KARACHI: The delta variant of the novel coronavirus, which was first detected in India, has become the dominant strain in Karachi, said Professor M. Iqbal Choudhary, director of the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, while talking to Arab News on Thursday, shortly after the country’s health chief, Dr. Faisal Sultan, informed in a Twitter post that the positivity ratio in Pakistan’s southern port city had surged to 19 percent.
“Our latest report today has identified the delta variant in 69 percent of COVID-19 patients, whereas 26 percent are infected with an unknown strain which is probably delta-plus virus,” Choudhary said, adding that his organization was working to sequence the unidentified variant.
“One can assume that every COVID-19 patient in Karachi is infected with the delta variant,” he added. “The infection rate of the strain is 60 percent higher than the virus originally detected in Wuhan.”
Choudhary informed that the health of the patients suffering from the delta variant could rapidly deteriorate after the emergence of symptoms which were different from other strains.
He told Arab News that he had also briefed the provincial authorities about the situation, urging its officials to take a quick action.
Asked about the dominant form of the virus infecting people in the city, Rasheed Channa, a spokesperson for the Sindh chief minister, said: “We are going to review the situation on Monday and take decisions accordingly.”
However, the Sindh administration has already decided to close schools and impose a ban on indoor dining to avert another wave of the pandemic from setting in.
The provincial health department also proposed shutting down primary schools on Monday and suggested to keep businesses closed for two days a week in view of the rising positivity rate across the province.
Last month, the Pakistan government lifted nearly all coronavirus restrictions around the country as infection figures showed a constant decline. However, these numbers have shot up once again, prompting health officials to consider new curbs.
The country reported 2,545 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, bringing the total number of infections to 981,392 since the beginning of the pandemic in the country.
Out of a total population of 220 million, 125 million people are eligible for vaccination in Pakistan, though the government has only managed to administer 21 million doses to date.
Pakistan’s planning minister Asad Umar also urged people on Thursday to follow the officially prescribed health guidelines and get themselves vaccinated, saying there was a “rapid” increase in the number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals and critical care units.
“Rapid build up starting to take place in covid patients hospital inflow, as well as patients in critical care,” Umar said on Twitter. “Do not risk your own & others lives.”
Umar also warned about the delta variant, reminding everyone it had caused devastation in other countries of the region.
The delta variant is more easily transmitted than earlier versions of the coronavirus and is suspected to cause more severe disease, especially among younger people.
Scientists are still tracking the data to determine how deadly it is. Based on hospitalizations in the UK, the delta variant seems to be more likely to lead to hospitalization and death, particularly among unvaccinated people, according to a recent study published in The Lancet.
Delta becomes dominant variant as positivity rate surges to 19% in Pakistan’s Karachi
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Delta becomes dominant variant as positivity rate surges to 19% in Pakistan’s Karachi
- A recent report say 69 percent COVID-19 patients in Karachi suffer from the delta strain while 26 percent have contracted an unknown variant
- Sindh government says it will review the situation on Monday, though it has already closed schools and banned indoor dining in the province
Balochistan Assembly passes resolution seeking ban on Imran Khan’s party after violent protests
- Tabled by PPP and PML-N parties’ lawmakers, resolution accuses Khan’s party of spreading chaos in the country
- Government says clashes between Khan supporters and law enforcers led to the killing of three troops and one cop
QUETTA: Provincial lawmakers in the Balochistan Assembly on Thursday approved a resolution seeking an “immediate” ban on former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party following its violent clashes with law enforcers in the capital this week.
Pakistan’s government said three Rangers personnel and a police officer were killed during clashes between thousands of Khan supporters and law enforcers this week when the PTI led a “long march” to the capital to demand Khan’s release, among other things.
The protesters were dispersed after a late-night raid on Wednesday, after which the PTI said at least 20 of its supporters had been killed after being shot by law enforcers. The government denies this while police says it has arrested over 1,151 protesters.
Lawmakers of the PTI’s political rivals Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) tabled a joint resolution, calling on the federal government to ban Khan’s party. These lawmakers included Meer Saleem Khosa, Muhammad Sadiq Umrani, Asim Kurd Gelo, Raheela Hameed Durrani, Bakht Muhammad Kakar, Hajji Wali Noorzai and Barkat Ali Rind.
