Fiber optic deal to revolutionize digital communication

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The $44 million China-Pakistan fiber optic that one cluster was operationalized recently will revolutionize digital communication.  

The 820-km long fiber optic from Khunjerab China to Islamabad was operationalized on July 12. In the next phase it will connect with Karachi and then Gwadar. 

After the launch of a number of mega projects under CPEC, the digital communication between Pakistan and China has increased manifolds. 

Also a large number of Pakistani students are getting higher education in different universities in China. Recently these students were attending their classes online as their classes were suspended because of COVID-19. These students needed a fast and reliable internet facility to pursue their studies. As per plan the network will also be connected with Transit-Europe-Asia Terrestrial Cable network.

Coronavirus Update: Sindh's patient recovery rate inching towards 70%

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh, which in recent days has been reportedly witnessing calm in its daily new COVID-19 infection rates, again registered a significant increase in the number patients who recovered from the disease on July 16 when authorities in the government confirmed 1,155 new cases, with 34 more related fatalities.

On July 16, according to official data, another 3,775 patients got recovered, while 4,872 patients were reported ‘recovered’ against a daily infection number of 1,140 on July 15, 1,591 recovered against the new infection number of 1,151 on July 14 and 1,871 recovered against the infection number of 1,089 on July 13.

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his routine coronavirus status statement on July 16, said that there were 34,070 active cases, all under medical supervision at hospitals or homes, while 74,076 patients had been cured or discharged from health facilities.

He further said that 923 COVID-19 infected patients were receiving treatment at hospitals, including 375 in critical condition, while 105 were put on ventilators across the province. As of July 16, Sindh’s overall recovery rate was 67%, against the overall infection rate of 18%.

Keen observers said that the recovery of infected patients was encouraging and Sindh needed not only to contain its existing level of new daily infections but also to ensure the recovery rate continued to improve steadily.

As per the new infection data, Karachi contributed 417 (36%) new cases to the total cases reported across the province during the last 24 hours ending on July 16 morning.

In terms of new infection reporting, Karachi was followed by Shaheed Benazirabad (53), Khairpur (49), Ghotki (41), Larkana (40), Sukkur (38), Naushero Feroze (37), Hyderabad (33), Jacobabad (29), Thatta (21), Badin (19), Sanghar (18), Kambar Shadadkot (17), Shikarpur (16), Jamshoro (15), Dadu (14), Kashmore (14), Mirpurkhas (13), Sujawal (10), Umerkot (5) and Tando Mohammad Khan (1), as per the Chief Minister’s statement, which did not provide the details of patients who succumbed to COVID-19 either at hospitals or homes. He disclosed that the overall tally of deaths had reached to 1,922.

The Sindh health department also did not release any district wise details of the fatalities or the daily COVID-19 summary on July 16, but a website hosted by the department updated the number of fatalities as 1,960.

In the meantime, according to a WHO Sindh sub-office report, updated on July15, said that 11,660 tests were conducted during the preceding 24 hours in the province, out of which 6,662 were from Karachi, with 12% positive cases, 4,264 from Hyderabad, with 13% positive cases, 116 in Sukkur, with 11% positive cases, while 18 tests were performed in Larkana, none tested positive.

The report further said that of the 370 intensive care unit beds available at various Karachi hospitals, 27% of them was occupied by patients availing ventilators, while another 39 went to off-ventilator patients and 34% beds were vacant. Coming on the healthcare workers infected with COVID-19 in Sindh so far, the report said that 77% of them were doctors.

Study finds fear of contracting COVID-19 major source of anxiety, stress

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A group of researchers at the Aga Khan University (AKU), having conducted a study, has found fear of contracting COVID-19 as the major source of anxiety and stress among respondents they surveyed online. 

“Three out of four Pakistani adults are suffering from moderate or high levels of stress during this COVID-19 pandemic while nearly one in three are experiencing moderate or severe anxiety,” the researchers reported while releasing findings of their first phase of an ongoing survey. 

