Gwadar East-Bay to be functional by April 2021

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Gwadar East-Bay Expressway, an important project under the auspices of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is scheduled to be completed by April 2021. 

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs has acknowledged that the construction of East-Bay Expressway was an important line of the Gwadar Port through which the entire traffic of port will flow. 

The East-Bay Expressway will connect the Gwadar Port and its free zones with a network of national highways.

Coronavirus Update: Karachi’s infection rate grows, people warned ahead of Eid

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Amidst apprehension that COVID-19 spread may increase in the province during the Eid ul-Adha holidays, Karachi reported a daily new infection rate of 52% on July 30 when authorities in the government shared that Sindh’s fatality tally had crossed 2,200, with overall 120,896 infections.

After witnessing a decrease in its new COVID-19 infections till July 27 (138 new cases, 27%), Karachi registered a gradual increase in the infection rate up to 51% by July 29. 

On July 30, Karachi’s number of new infections came as 261. Earlier, Karachi, a six-district division, had reported an average 318 new coronavirus cases daily since July 24. 

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah in his routine COVID-19 statement, remarked that 20 more infected people died during the last 24 hours ending on July 30 morning in the province, taking the total death to 2,209, while 689 more patients recovered from the diseases. 

He further shared that at present there were 8,454 active patients of coronavirus in Sindh, out of which 7,954 (94%) were in home-isolation, 488 (6%) in hospitals, including 399 in critical condition, while 67 were put on ventilators. 

Karachi reported 261 new cases during the last 24 hours, followed by Sukkur (38), Shikaprpur (24), Kashmore (19), Khairpur (18), Shaheed Benazirabad (14), Hyderabad (14), Badin (10), Miprpurkhas (9), Ghotki (9), Dadu (8), Jamshoro (8), Larkana (7), Naushero Feroze (7), Jacobabad (4), Thatta (4), and Sujawal (2). 

According to the official data, 10,842 samples were tested, out of which 498 (5%) came as positive for the diseases in the province. So far, 748,481 tests have been done, with an overall positivity rate of 16%.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Sindh sub-office reported that as of July 29, as many as 9,520 samples were tested in the province during the last 24 hours, 5,508 tests at different laboratories of Karachi where positivity rate was 14%, 3,616 at Hyderabad, with a positivity rate of 5%, 173 at Larkana, with a positivity rate of 3%, and 223 at Sukkur, with a positivity rate of 2%.

The WHO’s analysis report related to fatalities said that 2,189 COVID-19 patients died during a period from March 10 to July 29 in Sindh. The highest number of deaths was among 50 years and above (81%), with a male-female ration of 2.3:1.

The report revealed that Karachi East district registered the greatest number of fatalities, ie 621 (28%), among districts, followed by District Central (403 deaths), South (304), Korangi (217), West (196), Malir (143), Hyderabad (57) and other districts.

In the meantime, the Sindh Health Minister, Dr Azra Pechuho, in a video message on July 30, urged people to practice precautionary measures against COVID-19 on the eve of Eid ul-Adha and adhere to the relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs).

”Avoid mixing with people to greet them and use telephones for the purpose,” she suggested, adding that there were chances of increase in coronavirus cases after Eid ul- Adha, if due care to the preventive measures was not given.

The Secretary of the provincial health department, Dr Kazim Hussain Jatoi, in his statement, also warned people that COVID-19 still prevailed in the community and as such ignoring the SOPs could prove damaging again. He said that an increase in the COVID-19 cases was observed the other day due to the Eid-shopping and non-compliance of the SOPs.

DS Multan mobilizes resources to enhance efficiency, safety

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

In order to ensure the safest possible train operations through Multan Division, the Divisional Superintendent, Pakistan Railways, Shoaib Adil, has mobilized all his resources, having deputed all his officers into their respective fields of operation.

Following his directives, the Divisional Signal Engineer, Allah Ditta Lashari, inspected the signal system from Multan to Galewal. 

He inspected the entire CBI system through Multan, Shershah, Shujabad and Galewal and checked the presence of staff on duty 

He checked CBI system on tracks as well as from the office of respective station masters personally. 

The DS Railways has made it loud and clear to all his staff members about the importance of signal system and called for regular inspection of the system by concerned officials. 

