Coronavirus Update: No respite as 17 more die in Sindh

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

As many as 84 beds in the COVID-19 intensive care units (ICU) of hospitals across Sindh were vacant on June 25 when authorities in the government registered another 1,098 new cases, with 17 more deaths, pushing the tally of patients dying of the lethal virus diseases to 1,178. 

According to an official report, a maximum of 25 COVID-19 ICU beds were vacant in Karachi hospitals, followed by Hyderabad (18), Shaheed Benazirabad (8), Sukkur (16) and Larkana (17). The number of unoccupied high dependency beds was 696 including 414 at Karachi.

The statement on COVID-19 situation in Sindh, issued from the Chief Minister’s House, revealed that 17% of the total 6,458 samples tested were found positive at various laboratories of the province during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am on June 25. However, the statement did not disclose all the districts where the new infections were registered. 

It gave a district-wise breakdown of about 600 cases, without revealing the status of the diseases in districts like Jacobabad, Khairpur, Kambar Shahdadkot, Shaheed Benazirabad, Naushero Feroze and Tharparkar, many of which have been reporting new cases in significant number. 

The CM House statement also did not include any district-wise details of new COVID-19 deaths. In the statement, which was the only source of information about COVID-19 for media on June 25, Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, said that said that 6,458 samples were tested and 1,098 positive cases were detected, taking the tally of total infection to 75,168 for the province.

According to the statement, Karachi reported the maximum of 494 new cases, including Karachi South (208), East (141), Central 48, Malir (44), Korangi (32) and West (21).

The other districts which reported the cases, according to the statement, were Hyderabad (34), Ghotki (33), Sukkur (15), Shikarpur (8), Sanghar (6), Umerkot (5), Dadu (5), Larkana (4), Mirpurkhas (4), Jamshoro (2), Badin (2), Thatta (1) and Sujawal (1). 

The Chief Minister urged the people of the province to be vigilant and responsive to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to COVID-19. 

It was further said that 33,131 infected people were still receiving treatment, including 31,665 at homes, 1,388 at hospitals and 78 at isolation centres. “As many as 641 patients were in critical condition, including 99 those utilizing ventilators.” 

An official report issued on June 20 revealed that the South district of Karachi, which reported the maximum infection in Karachi on June 25, had registered in all 6,960 COVID-19 cases, while enduring 44 deaths. Its overall infection rate came as 326 per 100,000 people, while the case fatality rate stood at 3.5%. 

In the meantime, the website of the Sindh health department, updated at 7.52 pm on June 25, mentioned the Sindh death toll as 1,202, while the department did not issue daily COVID-19 summary to media for the third day running. The health department’s last summary was issued on June 22.

CPEC creates jobs for Thari women

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a torch bearer of the visionary Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has not only accelerated economic activities across Pakistan but also created awareness among the rural women folk. 

Prior to the launch of CPEC projects, the women folks in rural Sindh were used to earn their livelihood by making traditional dresses with hand-made embroidery, contributing with family in sheep and cow farms or spending time either with their children or family.

But now the ladies, living in Tharparkar, also known as Thari women, also have the option to earn money from non-traditional sources thus meeting the challenges of present era of price spiral. 

In this regard, the Thari women have been given training to drive heavy trucks, used for transportation of materials for the CPEC projects. 

The management of Block II project under the CPEC in Sindh, in order to encourage them, has employed local women of Tharparkar desert for truck driving job. These women are very skillfully performing their responsibilities to the satisfaction of their employers.

Coronavirus Update: Infection rate swings

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh witnessed ups and downs in its daily COVID-19 infection rates during the week, as authorities in the government confirmed detection of another 1,414 positive cases out of 7,400 samples during the last 24 hours ending on the morning of June 24 with new 39 related deaths, taking the tally of total infection to 74,070 and death to 1,161 for the province.

On June 18, Sindh’s new infection rate was 21%, which started dipping on June 20 and was recorded at 15% on June 22. It increased to 24% on June 23 and then went down to 19% on June 24. 

While the health department remained silent on the subject, some observers noted that the COVID-19 consultants to the department yet need to device a foolproof style of sampling and testing, which could help understand the trend of the lethal virus’s onslaught across the province. 

