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.

Railways CEO stresses on achieving fiscal targets

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Senior General Manager of the Pakistan Railways, Nisar Ahmad Memon, visited the Divisional Superintendent office at Karachi and chaired a meeting regarding operational and freight issues. 

The meeting was attended by Divisional Superintendent, Arshad Salam Khattak, Managing Director, PRFTC, Ghulam Dastagir Baloch, Chief Mechanical Engineer Carriage and Wagons), Ghulam Qasim, and all the Deputy DSs and divisional officers of Karachi railway division. 

The CEO was briefed at length about the operational and freight issues confronted by the Karachi division particularly after the record-breaking rains last month. Matters pertaining to administrative domain like recruitment, and outstanding payments were discussed in depth with the visiting CEO who had served this Karachi division as DS some five months back before his transfer to Railway Headquarter at Lahore as Additional General Manager. 

The CEO directed the officers to work in close coordination with each other and devise a comprehensive strategy for achieving fiscal targets this year.

"Concerted efforts and hardworking is required from them to achieve the revenue targets as the department's revenue generation has declined in the last few months because of two-month suspension of passenger train operation followed by three months of COVID-19 SOPs governed train operation" he remarked.

He added that railways could reach the nearby ideal conditions status should its officers wholeheartedly assume the ownership of affairs and get physically involved in the matters.

He assured full support to the division from the headquarters on all the matters that would lead to accomplishment of a smooth passenger and freight train operation.

Chaudhary Abdul Sattar laid to rest

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Chaudhary Abdul Sattar, an enthusiastic social worker and an agriculturist, was laid to rest at the Gulistan-e-Jauhar graveyard in Karachi as he passed away, after protracted illness, on the midnight of September 13. 

Remembered as a most loving, sincere personality and friend of friends, his burial was largely attended by relatives, friends, his well-wishers and people from various places of Sindh and Punjab. 

Quran Khawani for the departed soul was held at his Gulistan-e-Jauhar residence which was followed by a soul stirring sermon by Mufti Najeeb of Darul-Uloom, Korangi, 

Mufti Najeeb spoke on the topic of death and the life thereafter. After the sermon he offered dua for the departed soul and led Maghrib prayers. 

Chaudhary Abdul Sattar belonged to Punjab’s city of Gojra but had settled in Nawabshah, Sindh. He has left behind two daughters and sons-in-law Dr Anwar, Principal, Dow College of Dentistry and Kashif Arain, Senior Deputy Director, State Bank of Pakistan.

Coronavirus Update: Rare no-fatality day in Sindh

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh remained third in the list of provinces in terms of daily COVID-19 cases on September 14 when the authorities in Karachi confirmed registration of 166 (1.37%) new infections, out of 12,093 tests, during the last 24 hours across the province, with no new fatality.

According to data, the COVID-19 testing laboratories in Sindh conducted 44% of Pakistan’s total 27,277 tests during the last 24 hours ending on morning of September 14. 

Balochistan topped the list by reporting 11.45% new cases out of 227 tests, followed by KPK (4.05% new positivity rate) followed by Punjab (0.62%). 

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his daily COVID-19 status statement, shared that the overall provincial infection figure had reached to 132,250, including 127,626 cured patients and 2,445 who lost their lives. 

According to his statement, 2,179 patients were still receiving treatment at homes (1,897), in isolation centre (six), and at hospitals (276) while the condition of 163 patients was stated critical with 19 being on ventilators. 

The district wise breakdown of new cases came as: Karachi (74), Hyderabad (16), Badin (13), Umerkot (9), Ghotki (8), Thatta (5), Kambar Shahdadkot (7), Khairpur (2), Larkana (2), Naushero Feroze (2), Shaheed Benaziarabad (2), Shikarpur (2), Sujawal (2), Sukkur (2), Tando Allahyar (2), Jamhsoro (1), Tharpakar (1), Dadu (1) and others.

