Coronavirus Update: Sindh’s fatality tally crosses 2,300

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh’s COVID-19 fatality tally crossed 2,300 on August 13 when authorities declared 360 new infections during the last 24 hours across the province, pushing the overall infection tally to 125,289 for Sindh, against the national 287,300.

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his routine COVID-19 statement, shared that 10 more infected people died during the last 24 hours ending on August 13 afternoon in the province, taking the total death to 2,307.

The death tally was 1,406 on July 1, 1,501 on July 7, 1,713 on July 10, 1,826 on July 13, 1,922 on July 16, 2,010 on July 20, 2,110 on July 24, 2,209 on July 30. An average of 6.5 people died every day during August, according to the official data. 

The Chief Minister further informed that there were still 4,058 active patients of coronavirus in the province, including 3,666 at homes, 384 at hospitals.

The health condition of as many as 242 patients is stated in critical condition, out of which 40 are receiving the ventilator intervention.

During the last 24 hours Karachi reported 185 (51%) new cases, followed by Badin (23), Dadu (12), Ghotki (12), Shikarpur (10), Thatta (10), Jamshoro (8), Khairpur (8), Mirpurkhas (8), Sanghar (8), Larkana (7), Hyderabad (7), Umerkot (7), Kashmore (3), Naushero Feroze (3), Sujawal (3), Jacobabad (2), Shaheed Benazirabad (2) and Tando Mohammad Khan (1).

According to authorities, 10,754 samples were tested overnight, three percent of which was found to be positive for COVID-19.

Another report suggested that the laboratories at Karachi tested 5,368 samples and found 263 positive cases for COVID-19, compared to 5,407 samples examined by laboratories in the interior, with 96 positive cases.

Of the 409 COVID-19 intensive care beds at Karachi, 104 were occupied by critically ill patients, while hospitals housed in the interior of Sindh had only six patients in their ICUs, as of August 13.

On August 12, five patients lost their lives to COVID-19 at Karachi and one each at Jamshoro and Hyderabad.

One of the deceased persons was receiving treatment at home. Of the total 6,798 health care providers infected with COVID-19 across the country so far, 2,057 belonged to Sindh, against 2263 of KPK, 1,106 of Punjab and 1,560 of Baluchistan.

At Karachi, 1587 doctors, 174 nurses and 296 paramedical and other staffs were infected, according to an official report as of August 12.

Railways’ Multan Division celebrate Independence Day uniquely

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

"For past many years, August 14 comes and goes by silently without making a long lasting impact with all this lights and pompous show only decoration as we see every year. At Multan division, we have decided to make it a date to remember not only for a day or a two, but for many years to come,” Divisional Superintendent, Multan Division, Pakistan Railways, Shoaib Adil, stated in a brief chat with PNFS. 

“This year we have planned to plant as many trees as possible by individuals. So for August 14 we have been able to plant about 70 fruit trees within two days. We are emphasizing on fruit trees for coming generations to benefit from these. Our target for this year of plantation is 50,000 trees. We are confident of achieving this figure with the blessings of Allah,” he informed. 

“To all our railway colleagues at Multan Division, we are wishing a very happy independence day. We are celebrating the big occasion in a memorable manner,” he added.

Pakistan advised to strengthen marketing of agri products exports

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan needs to strengthen commercial promotion and marketing for its agricultural products to capture international markets including China, a senior Chinese diplomat remarked in Islamabad.

Addressing a webinar organized by the Vehari Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Agriculture Commissioner at Chinese Embassy, Gu Wenliabg, explained that agriculture was one of the key cooperation industries area under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). 

Both the Chinese and Pakistani governments are committed to strengthening agricultural industry cooperation and encouraging more Chinese enterprises to invest in Pakistan by setting up joint ventures with potential local partners. 

The agricultural industry cooperation will not only increase Pakistan’s yields of crops and maintain its food security but also improve its agricultural products exports to China and other countries and regions. 

The Chinese expert reckoned that there was great potential for China-Pakistan agricultural cooperation in four areas. Starting with seed, the average yield of wheat was only three tons per hectare in Pakistan, which can be improved substantially by taking the high-yield, anti-drought variety with resistance to insects and pests. 

As for rice cultivation, China’s hybrid rice technology is recommended. For sugar cane and potato, the virus free tissue culture sapling could be a good choice. 

Secondly the use of modern technology was suggested as China has many technologies suitable for crops in Pakistan, including compound planting, smart agriculture, water-saving irrigation and greenhouse. 

Recently, two Pakistani students from China’s Sichuan Agricultural University used successfully the maize-soybean strip intercropping technology in Punjab, which has achieved satisfactory results. The greenhouse planting can also promote the development of vegetables, edible fungus and flowers in Pakistan. 

Thirdly he discussed about agricultural machinery and materials since China’s fertilizer and pesticide industries were being developed. Now green pesticides and organic fertilizers are being promoted to reduce pollution from agricultural non-point source. 

In terms of agricultural machinery, with the 5G and other technologies, smart agricultural machines and implements have been playing an important role in crops’ sowing, harvesting and plant protection in China. 

Fourthly he talked about agricultural product processing as Pakistan produces a great deal of high-quality fruits and vegetables every year. Due to their short storage/shelves period, a lot of them go rotten and cause a great waste. To solve this problem, they could either be kept by cold chain storage or processed into high value-added products by food processing technology.

China has 39,000 mosques

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

There are more than 39,000 mosques in China, with as many as 25,000 of them in the Muslims dominated Xinjiang autonomous region where they are free to perform their religious customs.

China, with a population of around 1.4 billion heads, is home to over 200 million Muslims abode in five out of 32 provinces, a recent documentary made on life of the Chinese Muslims highlighted. 

Some historians were of the view that the advent of Islam and preaching in China began about 20 years after the passing away of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). 

The Hui tribe was the first to have embraced Islam, followed by different parts of China including Xinjiang autonomous region neighbouring Pakistan. 

As per historians, the first grand mosque was built in Xian. There are also separate ladies mosques for worship. There are huge mosques spread in various major cities including Beijing, Tianjin, Xian and Guangzhou. 

The local governments in coordination with Islamic Association were carrying out massive renovation on ancient structures as hundreds of religious tourists particularly from Muslim countries visit. Erdaoqiao mosque is one of the best landscapes in Urumqi. 

A nearby Culture Street attracted a large number of tourists in 2018-19 alone the number of tourists in Xinjiang exceeded 150 million, an increase of 40 percent.