well before the ICC tournament
- He says the PCB is improving facilities for Pakistani cricket fans to ensure they have a better experience
ISLAMABAD: Preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 are progressing rapidly, with the upgradation of Karachi’s National Stadium nearing completion, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday during a visit to the venue.
The tournament, scheduled for February 2025, has been at the center of controversy following India's reluctance to play in Pakistan due to strained political ties.
The International Cricket Council resolved the impasse by approving a hybrid model, allowing India’s matches to be held at neutral venues while other teams play in Pakistan. The decision ensured India’s participation while retaining Pakistan as the official host.
“Remarkable progress has been made in a very short time,” Naqvi was quoted in a PCB statement. “The upgradation of the National Stadium will be completed well before the Champions Trophy tournament.”
During the visit, Naqvi reviewed ongoing projects, including the installation of new seats in enclosures, enhanced parking facilities for 2,700 vehicles and finishing work on the stadium building.
He also instructed officials to expedite the installation of LED lights and scoreboards.
“We are improving facilities for cricket fans to ensure they have a better experience,” he added.
The PCB is under pressure to ensure the country is ready to host the major ICC tournament.
Security concerns and political tensions had previously kept high-profile international cricket events away, but recent improvements in safety and infrastructure have bolstered Pakistan’s case as a venue.
Praising the rapid progress at the National Stadium, Naqvi lauded the project team for their dedication.
“I congratulate the entire team for their outstanding and swift work,” he said.
The Champions Trophy is seen as a pivotal moment for Pakistan cricket, with the PCB aiming to deliver a world-class tournament to reaffirm the country’s ability to host international events successfully.
Students in Pakistan’s north embark on over 150-kilometer march for road safety awareness
- The marchers aim to press the government to built tunnels on 167-kilometer Juglot-Skardu Road to avoid accidents, blockades
- They say the original construction plan of JSR included five tunnels, but not a single one was constructed by authorities
KHAPLU, Gilgit-Baltistan: A group of students on Saturday embarked on a more than 150-kilometer march from Pakistan’s northern Gilgit district to Skardu, aiming to raise awareness about road safety.
The marchers called for making the 167-km single-carriage Juglot-Skardu Road (JSR), which connects the Gilgit division with Skardu district in the Baltistan division, safer for travelers by building tunnels at various locations prone to landslides in the mountainous region.
Skardu is a major tourism, trekking and mountaineering hub in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan region and home to Askole and Hushe villages, often referred to as gateways to snow-capped peaks, including K2, the Gasherbrums and Broad Peak, as well as the Baltoro, Biafo and Trango glaciers.
“We are marching just with a single agenda and our slogan is: ‘Build tunnels, save lives,’” Shehbaz Shareef, a member of the Baltistan Students Federation (BSF), told Arab News.
“We have organized this walk to raise awareness about the need for safer and reliable routes between Skardu and other parts of the country.”
Shareef said the original construction plan for JSR included five tunnels, but none were built.
“This route has been constructed by FWO [Frontier Works Organization],” he added. “However, the tunnels were not built, and this road has become more dangerous.”
Arab News contacted FWO, a construction and engineering organization managed by the Pakistan Army, for its version. However, it was referred to the local chapter of the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, which did not respond to the query until the filing of this report.
The Awami Action Committee (AAC), a civic rights body in the region, announced its support for the march.
“We are very thankful to the BSF who are raising a very important issue. They are demanding the government to make this road safer through this march because this road is the only land route to the Baltistan division,” Najaf Ali, chairman of the AAC Baltistan chapter, told Arab News.
“It has become a well of death. Accidents are common on this road, and it has devoured many precious lives. A few days ago, five people were killed after a landslide buried their car. We have grown tired of lifting bodies due to accidents.”
Ali urged the government to build the requisite tunnels on the road.
“This is a matter of life and death, so we are with the students, and we will warmly receive them in Skardu,” he said. “Additionally, we also held a meeting with trade bodies and decided to launch a big drive to press the government to make this road safe.”
Mesam Kazim, opposition leader in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, said they would do their utmost to press the government for the construction of tunnels on JSR.
“In 2022, we adopted a unanimous resolution demanding the federal government to order the construction of tunnels on the Gilgit-Skardu road to avoid frequent blockades of the artery due to landslides,” Kazim said.
“In the initial PC-1 [survey] uploaded by NHA [National Highway Authority], the construction of tunnels was part of the plan. Tunnels have been missed, and international standards [of construction] have been violated by FWO on JSR.”
He lamented that there were no parking lots, safety barriers, or speed limit boards on the road, and more than 100 people had lost their lives in accidents on JSR over the last few years.
“Who is responsible for these casualties?” Kazim questioned.
Pakistan arrests two human smugglers linked to deadly Greek boat tragedy
- FIA says Muhammad Aslam and Saeed Ahmed were arrested in separate operations from Gujranwala and Gurjat
- Investigations reveal victims of the boat tragedy paid over $30,000 after being promised safe passage to Europe
KARACHI: Pakistani authorities on Sunday arrested two men involved in a recent boat tragedy off the coast of Greece that killed at least five nationals, as part of an intensified crackdown on human smuggling networks, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said.
The arrests come in the wake of a boat disaster last week near the Greek island of Gavdos, which highlighted the perilous journeys many migrants undertake, often driven by conflicts in the Middle East. In the case of Pakistani nationals, economic challenges push many young individuals to attempt dangerous crossings to Europe in search of better financial prospects.