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his daily COVID-19 statement, informed that 32,722 infected people were receiving the treatment at homes (31,184 cases), isolation centres (81) and hospitals (1,457). He further stated that 733 patients were in critical condition, urging people to adhere to the precautionary and preventive measures. 

The details of people expiring of COVID lately were delivered neither by the Chief Minister nor by health department’s officers. 

According to breakdown of Karachi’s new infection, as stated by the Chief Minister, Karachi East district reported the maximum of 185 cases during the last 24 hours, followed by South (184), Korangi (97), Malir 70), Central (68) and West (40). 

An official report issued on June 20 had revealed that the eastern district of Karachi was housing 2,356 active cases, while enduring 147 deaths. Its overall infection rate came as 69.5 per 100,000 people, while the case fatality rate stood at 3.6. 

Karachi reported the maximum number of 644 cases during the last 24 hours, followed by Hyderabad (74), Mirpurkhas (33), Sukkur (30), Ghotki (27), Shaheed Benazirabad (25), Larkana (18), Thatta (9), Shikarpur (9), Badin (8), Sanghar (8), Khairpur (7), Naushero Feroze (6), Jamshoro (6), Dadu (6), Sujawal (3), Jacobabad (3), Tando Allahyar (01) and Tando Mohammad Khan (1), according to the Sindh Chief Minister’s statement. 

In the meantime, there were 27 beds vacant in the intensive care units of various Karachi hospitals including Dow University Hospital, JPMC, Lyari General Hospital, NICH, Dr Ziauddin hospital, Clifton, and Sessi Kidney Centre and Landhi. 

Reinfection

Commenting over some reports related to second viral attack on patients having recovered from COVID-19 in the country, senior microbiologist, Prof Dr Shahana Urooj Kazmi, reckoned that the reported issue needed more comprehensive investigation before drawing any conclusion. It had been reported that a case of coronavirus reinfection was recorded at a hospital in Lahore. 

“The re-infected patient, who initially had contracted the disease about three months back and also got recovered, is exhibiting more severe symptoms now in comparison to the symptoms at the time of the first diagnosis, suggesting the existence of more than one strain of SARS-COV-2, the coronavirus which causes COVID-19 disease,” according to a doctor. 

Reportedly, a Karachi based hospital has also readmitted patients having recovered from COVID-19. 

Prof Shahana Urooj Kazmi opined that the reinfection could also be antibody mediated enhanced infection like in dengue or may be a different strain of the same virus. “May be the strain specific antibody was not effective or the person did not develop neutralizing antibodies,” she opined.

Plasma therapy begins in Nawabshah

By Rashid Zia Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindh government has started the facility of treatment of coronavirus (COVID-19) affected patients through plasma therapy at Nawabshah, it was disclosed by the Commissioner of Shaheed Benazirabad Division, Syed Mohsin Ali Shah, on June 24.

He revealed that a team headed by the Chairman of the National Institute of Blood Diseases Karachi, Dr Tahir Shamsi, will be working in collaboration with the Peoples Medical University Hospital to treat the COVID-19 affected patients through plasma therapy. 

Dr Tahir Shamsi, who was also present on the occasion, expressed the confidence that score of lives of the COVID-19 affected patients could be saved by plasma therapy. 

Speaking at the inauguration at Regional Blood Center, the Commissioner informed that the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority had donated the plasma collecting machine. 

He described it as an excellent initiative of the provincial government which, he hoped, would help recover the COVID-19 affected patients of Shaheed Benazirabad Division. 

He declared that Abbas Ali Arain of Bhiria Road town, who has completely recovered from coronavirus, was the first person to donate plasma. He recognized and praised him for donating plasma. 

Commissioner Mohsin Shah also appealed to other coronavirus recovered persons to step ahead and donate plasma to save the lives of their brothers and sisters as precious lives could be saved in this pandemic situation. 

Dr Tahir Shamsi, Chairman, National Institute of Blood Diseases Karachi, remarked that the recovery success of coronavirus affected patients through plasma therapy was 92% and any person having recovered from the virus could donate plasma four times a week with proper intervals. 

According to him a litre of plasma can be administered to two patients and healthy recovered persons should donate plasma generously in war against coronavirus. 