“This august house of the Balochistan Assembly calls upon the federal government to impose an immediate ban on the PTI for spreading chaos in the country, and for attempting to make the armed forces of Pakistan and security forces fight with the people,” a copy of the resolution seen by Arab News said.
The resolution accused the PTI of being involved in violent activities in the country, saying it has adversely affected the country’s economy.
“Attacking the capital with provincial machinery and resources was a clear proof of the non-political agenda of a political party,” Khosa said while presenting the motion.
Opposition parties such as the National Party (NP), Jamat-e-Islami (JI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan Fazl (JUI-F) opposed the resolution and its lawmakers walked out in protest during the session.
Alam Kakar, a leader of the PTI’s Balochistan chapter, rejected the resolution.
“Let them (center) enjoy this decision but Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is Imran Khan’s party and whatever name Khan would give to this party, the Pakistani nation would stand by him,” Kakar told Arab News.
“The provincial government should focus on maintaining the law and order situation in Balochistan rather than bringing such an absurd resolution,” he added.
Younus Aziz Zehri, an opposition leader in the Balochistan Assembly, told Arab News that the opposition parties strongly opposed the resolution.
“If today we ban the PTI, tomorrow it could be us or the PML-N or the PPP any political party in power would ban its opponents,” he said.
“We strongly condemn the killings of civilians and security personnel during the violence by the state and protesters in Islamabad, but that doesn’t justify that you should ban that political party led the protests in Islamabad,” Zehri added.
Pakistan’s government has said that the protests caused economic losses worth $684 million per day, describing them as deliberate attempts by the PTI to harm the country’s economy.
Pakistan welcomes ceasefire announcement between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah
- Israel approved ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah on Tuesday after nearly 14 months of fighting
- Pakistan’s premier hopes ceasefire leads to permanent cessation of hostilities between two sides
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday welcomed the ceasefire announcement between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, hoping it would culminate in a permanent cessation of hostilities between the two sides.
Israel approved a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon’s Hezbollah group on Tuesday that halts nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the war in Gaza.
The ceasefire, which came into effect on Wednesday, marked the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered after Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. However, it does not address the devastating war in Gaza, where Hamas is still holding dozens of Israeli hostages and the conflict is more intractable.
“We welcome the announcement of ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese group Hezbollah,” Sharif wrote on social media platform X.
“And hope that the announcement leads to a permanent cessation of hostilities in Lebanon.”
Sharif wished peace and security for the people of Lebanon.
Since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza, Pakistan has repeatedly raised the issue at the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other multilateral platforms and demanded international powers and bodies stop Israeli military actions in Gaza.
Since October last year, Pakistan has dispatched 21 consignments of relief items such as food and blankets for the war-affected people of Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.
Islamabad does not have diplomatic relations with Israel and has consistently accused it of committing genocide in Gaza. Pakistan calls for an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al Sharif as its capital.
Pakistani banks to remain open on Saturday, Sunday to receive Hajj applications
- Designated Pakistani banks to remain open from 09:00 am to 02:30pm on Saturdays and Sundays
- Deadline to file Hajj applications is Dec. 3 while draw for government scheme will be held on Dec. 6.
ISLAMABAD: Designated Pakistani banks will remain open on Saturday and Sunday to receive Hajj 2025 applications, state-owned media said on Thursday, as thousands apply for the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
Pakistani state media said this week that over 24,000 Hajj applications by Pakistani pilgrims have been received by designated banks.
Saudi Arabia has allotted Pakistan a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage, to be divided equally between the government and private schemes. Around 15 designated Pakistani banks started receiving applications for Hajj 2025 from intending pilgrims on Monday this week.
“Designated banks will remain open to receive Hajj applications on Saturday and Sunday,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
It said that the banks will remain open from 09:00 am to 02:30pm on Saturday and Sunday to receive the Hajj applications.
The deadline to file Hajj applications is Dec. 3 while the draw for the government scheme will be held on Dec. 6.