Over 90 per cent of the participants were from Sindh and Punjab, having been contacted by the Karachi based researchers of the university. 

As many as 374 respondents were reached to determine if people had generalised anxiety disorder, perceived stress or both conditions.

“The respondents ranked the top three causes of anxiety and stress as being fear of contracting the virus, financial losses during the pandemic and losing a loved one to COVID-19,” a communication issued by the AKU said.

According to the research group hailing from AKU’s department of community health sciences (CHS), 76% of the survey participants were much more concerned about their loved ones catching the disease. In comparison, four of 10 respondents reported a lot of fear or extreme fear about catching the virus themselves.

Professor Sameen Siddiqi, the CHS department chair commented that the pandemic had exposed the social and economic vulnerabilities and created widespread uncertainty in society.

“If left unchecked, stress associated with COVID-19 can lead to distress and the distress can lead to disease,” it was warned.

The study also found a high correlation between exposure to rumours via WhatsApp and anxiety or stress, since more than eight out of ten respondents suffering from the two conditions were using this social media platform.

Major steps being taken for food security

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

The government is taking every possible measure to ensure food security and staple products reach the masses at affordable prices. It is exploring all avenues to ensure food is available at accessible in every nook and corner of the country.

In this connection, the Federal Minister of Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhary, has announced launching of a fleet of Agriculture Drone by a private entity that would be used to stemming locust from orchards and agriculture fields but with the installation of latest technology the drones' sensor can identify only the clusters where insecticide spray is required. These measures would definitely help protect crops from different insects. 

The Minister also recently held a meeting with the Chairman CPEC Authority, Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, and discussed coordinated steps under CPEC and his ministry to introduce latest technology to boost agriculture products. 

Meanwhile, with help of Chinese technology sowing of maize and soybean through intercropping system for next season has started at Kanoot Research Farm in Chakwal. 

Such demos are going to be held in other places in Punjab including Vehari, Rawalpindi and Pakpattan. Through intercropping, a large quantity of maize and soybean can be produced in tandem.

Webinar on promoting Applied Science

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)


A galaxy of cross section of people from around the world will speak at a webinar on how to promote Applied Sciences in Pakistan. 

The Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhary, made the announcement by tweeting about the conference, inviting students and science enthusiasts to participate via Zoom on July 20 and 21.

The Minister, for the convenience of the interested persons for registration, has also posted his email address. 

It’s yet another positive initiative taken by Fawad Chaudhary, who has been hailed for his efforts in masterminding the launch of ‘Made in Pakistan’ ventilator as well as the Agricultural Drone.

Revival of KCR operations a reality: DS

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Divisional Superintendent, Karachi, of the Pakistan Railways, Arshad Salam Khattak, has stated that, as per the directives of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the restoration of the Karachi Circular Railways (KCR) remained on top of their priorities.

The DS, in an interview of July 15, shared that the final outlook of the restored KCR project would be state of the art metro on the pattern modern MRT. 

The federal government has allocated Rs. 1.8 billion for the mass transit project in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the FY 2020-21 and the track work has been initiated by PR itself, while tenders have been floated for rehabilitation of stations falling in the project, which will be opened on July 23. 

"There is no issue of encroachments now as all the illegal settlements have been demolished and the provincial government is in full liaison with Pakistan Railways in all the matters pertaining to revival of KCR,” the DS responded when inquired about anti-encroachment operation. 

While explaining the phase-wise revival of KCR, he said that initially during the first phase a trial-base operation would be started from City to Orangi within a period of next three months and two trains per hour would carry the commuters to their destined places. 

However, during the second phase the entire track would be made functional by dualization, upgradation and improving signaling system. "High class real estate development in the restored KCR project would give it a state-of-art look" he added. 

Commenting upon the current outlook of various station in the route, he said that tender for rehabilitation of stations had already been floated and very soon all the stations would give a neat and clear appearance. 

"Though the KCR will be restored soon but for a city like Karachi with population greater than many countries, multiple metro-type projects are required in order to facilitate the 20 million citizens of the metropolis,” the DS opined.