The Vice Chancellor of the Peoples Medical University, Prof Dr Gulshan Ali Memon, and the District Health Officer, Dr Asif Raza Brohi, besides other officials were also present on the occasion. 

Later the Commissioner took a round of different departments of the Regional Blood Centre and he was appreciative of its working, assuring them of full cooperation from his office.

Chinese company donates UAVs to fight locust, COVID-19

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

China’s Shenzhen Sunwin Intelligent Co Ltd has donated five Industrial UAVs (drones) to Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on June 24. 

On behalf of the NDMA, Muhammad Irfan, Trade and Investment Counsellor of Consulate General of Pakistan in Guangzhou, attended the donation ceremony in Shenzen. 

Addressing at the ceremony, Pakistan’s Trade and Investment Counsellor appreciated the gesture of the Chinese people, expressing the hope that the friendship between the two countries will be even stronger in future. 

The donation of Sunwin at a critical time when Pakistan was fighting fiercely against both COVID-19 and the locust attack was deemed yet another reflection of iron-clad friendship between Pakistan and China. 

Zhou Yong, Chairman of the Board of Sunwin, stated that China and Pakistan were all weather strategic cooperative partners and the bond of friendship between the two nations has always been unbreakable and rock-solid. 

He recalled that right after the breakout of the COVID-19, Pakistan had mobilized the whole nation to support China. 

“You throw a peach to me, and I give you a white jade for friendship. Now, as Pakistan is in trouble, Sunwin, a Chinese sci-tech enterprise, should embrace our responsibility. We would like to bring our good products in agricultural crops protection to Pakistan and share our experiences in the pandemic control and prevention with the local government and people,” he added. 

Sunwin told China Economic Net that the five Industrial UAVs, with a total value of 200,000 RMB (about $28,291), will depart from China’s Guangzhou and be sent to Pakistan soon. They will assist Pakistan’s fight against the pandemic and locust attack. 

Saiying, a type of drone made by Sunwin, has been used to kill locusts in Pakistan’s Dera Ismail Khan and other places since February 2020, according to Zhou. 

Saiying drone has become a special instrument with super power to destroy locusts for its high efficiency of spraying and disinfecting, strong adaptation and remarkable effect. 

With the COVID-19 pandemic spreading in Pakistan, unmanned aerial vehicles could also play an important role in disinfecting, monitoring and temperature measurement. 

After knowing that Pakistan was still in need of drones, Sunwin contacted both of Chinese and Pakistani embassies and made production and donation plans. 

Sunwin was established in 1997 and listed in Shenzhen Stock Exchange in January 2010. It is a leading enterprise in the field of smart city and also a leader in artificial intelligence in China. Sunwin’s main business interests cover four sectors, smart city, big data, artificial intelligence, and culture and education.

3D printed isolation units on way to Pakistan

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

As many as 15 units of 3D printed isolation units set off from Shanghai and Suzhou ports for Pakistan that would greatly help in curbing COVID-19 pandemic. 

After a month's sea transportation, the consignment will be arriving Pakistan for COVID-19 prevention and cure. 

This consignment was valued at about $123,300, being a donation from Ying Chuang Building Tech (Winsun) after contact and coordination with Consulate General of Pakistan in Shanghai and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), a Chinese website reported on June 24. 

The units have been specifically designed for Pakistan, which showed excellent heat-proof quality. They have already been installed with provision of water and electricity utilities, doors, windows and inner decoration. 

As soon as arriving at the destination, after assembling and connecting with water and electricity supply, they can be put into use promptly. It is learnt that 3D printed isolation units had been used in Hubei and Shandong during the most crucial time and achieved satisfactory feedback. 

After the coronavirus outbreak, the isolation units can be transformed into hotel, park lounge, cafe, guardroom, toilet and emergency room for disaster relief. 

Furthermore, the wards are printed from recycled materials. After crushing, sorting, grinding and high-temperature treatment, these units can be turned into materials again for printing other new buildings.

More dialysis facilities in Larkana, Sukkur

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

The Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) is likely to launch a 12-machine dialysis facility for kidney patients operational at Larkana next month.

An officer of the institute revealed that the dialysis unit in question, an extended part of SIUT Chablani Medical Centre of Sukkur, as per plan, will start functioning in the mid of August and it was expected that it would carry out 100,000 dialysis sessions to some 950 patients living in Larkana and its adjoining areas on a yearly basis. 