The religious affairs ministry announced the country’s Hajj 2025 policy earlier this month, according to which pilgrims can pay fees for the annual pilgrimage in installments for the first time.
Under the government scheme, the first installment of Hajj dues, amounting to Rs200,000 ($717), has to be deposited along with the Hajj application, while a second installment of Rs400,000 ($1,435) must be deposited within ten days of the balloting. The remaining amount has to be deposited by Feb. 10 next year.
On Sunday, Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry said it had launched the “Pak Hajj 2025” mobile application to guide and facilitate pilgrims. The app is available for both Android and iPhone users.
Ghulam’s ton inspires Pakistan to 2-1 ODI series win against Zimbabwe
- Pakistan dismiss Zimbabwe for 204 runs in 40.1 overs to win third ODI by 99 runs
- Pakistan’s Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub and Aamir Jamal take two wickets each
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani batter Kamran Ghulam inspired Pakistan to a comfortable win over Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Thursday, sealing a 2-1 ODI series victory over the hosts.
Pakistan piled on an impressive 303/6 at the end of their 50 overs against Zimbabwe, with Ghulam leading the charge with his 109-run knock from 99 balls while Abdullah Shafique scored 50 runs from 68 balls.
Pakistani captain Rizwan scored 37 runs from 44 balls as Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza returned figures of 2/47.
“A 99-run win in the third ODI to wrap up a series victory,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a post. “Onto the T20 action.”
Pakistan’s Aamir Jamal, Haris Rauf and Saim Ayub took two wickets apiece to ensure Zimbabwe were skittled out for 204 runs in 40.1 overs.
Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine top-scored with a fighting 51 runs from 63 balls.
Pakistan bounced back from a shocking loss in the rain-affected first match with a 10-wicket win in the second, after a maiden ODI century from Ayub.
The tourists retained the same winning combination for the third ODI, with Faisal Akram, Abrar Ahmed and Salman Ali Agha the three spin options.
Zimbabwe brought in wicketkeeper-batter Clive Madande and fast bowling all-rounder Faraz Akram for their first game of the series in place of Brandon Mavuta and Trevor Gwandu.
The ODI series will be followed by a three-match Twenty20 series starting at Bulawayo from Sunday.
Pakistan’s national security directly linked to its economic security— PM Sharif
- Shehbaz Sharif cautions against growing militancy in Pakistan at National Security Workshop
- Reaffirms resolve to form political consensus on key economic reforms among stakeholders
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national security is directly linked to its economic security, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday, stressing the need for united efforts to ensure the country prospers as it grapples with surging militancy and economic challenges.
Pakistan has suffered from a macroeconomic crisis that has seen its foreign exchange reserves fall to historic lows and its currency weaken significantly over the past two years. The South Asian country narrowly avoided a sovereign default last year after it clinched a last-gasp $3 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Islamabad’s economic crisis has compounded its problems as it deals with a surge in militancy in its western provinces bordering Afghanistan. The country has been struggling to contain attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces from separatist and religiously motivated banned groups.
“I am very convinced that our national security has direct linkage with economic security, and both go hand-in-hand,” Sharif said.
Sharif said Pakistan had suffered economic losses of $130 billion due to the so-called War on Terror, adding that the country only received “a fraction of these losses” from allies. The rest Islamabad had to bear from its coffers, he said.
“This monster has come back and is showing its ugly face again,” the prime minister said. “And as I speak, on a daily basis, there is a sad incident in the south of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in Balochistan, anti-Pakistan nefarious elements are driving this nefarious scheme over there through active support of Pakistan’s enemies.”
Sharif reiterated his desire to introduce a “Charter of Economy,” calling for political consensus on key economic reforms.
“Today, as prime minister, I once again reaffirm my resolve for the Charter of Economy,” he said.
In response to a question, Sharif said he agreed the government should not be in business. Rather, he said it should facilitate it.
“I believe Pakistan’s governments, whether it be in the center or provinces, it is not our business to do business,” the premier said.
“We should completely end this and hand it over to the private sector in transparent manner.”
