Corona closes the country
ISLAMABAD: The National Security Committee (NSC) set up a national coordinating committee on Friday to effectively curb the spread of the coronavirus by assessing the situation on a daily basis.
Other far-reaching decisions taken by the NSC included the closure of educational institutions for three weeks, the banning of public gatherings and the complete closure of the western border with Iran and Afghanistan for two weeks as well as all airports except Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi for international. Trip.
However, seaports would remain operational with increased control and surveillance arrangements so that commercial activities were not affected.
The NSC, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, had an in-depth discussion on the development of the situation following new cases of coronavirus in the country, bringing to 28 the number of confirmed cases and resolved to ensure the safety and welfare of the public, special assistant to the media told the Prime Minister of Health, Dr. Zafar Mirza.
Flanked by Drs Firdous Ashiq Awan and Moeed Yousaf from SAPM, Dr Zafar Mirza quoted the Prime Minister as saying: "The safety of people is our top priority."
He said that the National Coordinating Committee would be made up of the relevant federal ministers, chief ministers, the president of NDMA, the surgeon general of Pakistan, representatives of inter-service intelligence, inter-service public relations and the leadership of military operations. , while he would be the organizer.
The committee would be allowed to include any other stakeholders, if necessary, said SAPM, adding that it would hold its first meeting on Saturday (today) at 4.30 p.m.
Dr Zafar said that the evolution of the situation required to form such a high-level body so that the pandemic could be brought under control through coordinated efforts after making unanimous decisions at the national level.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) would be the main operational body with the necessary funds at its disposal, he added.
Mirza announced that there were 28 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with seven new cases emerging at Taftan.
"Twenty-eight people have been infected with the new coronavirus in Pakistan," said Dr. Zafar Mirza.
"The seven Taftan patients have been kept in isolation. A mobile laboratory has been established in Taftan," he added.
He said the government had decided to open only three airports for international flights. "International flights will only be operated by airports in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad," he said.
Dr. Mirza said public gatherings are banned across the country because "nothing is more important to the government than public safety". He revealed that the government had decided to ban events in wedding halls, cinemas and theaters for two weeks to combat the spread of the infection.
"The Federal Minister for Religious Affairs will decide on matters relating to religious gatherings," he said. He said the government would contact the chief justice to decide whether the courts and the kutcheris should continue to operate or not.
"We are asking the civil courts to postpone the hearings for three weeks," he said. "We will also ask the magistrates and the judges of session to go to prison and to take decisions on the dismissals and the guarantees."
On Friday, the Federal Minister of Education, Shafqat Mahmood, said that all schools, colleges, universities and madaris would remain closed throughout the country until April 5, after the 21st case of coronavirus was reported. reported from Pakistan.
In a tweet, Shafqat said: "At a meeting of the national security committee chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, it was decided to close all educational institutions in the country until April 5. This includes all schools and universities, public and private, professional institutions and madaris. "
"The situation regarding the closure of all educational establishments in the country will be examined by the Ministry of Education on March 27 and further decisions will be taken," he said.
Following the federal government's decision to close, the Punjab government also closed its schools until April 5. The government has also decided to cancel the Pakistan Day Parade as a precaution to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
The decision was made by the National Security Committee at its meeting on Friday to discuss the government's response to the virus. Punjab Minister of Education Murad Raas said: "Due to coronavirus, Punjab schools will be closed from Sunday March 15, 2020 to Sunday April 5, 2020."
"The health of our children and honorable teachers is number one priority. In the end, it is better to be safe than sorry," he said. Previously, the government of Sindh had announced the extension of the closure of educational institutions in the country until May 30.
"Summer vacations are being prepared in Sindh and Sindh schools will reopen on June 1, 2020. The decision has been made by the cabinet," tweeted adviser to the chief minister of the law, Murtaza. Wahab.
Minister of Information of Sindh, Local Government, Housing and Town Planning, Religious Affairs, Forestry and Wildlife, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, offered an award for the development of An antidote to the coronavirus.
According to a statement on Friday, he said that any research institute or research student developing an antidote to the coronavirus that has proven to be effective in curing completely would not only be rewarded, but also that the government of Sindh would take over total cost of research.
So far, there have been 21 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Karachi, he said. Likewise, the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has announced that all institutions in the province will remain closed until May 15.
The KP leadership also ordered that all political and public gatherings be banned, while Chief Minister Mahmood Khan also postponed his rally in Swat as the virus continues to spread around the world.