“Twelve dialysis machines have already been transported to Larkana, which will now be put for trial testing for a period of two weeks. Patients’ monitors required for high dependency unit are in process of being installed while facilities of radiology and pathology are also in the final stages,” it was disclosed. 

The officer further informed that the water purification system by reverse osmosis has already been installed and it would also be ready for use in weeks’ time. “The drainage system which is a project of the local government is also in final stages.” 

About the SIUT’s Chablani centre, he said that it was a full-fledged hospital with in-patient and outpatient services, having operation theatres, 24-hour dialysis unit, lithotripsy, laboratory and radiology services to thousands of patients yearly for more than a decade.

Dreamworld official calls on Prime Minister; relief for hospitality industry sought

Pakistan News & Features Services


A top official of Dreamworld Resort, Hotel & Golf Course, called on Prime Minister Imran Khan in which matters pertaining to tourism and hospitality industry in the country were discussed. 

According to the details made available to PNFS, Dreamworld Resort was represented by its Director Business Development, Omar Saleem, while the meeting, taking place at the Prime Minister office in Islamabad, was also attended by Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari, Minister of State and Special Assistant for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, who also heads the national task force on tourism. 

During the meeting, the Dreamworld official briefed the Prime Minister and his team about the challenges being faced by the hospitality industry during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic besides requesting for the reopening of the activities under specific guidelines and standard operation procedures (SOPs) to overcome the financial crisis. 

The Dreamworld executive expressed his appreciation at the initiatives of the Prime Minister aimed at boosting tourism in the country, pending a foolproof set of rules and regulations to ensure maximum protection from COVID-19. 

Upon the directives of the Prime Minister, the management of Dreamworld Resort agreed to facilitate the government in devising perfect COVID-19 precautionary SOPs based on their three decades long experience in running a safe and hygienic resort.

Thoughts on Justice Qazi Faez Isa case

By Tanzeel Rauf Farooqui

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Over the past few months, we have witnessed a case of uniquely controversial nature. It's a case concerning Justice Qazi Faez Isa, one of the judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The apex court dismissed a presidential reference against the senior judge on June 19.

According to a Supreme Court short judgement, the 10-member larger bench dismissed the government reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa.

The Supreme Court termed the reference invalid and said: "The reference is declared to be of no legal effect whatsoever and stands quashed."

The government had filed a reference in May 2019 alleging that Justice Isa owned three properties in the UK in his wife's and children's names acquired between 2011 and 2015 while not disclosing them on his tax returns.

Justice Isa, known to be one of the most vocal judges of the Supreme Court, having passed many judgments which were praised by many, rejected the allegations and moved to the top court against the government reference last August. . 

The federal government, through the President of Pakistan had filed a reference against Justice Isa alleging that the honourable judge of the apex court had properties in England in the name of his wife, which were not declared, and this was a violation of Section 116 (1) (b) and Section 116 (2) of the Income Tax Ordinance of 2001. 

Adding to this, the federal government alleged that by committing the above-mentioned violation, the honourable judge committed gross misconduct and violated Article II and III of the judge’s code of conduct. 

Based on this, the Presidential reference recommended removal of the honourable judge to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) in term violation of Article 209 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. 

Justice Isa, on the contrary, described the reference as one full of malice and malafide on part of the government who did not even let the honourable judge present his side of the argument. 

The Supreme Court heard the matter a great length over a period of months and gave their short order on June 19.

The Supreme Court rejected the instant Presidential reference filed by the federal government against the honourable judge. However, what seemed as a triumph for Justice Isa and his legal team at first, was arguably not so. 

The Supreme Court, in its short order, although did dismiss the reference against the honourable judge, but did not give Justice Isa a clean chit, as they referred the matter to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for consideration and ordered the result of the investigation of the FBR to be submitted before the SJC for further action. 

Justice Isa, at the very outset, argued that the government had not given an opportunity to him to be heard, audi alteram partem as the Latin pharse which translated to ‘let the other side be heard’. 

On this ground, it could be said that Justice Isa was victorious as indeed no man, be it a public office holder or not, must be heard before any adverse decision was passed against him. 