Meanwhile the Assistant Mechanical Engineer, Shah Rukh Malik, also visited loco shed Multan. He inspected the presence of employees, fuel record and new fuel tank. He was informed that new fuel tank stores 7.50 lac litres of diesel.

On the other hand the action against grabbers of railway land also continued with the Deputy Director Property Land, a lady officer, having recovered grabbed land worth Rs 140 million from mafia during the last two months. 

The DS, while appreciating the action, observed that the ongoing recovery drive of land occupied by mafia elements will result in big increase in the Railways revenues. 

In pursuance of the directives issued by the DS, the Divisional Commercial Officer, Hameedullah Lashari, paid a surprise visit to various stations of Multan Division as part of efforts being made for ensuring safe railway operation along with provision of facilities to passengers. 

He checked the presence of commercial staff, booking and parcel clerks, ticket collectors as well as station masters. He also inspected the facilities being provided to travelling passengers and issued instructions for further improvement.

Karakoram Highway Phase-II opens for traffic

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The whole line of Havelian-Thakot of the Karakoram Highway Phase-II (KKH), a project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has opened for traffic.

“This mega road project has been completed under CPEC initiatives, which would prove to be the backbone of the country’s economy and provide employment opportunities to a large portion of the population," Mahmood Khan, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), at the imagination ceremony. 

The 79-kilometer-long Class-II Highway Mansehra-Thakot and the Havelian-Mansehra expressway section, launched in November 2019, constitute the 118-kilometer Havelian-Thakot section. 

Karakoram Highway, the only overland connection between China and Pakistan at present, was built with funding from China during the period of 1966 to 1978. 

The first phase of KKH’s renovation and expansion project had been completed in 2013. 

The following year, a memorandum on the second phase of KKH was signed between Pakistan and China. The KKH-II has three sections, namely, Havelian-Thakot, Havelian-Islamabad and Thakot-Raikot. 

According to the Havelian-Thakot project’s contractor, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), besides this section, the Havelian-Islamabad section has also been completed so far. Only the Thakot-Raikot section is yet to be constructed.

Study finds casual attitude of Pakistanis towards COVID-19

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

One in six Pakistani adults believed that they and their families were safe from COVID-19 even if they didn’t take any preventive measures, according to a study conducted by Aga Khan University (AKU) and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). 

The Pakistani researchers conducted an online survey of 1,406 adults across Pakistan over the first two weeks of May 2020 and compared the results with a similar study in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is widely regarded as a COVID-19 containment success story. It has seen just 2,770 cases and 22 deaths in 6 months despite being a part of China and never imposing a lockdown.

In contrast, data collected in May 2020 showed Pakistan’s rate of infections per 100,000 people at 137 against Hong Kong’s 33 while Pakistan’s fatality rate per 100,000 was also three times higher at 21 despite imposing wide-ranging lockdowns across the country.

“Comparing risk perceptions, anxiety levels and community response to COVID-19 in Pakistan and Hong Kong can help assess whether Pakistan is prepared to take the strict preventive measures needed to control the spread of the disease,” the researchers from AKU’s department of community health sciences felt. 

The study found that the Pakistanis were less concerned about COVID-19’s complications and felt they were more likely to survive the virus than those surveyed in Hong Kong. Only 41 percent, of Pakistanis rated COVID-19 symptoms as being very severe or severe compared to 97 percent of respondents in Hong Kong. 

Similarly, nearly seven out of ten Pakistanis, or 68 percent, believed they had a high or very high chance of surviving the disease against just 36 per cent of respondents from Hong Kong. Such perceptions about the risk of contracting COVID-19 and its complications contributes to preventive behaviour such as wearing face masks, which are almost universally worn in Hong Kong. 

The Pakistanis were also less likely to seek out information on preventive measures and how to detect COVID-19 symptoms than their counterparts in Hong Kong. 

“The casual attitude of literate Pakistanis to preventive measures and the risk of contracting the disease is concerning. We need to be more cautious and attentive to preventive measures especially during the Eid holidays so that we can continue to contain the disease,” Professor Fauziah Rabbani, the study’s principal investigator and associate vice provost for research at the AKU, stated.

