Pakistan’s envoy calls on Chinese VFM

 By Masood Sattar Khan

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Moin-ul-Haque called on the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister, Luo Zhaohui, in Beijing on September 15. 

VFM Luo warmly greeted the incoming diplomat for taking charge as the Ambassador of Pakistan in China. 

Both sides exchanged in-depth views on China-Pakistan relations, besides regional situation and other topics. 

On the occasion a ceremony was held to sign the Protocol for the Exchange of the Instruments of Ratification of the Treaty between Pakistan and China on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. Senior officials from the Embassy of Pakistan and Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present at the ceremony.

Chinese Ambassador holds farewell meetings

 By Masood Sattar Khan

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Yao Jing, paid a farewell call on Minister of Port and Shipping, Ali Zaidi, in Islamabad on September 16. 

The Ambassador expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs for getting Gwadar Concession Agreement approved that led to economic activities there, it was tweeted. 

On the occasion, Minister Ali Zaidi lauded the services of the outgoing Ambassador and complimented him for further bolstering Pakistan-China ties. 

The Ambassador also had a farewell meeting with the Chairman of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority, Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa. 

It may be noted that on September 11, a spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry had announced that Nong Rong, a native of Guangxi, has been appointed as China’s new Ambassador to Pakistan in place of Yao Jing who had completed his three years terms.

Coronavirus Update: Sindh’s infection rate rises again

 By Mukhtar Alam

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh’ number of new COVID-19 infections doubled on September 15, compared to the preceding day’s data, as the authorities concerned registered 341 new cases, with three more related deaths, during the last 24 hours across the province.

As per the official COVID-19 data, the daily infection rate also increased to 2.49% against 1.4% of September 14 and 1.9% of September 13. 

The overall tally of cases reached to 132,591 for the province, while 127,727 recovered from the disease. 

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his COVID-19 status statement, shared that there were 2,416 active patients by September 15 morning, out of which 2,137 stayed at homes, five at the isolation centres and 274 at various hospitals. As many as 165 patients were undergoing the critical phase, while 19 were put on ventilators. 

No details about the three latest fatalities and locations and hospitals as well as their age were made available to media. The tally of COVID-19 fatalities reached to 2,448 on September 15. 

According to the official figures, Pakistan has had a total 303,089 COVID-19 infected people, with 6,393 deaths by September 15.

Karachi reported 51% (173 cases) of the new infections in Sindh, followed by Dadu (34), Jamshoro (33), Sukkur (17), Shaheed Benazirabad (9), Hyderabad (7), Tando llahyar (4), Tando Mohammad Khan (3), Sujawal (3), Larkana (2), Matiari (2), Mirpurkhas (2), Sanghar (2), Thatta (2), Khairpur (1) and others.