Nevertheless, with the matter being sent to the FBR for a detailed investigation, Justice Isa is yet to be victorious in this legal battle against the government. 

During the proceedings of the now dismissed Presidential reference, the federal government, through Dr Farogh Naseem argued that a judge’s office is one of high status and confidence and the sanctity of the same must be maintained, to which the honourable judges on the bench agreed. 

Judges hold a very respectable and honourable office and as a judge of the Supreme Court, practically after who only God remains, must have a flawless reputation. This might be the wisdom behind the majority of the bench of the apex court in sending the matter to the FBR, so that justice is not only done, but is seen to be done. 

It is without any doubt that all the judges of the honourable courts of Pakistan, be them judges of the district courts or judges of the Supreme Court, are highly respectable individuals who are deemed to be unbiased and defenders of the rights of the population. 

Through this particular judgement, the Supreme Court has in fact increased the praise that should be given to the honourable courts as they have presented themselves readily before the process of accountability and have sent a matter of one of their own to the FBR for impartial inquiry. 

No one is above the law, as Justice Maqbool Baqar, one of the honourable judges on the bench hearing the Presidential reference stated and the same can be witnessed through this historic judgment. 

Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who maintains that the intentions of the government are ill natured, is to prove the same with evidence before the FBR, like any citizen of Pakistan would have to do and then would be hailed. 

This reflects that the Supreme Court indeed is ready to answer any allegations raised against their own ranks viciously, and this raises the confidence of the population in the defenders of the rights of the public. It can undoubtedly be stated that through the decision of the Supreme Court on June 19, justice was not only done, but was seen to be done.

Coronavirus Update: Spike in fatality rate

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh’s overall COVID-19 fatality tally surpassed 1,100 on June 22 when the health authorities confirmed deaths of another 14 patients, including 13 having occurred at Karachi, during the last 24 hours, with detection of 1,464 new infections, which pushed the overall provincial infection tally to 71,092. 

According to official data, the province witnessed the fatality tally growing to 916 on June 17 and 1,048 on June 20, which increased to 1,103 on June 22, meaning that Sindh lost an average of 37 lives of its 37 residents every day to corona during the last five days. 

Astonishingly, the provincial health department has stopped mentioning the places where these patients succumbed to the lethal virus or the medical briefs of the deceased.

A data updated on June 17 suggested that over 80% of the COVID-19 patients, belonging to all age and income group, were losing lives in government and private health settings. 

Overall, the maximum of 107 deaths occurred at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, followed by Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (95), Dow University Hospital (88), Civil Hospital Karachi (85), Aga Khan University Hospital (80), Indus Hospital (72), Ziauddin Hospital (51), Lyari General Hospital (27), SMBB Trauma Centre (23), PNS Shifa (15), Liaquat University of Health and Medical Sciences Hospital (22) and other hospitals. 

The health department summary revealed that 13 patients who lost their lives during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am on June 22 included nine men, aged from 24 to 82 years, and four female living in the age brackets of 30 to 55 years. In addition, Larkana registered death of 50-year-old woman.

It was learnt that, among the patients who lost their lives on June 21, there were four who died during the home isolation. 

Karachi continued to report the maximum new cases and there were 1,171 more on June 22, followed by Ghotki (48), Sukkur (39), Larkana (36), Sanghar (32), Mirpurkhas (26), Khairpur (25), Dadu (15), Naushero Feroze (11), Jamshoro (9), Sujawal (9), Shaheed Benazirabad (8), Umerkot (7), Shikarpur (7), Tando Allahyar (4), Matiari (4), Kambar Shahdadkot (3) and Tando Mohammad Khan (1). 

Different laboratories tested 9,841 samples collected from across the province on June 22, against a combined capacity of testing 13,650. A comparative study of case reports revealed that the new infection rate dropped to 15% on June 22, against 16% on June 21 and 20% on June 20. 

Keen observers attributed the decrease in new infection rate to lesser sampling. When more focused or symptomatic patients were being tested, higher number of positive cases were detected but at the same time the positive cases diluted when mixed with randomly taken samples along, remarked an observer, adding that it was too early to see draw a conclusion about the trend in the testing of samples. 

At Karachi, the ratio of COVID-19 infected males and females came as 69:28, against the overall male-female provincial ratio of 69:27.