Compared to Hong Kong, Pakistan is much more trusting of its government. Nearly eight out of ten Pakistanis, or 79 percent, rate government information as being very reliable compared with just 16 per cent of people in Hong Kong. 

“In Hong Kong citizens took charge of the pandemic as they didn’t trust the government. The Pakistanis are fortunate to have proactive government campaigns about mask use and physical distancing but remain reluctant to follow these measures,” she added. 

The researchers also analysed the data by gender to assess differing perceptions about COVID-19 between Pakistani men and women. In general, Pakistani men had a lower risk perception of COVID-19 compared to women. Despite a government-imposed lockdown only 71 percent of men avoided going out in contrast to 87 percent of women. 

Moreover, 62 percent of women reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety compared to 50 percent of men. Men in Pakistan preferred to acquire information about the pandemic from their family and friends while women in the country viewed information from doctors as being more reliable. 

The researchers noted that in both countries, seven out of 10 citizens were reluctant to go to hospitals or clinics. They called on Pakistanis with non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiac diseases, maternal as well as child health issues to continue seeking care whilst adopting preventive measures at hospitals and clinics. 

Dr Adeel Abid, Dr Hania Shahzad, Dr Hyder Ali Khan, Dr Suneel Piryani and Dr Areeba Raza Khan from the AKU were also associated in the study.

Natural gas being extracted from 28 wells in Sindh

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

The natural gas being produced from 28 wells in Sindh, while drilling is carried out in five areas in Ghotki, Larkana and Sanghar where sufficient amount of oil and gas is being expected to be fetched. 

The information was provided by the Parliamentary Secretary on Petroleum, Khyal Zaman, in the National Assembly while responding to various questions related to the Petroleum Ministry. 

He said that the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) owed Rs 72 billion while the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) owed a whopping Rs 192 billion. 

Responding to a question from former Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar, Federal Minister, Omar Ayub, clarified that there was no change under the head of petroleum levy. 

It was revealed that iron, copper and lead reserves were found in Chitral and survey of all minerals had been completed. A large quantum of oil reserves have also been discovered in Kohat, Hangu and Karak.

It was further informed that the work on oil and gas expiration would be carried out in Waziristan districts after getting survey reports expected in a year.

Pakistan largest recipient of Chinese investment in FY20

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan happened to the largest recipient of Chinese investment in the financial year ’20, it emerged on July 28. 

China had invested an amount of USD 855.6 million in a period of 11 months of FY20, according to the details revealed by a Chinese website. 

These investments mainly poured in the power sector under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the website further disclosed. 

Meanwhile, the Pakistan government has decided to invite international tenders for Sukkur-Hyderabad motorway (M-6), a critical part of CPEC. 

The tenders are expected to be floated on July 31, the website reported, having quoted the Chairman of the National Highway Authority (NHA), Captain (rtd) Sikandar Qayyum.

Railways recover occupied land in Multan

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The divisional authorities of Pakistan Railways have recovered land having been occupied by the mafia and grabbers in Multan upon the directives of the Divisional Superintendent, Shoaib Adil, 

In a crackdown, launched by the divisional officials, the railway land worth Rs 130 million has been recovered during the last couple of months. 

DS Shoaib Adil has appreciated the success achieved in recovering the railway land from mafia and directed that the campaign should continue unabated. 

Meanwhile, upon his initiatives, another crackdown was underway against people crossing the tracks illegally as part of the ongoing drive for ensuring safe railway operation. 

In this regard, on his instructions, warning boards have been installed at vantage points asking the trespassers to avoid crossing the railway line illegally or otherwise they will be arrested.

Acting on DS directives, the Khanewal Railway Police arrested accused Muhammed Atif while crossing the track on his motorcycle illegally at gate No 215 on the occasion of arrival of Sir Syed Express.

Another motorcyclist was apprehended at the same gate while illegally crossing the line oon the occasion of arrival of Millat Express.

Meanwhile on DS directive, the Divisional Engineer Abid Razaq completed the inspection of railway track from Multan to Mian Chunnoo.

During inspection he observed the working of gang men, level crossings and the bridges falling on this section.

He also inspected various railway colonies and issued necessary instructions to field staff besides listening to problems of various railway employees and issuing directives for their solution.