The issue illegal immigrations to Europe came under greater scrutiny in the country last year when hundreds of migrants, including 262 Pakistanis, drowned after an overcrowded vessel capsized off the southwestern Greek coastal town of Pylos.
The FIA said it apprehended Muhammad Aslam and Saeed Ahmed in separate operations following directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to target those facilitating illegal migration.
The Pakistani agency informed Aslam was part of an international human smuggling ring and was accused of orchestrating the ill-fated journey that saw Pakistani migrants taken to Libya before being put on a boat bound for Greece.
“Using advanced technology, Aslam was tracked and arrested in Gujranwala,” the FIA statement said, adding the second suspect was arrested in Gujrat district located in the eastern Punjab province and was accused of creating fake travel documents and charging large sums for his services.
The statement informed Aslam extorted Rs8.5 million ($30,660) from victims by promising safe passage to Europe.
The Pakistani premier called for enhanced cooperation with international agencies earlier this month, seeking swift action against human trafficking networks. He also instructed the FIA to compile a detailed report on migration-related incidents over the past year and implement an Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) to monitor and prevent illegal movement.
The FIA said in its statement it had formed special teams to track other suspects linked to human smuggling rings.
“We will use all available resources to arrest those playing with innocent lives,” Abdul Qadir Qamar, the director of the FIA’s Gujranwala zone, was quoted as saying in the statement.
Authorities have presented 174 human smuggling cases in court this year, with four convictions reported so far. The government has also decided to launch a public awareness campaign to discourage dangerous migration attempts.
“Concrete evidence will ensure the culprits face severe punishment,” Qamar added, emphasizing the government’s commitment to preventing such tragedies.
Pakistan government forms committee to negotiate with Imran Khan’s party amid growing polarization
- Development comes after Khan threatened civil disobedience in the country, seeking release of political prisoners
- Government acknowledges talks can help break the current impasse which has also impacted national economy
ISLAMABAD: The government on Sunday formed a committee to hold talks with the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, state media reported, to discuss a range of issues causing political polarization that has also impacted the country’s fragile economy.
The move comes after PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan threatened to launch civil disobedience by urging overseas Pakistanis, a key support base for his party, to halt remittances if the government does not meet his demands, including the release of political prisoners, by Dec. 22.
Khan, who has been imprisoned for over a year on charges he claims are politically motivated, has also called for judicial commissions to investigate violent protests on May 9 last year and Nov. 26 this year, which the government says involved his party supporters.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a committee comprising government members,” state-owned Pakistan Television News reported. “This committee will hold negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.”
The formation of the government’s negotiating team followed a meeting between PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Saturday evening in which Gohar requested the creation of a parliamentary committee to facilitate dialogue. Sadiq subsequently approached the Prime Minister, urging him to nominate representatives for the talks.
The government’s committee includes key figures from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), such as Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Political Adviser Rana Sanaullah and Senator Irfan Siddiqui, alongside representatives from allied parties. PTI has already established its own negotiating team.
The development comes a day after Pakistan’s military announced prison sentences for 25 people involved in the May 9, 2023, protests, which PTI has demanded be investigated. The military said it had gathered “irrefutable evidence” against those prosecuted and reiterated its commitment to bringing the planners of the violence to justice.
The announcement has raised concerns among supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who faces charges of inciting attacks against the armed forces and may potentially be tried in a military court.
The country has remained gripped by political unrest and uncertainty since Khan’s ouster from power through a parliamentary no-confidence vote, which has also exacerbated Pakistan’s economic hardships.
Senior government representatives have recently acknowledged that negotiations could offer a pathway out of the current political impasse. However, they have cautioned that it is too early to determine which of PTI’s demands might be addressed.
Pakistan PM orders crackdown on tax evasion, calls for modernization of revenue collection system
- Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP ratio is among the lowest in the region, with government aiming to increase it to 13.5%
- Tax reforms are also part of the IMF recommendations, which led to approval of a $7 billion loan package this year
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed authorities to take strict action against tax evasion and ensure non-compliance is addressed as part of his administration’s efforts to enhance revenue collection and modernize the tax system, according to the state media.
Chairing a meeting in Lahore, Sharif emphasized the need for incorporating advanced technology to improve the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) performance.
“Improving the FBR’s performance through technology is the government’s top priority,” the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency quoted him as saying.
The prime minister called for the swift completion of the FBR’s value chain digitization and instructed the rapid implementation of video analytics in the cement and tobacco industries, sectors prone to tax underreporting.
He expressed optimism that digitization efforts would help recover billions of rupees for the national treasury.
The government has recently undertaken a series of tax measures, including expanding the tax base and targeting untaxed sectors.
Earlier this year, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb emphasized the need for everyone to pay their fair share, describing tax reforms as critical to breaking the cycle of external financial reliance.
Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP ratio remains among the lowest in the region, at just over nine percent, though the government aims to increase it to 13.5% in the coming years.
The Pakistani administration has also announced to launch a crackdown on affluent individuals not yet in the tax net, with the FBR tasked to identify and penalize evaders.
The tax reforms are also part of the International Monetary Fund’s recommendations, which led to the approval of a fresh $7 billion loan package for the country this year.