According to an official report, the Field Healthcare Centre at Karachi Expo had no patients in its intensive care unit while two patients were admitted at its high dependency unit, in addition to one patient being treated in its massive 1,200-bed isolation centre.

In the meantime, a meeting of the Coronavirus Emergency Fund (CEF), held with the Sindh Chief Secretary, Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah, in the chair, on September 14 decided to close down the field isolation centres established months before at the Karachi Expo Centre and PAF Museum Karachi. An official summary will be sent to the Chief Minister, seeking his approval for the closure of the two centres, soon, according to a government handout.

Librarians’ body pledge to resume activities

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The National Library Association (NLA), which had started making its presence felt on the scene last year, has decided to resume its activities after having maintained silence on account of the coronavirus-related lockdown. 

Some of the key officials of the NLA met again in Karachi recently to chalk out plans for the immediate future which include publication of the introductory brochure of the association besides some literature about library science. 

They have planned to celebrate the Library Day in a befitting manner and also hold a grand function to honour eminent library professionals and supporters. They also looked into the possibilities of arranging study tours for working librarians. 

The NLA meeting was organized by its core team comprising of Anwar Hussain and Muzaffar Ali Shah, the senior librarians working at the Board of Intermediate Education and State Bank of Pakistan respectively. A few participants also joined the meeting via video link.

Halal food exporters seek government help in exploring market

By Masood Sattar Khan 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The exporters of halal meat have demanded to help them identify more avenues for export of their products. 

They have urged the government to help them explore more potential export markets such as China, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia and Central Asian states in order to enhance the country's halal meat products to these countries and regions. 

The exporters were of the view that they have to come out from focussing only on Islamic countries as many other countries could also be interested in halal meat for catering needs of their Muslims population.

Coronavirus Update: Higher testing rate in interior Sindh

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The COVID-19 laboratories located in the interior districts of Sindh handled samples two-fold more than their counterparts in Karachi on September 13 when the health functionaries confirmed 204 new cases, with two related new fatalities during the last 24 hours across the province.

According to official data, three designated government laboratories, working beyond their maximum daily capacity, examined 8,370 suspected samples, with a COVID-19 positivity rate of 0.68%, while 10 public and private sectors laboratories handled 4,544 samples and got 250 (5.5 %) positive cases. 

Sindh’s death tally reached to 2,445 on September 13 morning against total 132,084 COVID-19 cases while 127,449 patients recovered from the diseases so far. As of September 13, there were 1,907 patients were receiving treatment in home-isolations, six in government designed isolation centre and 277 at hospitals, including 146 stated in critical phase of diseases, in addition to 19 put on ventilators.

The breakdown of new infection during the last 24 hours, according to official data, remained: Karachi (120), Jamshoro (18), Shaheed Benazirabad (11), Thatta (7), Badin (6), Hyderabad (5), Tando Allahyar (4), Kambar Shahdadkot (3), Jacobabad (3), Ghotki (3), Shikarpur (2), Sanghar (2), Matiari (2), Larkana (2), Sukkur (2), Khairpur (2) and others.

President Arif Alvi meets investors, tycoons

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

President Dr Arif Alvi has said that investors have expressed full confidence in Prime Minister Imran Khan's initiated taken for revival of construction industry.

“The Ravi City and Bandle Island projects are big attractions for foreign investors,” the President informed the participants while chairing a high-level meeting which was largely attended by prominent personalities belong to business community. 

The meeting, held at the Governor's House in Karachi, was also attended by the Sindh Governer, Imran Ismail besides business tycoons Malik Riaz Hussain, Aqeel Karim Dhedi, Arif Habib and Mahmood Moulvi. 

Fawad Mukhtar, Gohar Ejaz, Shahid Abdullah, Mian Muhammad Ahsan, Tariq Rafi, Ahmad Tabba and Nadeem Feroz from the business arena were also present in the meeting.