DS Shoaib Adil has strictly asked the divisional officials to go into the field instead of sitting at their offices so that the railway journey could be made safer.

Coronavirus Update: Home isolation preferred

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Only 6% of the COVID-19 active patients were admitted in hospitals of Sindh on July 27 when authorities in the government registered another 513 new cases, with 11 new deaths, across the province during the last 24 hours.

The provincial data suggested that the burden of COVID-19 patients had significantly decreased from hospitals, while 94% of the infected cases were receiving treatment in home-isolation. 

During a period from July 21-27, 4-6% of the entire COVID-19 patients were admitted in about 50 designated government and private hospitals across the province. 

According to the provincial government’s report, as of July 25, a total of 5,323 patients were admitted at the hospitals, out of which 3,071 could be cured and 631 (12%) were still receiving treatment, while 1,621 (30%) lost their lives. 

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his routine statement on July 27, shared that there were 8,182 active COVID-19 cases in the province, out of which 7,655 were in isolation at homes, while six were in the government designated isolation centres and 521 were hospitalized with as many as 67 were put on ventilators.

He said that with the latest registration of positive cases the overall number of infections in the province had reached to 118,824 (17%), while the fatality tally came as 2,162 (CFR= 1.8%). A total of 8,742 samples were tested, with a positivity rate of six percent.

However, details of deceased persons’ hospitalization and districts they lived in were neither provided by the Chief Minister nor the provincial health department.

According to a Sindh government report, updated on July 27, of the 412 intensive care unit beds, including 321 in Karachi, 175 were occupied, while only 21% of the high dependency unit beds (1,105) were utilized.

During the last 24 hours, ending on July 27 morning, Karachi reported the maximum of 138 (27%) new cases, followed by Shikarpur (32), Ghotki (31), Hyderabad (26), Sukkur (26), Shaheed Benazirabad (23), Khairpur (20), Badin (19), Kashmore (19), Mirpurkhas (17), Larkana (14), Jamshoro (14), Naushero Feroze (13), Sanghar (13), Umerkot (10), Tando Mohammad Khan (8), Dadu (7), Kambar Shahdadkot (6), Jacobabad (5), Sujawal (4), Matiari (3), Tando Allahyar (3) and Thatta (2).

In the meantime, officers of the Sindh health and population welfare departments, along with officials and employees of the Sindh Emergency Operation Centre for Polio and Sindh Police department undertook activities aimed at creating awareness around childhood diseases, COVID-19 prevention. They distributed literature and facemasks in different localities in the South district of Karachi.

Railways organize seminar on safe train operation in Multan

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Divisional Superintendent, Pakistan Railways Multan Division, Shoaib Adil, chaired the second seminar on safe train operation focussing on prevention of accidents.

Attended by Station Masters, Traffic Inspectors, Permanent Way Inspectors, Train Examiners and representatives of Railway Police, the DS underlined the importance of prevention of any accident and exhorted that everyone will have to walk together to achieve this most critical objective.

In this regard, he said that a vigil watch will have to be kept by all the officers and employees, including signal staff, engineering department, transport personnel and those who are posted at railway crossings which would help avoid occurrence of accidents.

The biggest challenge, he reckoned, was illegally crossing of the tracks as well as trespassers and it needed a sharp crackdown against those unlawfully crossing the railway line or walking on or around the railway line.

“At the same time train drivers too have a vital responsibility to prevent accidents because thousands of valued passengers they are carrying,” Shoaib Adil stressed.

The Divisional Transportation Officer (DTO), Hameed Lashari, advised loco drivers, station masters, traffic inspectors, PWI, TXR, railway police to pay special attention on track maintenance, coaches and wagons and, most importantly, the passengers.

"If we give full attention to tracks maintenance then it is possible to avoid accidents besides focusing on level crossings while strictly adhering to the railway rules and safety,” he explained.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy DS, Saima Bashir, cautioned that there was no room for any error any more.

She remarked that it was the second safety interactive workshop while such workshops will be organized every week.

The Deputy DS urged upon all the railway employees to perform their duty honestly, diligently and dedication. 

Divisional Engineers, Mohammad Jamshed Ali and Nasir Hanif, also spoke to sensitize participants and highlighted the importance of the role of each category of Railway employee in ensuring safety.