75% Pakistanis stressed due to pandemic: Study

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Three out of four Pakistani adults are suffering from moderate or high levels of stress during this COVID-19 pandemic while nearly one in three are experiencing moderate or severe anxiety, according to the preliminary findings of a mental health study conducted by the Aga Khan University (AKU), Karachi. 

The researchers from the department of community health sciences (CHS) conducted an online survey of 373 respondents between April and May, the study’s first phase, using validated screening tools to determine if people had generalized anxiety disorder, perceived stress or both conditions. More than 90 per cent of the participants were from Sindh and Punjab. 

The respondents ranked the top three causes of anxiety and stress as being fear of contracting the virus, financial losses during the pandemic and losing a loved one to COVID-19. 

The survey participants were much more concerned about their loved ones catching the disease with nearly eight out of ten respondents, or 76 percent, feeling a lot of fear or extreme fear of those close to them falling ill. In contrast, four of ten respondents, or 36 per cent, reported a lot of fear or extreme fear about catching the virus themselves. 

“The pandemic has exposed our social and economic vulnerabilities and created widespread uncertainty in society. If left unchecked, stress associated with COVID-19 can lead to distress and the distress can lead to disease,” Professor Sameen Siddiqi, the CHS department chair, observed.

“Those already suffering from anxiety and stress are especially vulnerable to advanced illnesses such as depression and other mental health disorders,” Maryam Lakhdir, the study’s principal investigator and a senior instructor in the CHS department, reckoned. 

“The findings suggest that we are at risk of a mental health crisis during a pandemic. Policymakers must prioritise psychosocial interventions to limit the chances of long-lasting scars on our mental health,” she added. 

The study also found a high correlation between exposure to rumours via WhatsApp and anxiety or stress, since more than eight out of ten respondents suffering from the two conditions were using this social media platform as the respondents frequently checking the news also had more anxiety and stress. 

“Misinformation, conspiracy theories, and rumour mongering are likely to lead to mental health issues during the pandemic,” Dr Romaina Iqbal, the lead of CHS’s non-communicable diseases and mental health section, pointed out. 

The study will continue to enroll participants until the end of August and findings will continue to be released to monitor changes in the population’s mental health. 

Dr Iqbal Azam from AKU’s department of community health sciences, Apsara Ali, a research specialist from AKU’s department of paediatrics and child health, and graduate students in epidemiology and biostatistics, Drs Ghazal Peerwani and Hareem Fatima, were also involved in the study.

Coronavirus Update: Sindh having highest infection rate

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh added the maximum 53% cases to the national daily tally of COVID-19 infections on July 14 when the provincial health authorities registered 1,151 new positive cases, with 37 more related fatalities during the last 24 hours across the province. In all Pakistan reported 2,165 news COVID-19 cases on July 14, including 553 from Punjab, 254 from KPK, 113 from Islamabad Capital territory, 47 from Balochistan and other territories.

According to the Sindh Health department daily COVID-19 summary, different designated laboratories examined 9,972 samples during the last 24 hours ending on July 14 morning, out of which 1,151, including 521 from Karachi, were found positive. Sindh’s daily infection rate came as 11.5%. 

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his daily COVID-19 status statement, remarked that the province had a total 107,773 infections since February 26 when Karachi reported the first COVID-19 case of the country, out of which 40,490, including 843 in critical conditions, were under treatment at hospitals, isolation centres and homes while as many as 121 patients were being provided with the ventilator support. 

The health department’s data reported Karachi having the maximum number of cases on July 14, followed by Jacobabad (64) Hyderabad (62), Khairpur (57), Umerkot (55), Shaheed Benazirabad (50), Larkana (41), Kambar Shadadkot (39), Dadu (35), Thatta (31), Shikarpur (28), Mirpurkhas (25), Ghotki (24), Sanghar (24), Badin (15), Sukkur (15), Kashmore (13), Jamshoro (12), Tando Allahyar (11), Matiari (9), Tando Mohammad Khan (5), Sujawal (2) and Naushero Feroze (1). 