Border closure: The Interior Ministry announced on Friday that it would close the country's border with Iran and Afghanistan in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The porous border will close on March 16 "for an initial period of two weeks … to prevent the spread of COVID-19, in the best interest of the three sister countries," said the ministry.
Shortened PSL: the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided Friday to cut short the 2020 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and to organize the last match of the tournament on March 18 instead of March 23.
According to a press release from the cricket organization, the playoff game has been replaced by the semi-finals, which will take place at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 17; one at 2 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m. The final will also take place at the Gaddafi stadium at 7 p.m. on March 18.
The playoff games scheduled for today, tomorrow and March 15 will be scheduled. The announcement came hours after the board announced that the tournament would continue as planned.
MEPs call joint session: government and opposition legislators in the National Assembly on Friday called for a joint session of parliament to discuss measures taken at government level to control the spread of the coronavirus.
Speaking on a point of order in the National Assembly, the leader of the PML-N and former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said: "A joint session of Parliament should be convened immediately to discuss the coronavirus and measures taken at government level to control its spread.
"The government and the opposition should sit together to discuss the issue and find a solution to control it, which has already affected the whole world," he added.
He said the opposition would not be making a policy on the coronavirus issue, adding that the member of the opposition parties was ready to sit down with the government to discuss the solution. However, he believed that the government had so far taken no serious steps to control the deadly virus.
Responding to a point made by Abbasi, the Minister of Federal Education and Vocational Training, Shafqat Mahmood, said that 22 confirmed cases of coronavirus have so far been reported in the country.
He said that screening had been put in place at all airports and that about one million had been checked. "We are aware of the sensitivity of the problem and the government is taking all possible measures to control the coronavirus in the country," he added.
Regarding the government's decision not to bring Pakistani students back from China, he said it was a difficult decision, but that it was made in the best interest of the country. He said the Chinese government had advised Pakistan not to take back the students from the affected province because they had provided all possible medical care and assistance.
The minister said he had discussed the matter with representatives of Britain because the British government had not closed schools and universities. "We have taken all necessary steps to control the virus and I assure the House that the matter will be dealt with effectively.
PPP MP Raja Pervaiz Ashraf suggested declaring the emergency and launching a comprehensive awareness campaign in the country.
He also approved the proposal to convene a joint session of Parliament to discuss the coronavirus. MQM deputy Ameen-ul-Haq said his party also supports the idea of convening a joint session of parliament to discuss the coronavirus and preventive measures.
Control at major airports: Meanwhile, major airports and other points of entry into Pakistan would continue to strictly control passengers from other countries.
Speaking on public television, the director of the Directorate of the Central Health Facility (CHE), Dr Irfan Tahir, said that temperature control measures at airports and other points of interest Entrance had been extended to cover all incoming travelers.
Authorities screened or tested more than one million travelers from all points of entry into the country. He urged the nation not to panic and follow basic hygiene, while those with flu-like symptoms should see a doctor.
Like other countries, Pakistani travelers at airports, land ports and seaports are also screened, he added. "Passengers from different countries have started filling out health forms and are fully screened at the airport before departure and arrival," he said.
Screening measures include placing thermal scanners at ports of entry to detect feverish travelers, he added.
Tablighi Ijtema canceled: the organizers suspended Thursday evening the Tablighi Ijtema, which had attracted people from all over the country, but cited the rainy weather as the cause. The early closure came after around 250,000 people had already gathered in camps near Lahore.
"Most people have returned home, but tens of thousands are still there. They will return today," said Ehsanullah, one of the organizers of the event. "The government asked us to cancel the rally because of the coronavirus, but our alumni and our organizers decided that the rally would go as planned," said Ehsanullah.
IHC requests report on students: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday asked the federal government for a report on the evacuation of Pakistani students to China until March 20. Chief Justice Athar Minallah resumed hearing on a motion for the evacuation of Pakistani students.
The parents argued that their patience was decreasing and stressed that the pilgrims from Iran had been brought back but that their children were still in China even if no one had yet tested positive for the coronavirus.
BD did not send the cricket team: the Bangladesh cricket team also canceled their visit to Pakistan due to the coronavirus. The team was scheduled to arrive in Karachi on March 29 and was scheduled to play an international day on April 1 and the test match on April 5, but the Bangladesh board refused to send their team to Pakistan. because of the coronavirus.