Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi returns from China

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi, upon completion her tenure in China, left for Pakistan from Tianjin Binhai International Airport, according to a press statement issued by Pakistan Embassy in Beijing on July 13. 

The distinguished diplomat of Pakistan had served in China for a year before performing ambassadorial assignments at the European Union, Belgium, Luxemburg and Ireland. She had earlier served in Beijing from Deputy Head of Mission from 2003 to 2007. 

During her successful 38-years career, she has also served in Denmark, France and Indonesia. She is due to retire from service on July 19.

She has served in various capacities in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, departments of Human Resource and Career Planning, United Nations, Policy Planning and Public Diplomacy and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). 

In China, she proactively promoted and further strengthened deep rooted friendship, facilitating in cementing economic and trade ties and taking concrete steps to promote cultural and people to people exchanges. 

She personally supervised the actions to protect the lives of Pakistani nationals stranded in Wuhan and other parts of China during COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough for Pakistan

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

Pakistan has achieved a big milestone after entering a deal with China in manufacturing Covid-19 vaccine within the country. 

The renowned scientist, Dr Ata-ur-Rahman, while talking to a television channel, revealed that the country's drug regulatory authority DRIP has been intimated about the agreement with Chinese side and they were awaiting its approval after which clinical trials will begin in Pakistan. 

After clinical trials, the manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccine will be started in Pakistan, he added. Upon approval from DRIP, the clinical trial in Pakistan would be taken up.

He informed that phases one and two have been accomplished in China while phase three was currently in process.  He expressed the hope that after successful completion of these trials in both the countries, the COVID-19 vaccine will be available in six to eight months.

Supporting the government policies towards coronavirus pandemic, Dr Ata said that the situation was improving in Pakistan. He specifically mentioned that the smart lockdown policy has resulted in the reduction of number of cases.

Coronavirus Update: Sindh’s fatalities cross 1,800

By Mukhtar Alam

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh, with an overall 106,622 COVID-19 infections, witnessed its disease fatality tally crossing 1,800 on July 13 when the health authorities confirmed 31 new deaths during the last 24 hours, with 1,089 new cases across the province. 

According to official data, the total COVID-19 fatalities until morning of July 10 were recorded as 1,713, against 575 deaths till June 4.

The death tally was 1,406 on July 1, which rose to 1,526 on July 5 and 1,614 on July 7, while 1,826 on July 13.

As of July 13, according to the health department’s routine COVID-19 summary, all the districts of Sindh, except Tharparkar, had registered coronavirus deaths.

Karachi has witnessed a total 1,567 deaths so far, followed by Hyderabad (56), Larkana (31), Sukkur (23), Shikarpur (13), Ghotki (11), Sanghar (11), Khairpur (10) and others.

Those who lost their lives at Karachi hospitals or homes numbered 29 including 20 men aged from 22 to 82 years and nine women aged from 48 to 74 years. In addition, Thatta reported death of a 50-year-old woman and Umerkot a man of 44 years.

According to data, the daily infection rate remained 12.19% on July 13, compared to 17% on July 12, 13% on July 11 and 14% on July 10, while the overall provincial infection rate came as 18% out of total 584,596 samples tested across the province since February 26 when Sindh reported its first COVID-19 cases.

On July 13, the six districts of Karachi collectively reported 422 new cases, followed by Ghotki (127), Shaheed Benazirabad (106), Sukkur (73), Dadu (58), Shikarpur (44), Hyderabad (37), Naushero Feroze (33), Sanghar (30), Kashmore (28), Tando Allahyar (25), Mirpurkhas (23), Jamshoro (19), Badin (14), Umerkot (13), Sujawal (11), Khairpur (6), Larkana (6), Thatta (4), Jacobabad (2), Tando Mohammad Khan (1), Kambar Shahdadkot (1) and Matiari (1).

Pakistan to host World Tourism Forum next year

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan is set to host a five-day World Tourism Forum next year. The holding of the event is aimed at attracting foreign investment in tourism industry, the Advisor to Prime Minister, Zulfiqar Bukhari said during an interaction with media on July 13.

“Three days of the forum will be dedicated for the conference while the remaining couple of days will be allocated for tourism,” he disclosed. 

“In next two years, as many as 32 new 3 and 2-star hotels will be built. A large number of international famed personalities would be invited for the forum after which in next six months consultation process will be continuing,” he added. 

Zulfiqar Bukhari made it clear that the World Tourism Forum and D-8 summit would be held separately. “The government is equally giving priority to religious tourism as well and in this regard policy being reviewed,” he disclosed. 

To a question, he said that in next two years efforts would be made to bring improvement in the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) facilities as it couldn’t compete with private sector.

Book for library science students published

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Essays on the subject of Library and Information Science have been published in book form by the Karachi-based Library Promotion Bureau (LPB). The 124-page book, meant primarily for the students, has been compiled by Dr Amna Khatoon, a senior librarian.

The foreword to the book has been contributed by Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari, Founder President, LPB, and a former chairman of the Library & Information Science department at the University of Karachi. 

There are 14 essays in the book which cover different aspects of librarianship. The importance of public libraries has been mentioned in detail while there is a separate chapter on college libraries and their role in promotion of education. 

A significant write-up is about the process of publishing of book in which the various factors taken into account by the publishers before selecting a manuscript is discussed in detail. 

The concept of modern library is deliberated in a separate essay, taking into account the current needs of the users. There is also an article about the role of libraries in the cultural heritage of Pakistan. 

A copy of the book is priced PKR 250 within Pakistan. It’s available at the Record Office of the LPB housed at Stadium Road, Karachi.

Lockdowns enhance reading habits: Prof Dr Nasim Fatima

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, a renowned scholar and educationist, has reckoned that, contrary to general belief, reading habits among the masses has enhanced during the last four months of lockdowns, enforced to contain spreading of coronavirus (COVID-19). 

“On the basis of feedback received from publishers and booksellers, I found it very heartening to note that reading of books has been one of the favourites pastimes of many people who had to be confined to their homes due to lockdown since the month of March,” she informed in a brief chat with PNFS at the Record Office of the Library Promotion Bureau (LPB) on July 13. 

“The credit also goes to publishers and publishers for having facilitated the readers during this tough period in particular. They have not only offered discounts but also improved their online services and arranged for the delivery of books at doorstep of their customers,” Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, the first lady chairperson of the Library & Information Science department at the University of Karachi, added. 

Regarding the activities of the LPB, she revealed that they had resumed meetings on weekly basis while taking care of all the SOPs. 

“Obviously our mobility has been affected like every other aspect of life due to the lethal virus. We, however, have continued working from home and we also have made it a point to meet once a week to discuss the progress of various projects in our hands,” she explained.