Karachi and three other districts witnessed more deaths taking place at various hospitals and homes on July 14.

As many as 19 men aged 35 to 96 years and 15 women living in the age brackets of 24 to 80 years lost their lives at Karachi. Khairpur, Mirpurkhas and Tando Mohammad Khan registered death of one man each, who were aged between 55 to 65 years.

Karachi’s six districts have reported 1,601 COVID-19 fatalities so far, followed by Hyderabad (56), Larkana (31), Sukkur (23), Sanghar (11), Ghotki (11), Khairpur (11) and other districts.

In the meantime, a report compiled by the WHO Sindh sub office, as of July 13, revealed that the COVID-19 testing laboratories utilized only 32% of their collective testing capacity against 162% utilization of collective capacity of Hyderabad’s laboratories. The percentage of positive cases was the highest (19%) in Karachi while Hyderabad had 11%.

As many as 30% of the hospitalized patients at Karachi were put on ventilators on July 13, 21% at Hyderabad, 14% at Shaheed Benazirabad and 26% at Sukkur, the report added.

Agriculture drones arrive to combat locust

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Federal Minister for Science & Technology, Fawad Chaudhry, has continued taking up a number of innovations to make his presence felt in a big way. He has been keen in introducing modern gadgets for boosting efficiency.

He was credited to have introduced for the first time scientific calendar with precise dates of various Islamic events. 

When the country started confronting the COVID-19 pandemic and there was acute shortage of life saving ventilators, he stood up, took it up as a challenge and launched Made in Pakistan ventilators. 

As the country was passing through dual challenges of COVID-19 and locusts, he mobilized all his resources and succeeded in launching agriculture drones that could greatly help in stemming locust attacks which had challenged the country’s food security. 

Giving salient features of the state of the art Made in Pakistan drone made by a private entity on his directives, he said that the drone can carry 16 litres of pesticides and it can spray in 18 minutes to only the affected part of the agriculture land. 

Talking to media regarding his ministry's future plans, Fawad Chaudhry pointed out that he has formulated three, five and seven years plans as beyond that one couldn’t predict. 

This drone, he said, will be greatly helpful for small growers to safeguard their produce from insects and locusts and bring revolution in their life, pointing out that they will concentrate on three areas of chemicals, electronics and precision agriculture.

Pakistan's exports picking up despite pandemic

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan’s exports have started picking up recently despite economic slum all over the world because of COVID-19 pandemic. Pakistan's manufacturing sector has started getting millions of dollars export orders despite the pandemic scenario. 

The government’s ‘Make in Pakistan’ policy and work towards rapid industrialization aimed at enhancing exports and substituting imports have started paying dividends. 

A Pakistani company recently succeeded in procuring an order of sportswear from a famous brand while an electronic company also started exporting microwave ovens to Bangladesh.

This is the first-ever export of microwave ovens and it could be a new beginning for Pakistan engineering exports, particularly home appliances. 

In another development a cement company, after exporting its product to China, has now started exporting it to the Philippines. 

Pakistan, after getting the 100 million dollars face mask order from US, Canada and Europe, has now also allowed the export of PPEs & hand sanitizers thus opening door for the exporters to capture a good share of world market. 

Pakistan is making these developments despite COVID-19 crisis, being the manufacturer of small instruments in the past. It is now focusing more on bigger instruments and devices for export purposes consequently reducing the import burden.

“The exports of Pakistan are showing clear signs of recovery, due to the efforts of the exporters to diversify the products, in the wake of new opportunities arising amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” Advisor to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood, observed while chairing a meeting to discuss the export strategy of Pakistan. 

“We are fully prepared to exploit the economic and trade opportunities expected in the wake of the post-COVID-19 pandemic to increase local production for promoting Pakistan made products in global potential markets,” he added.

In a tweet the advisor said that export remittances from IT and ITES sector have picked up, showing a growth of 21% and fetching over a billion dollars in foreign exchange, in just 11 months of FY2019-20.