Aqeel Ahmed

ISLAMABAD: Coronavirus claimed 17 more lives in Pakistan over the last 24 hours slightly increasing in the daily death count which had mostly remained in single-digit this week. According to data released by   National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Friday,   45,093 coronavirus tests were conducted across the country in the last 24 hours, out of which 659 people tested positive The positivity ratio remained below  2% at 1.46%. This is the 12th consecutive day on which Pakistan has reported a coronavirus positivity rate of less than 2%. In addition to this, 931 patients across the country have recovered from COVID-19 in a 24-hour period, bringing the total number of those who have recovered to 1,220,105. There have been 1,271,687 infections and 28,431 coronavirus-related deaths reported in the country since the pandemic began in 2020. This brings the active case count to 23,151. COVID-19 infections are decreasing in Pakistan, with 600 new infections reported on average each day.

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) Saturday asked the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to undertake a thorough investigation into the crowd disorder during a T20 World Cup match between Pakistan and Afghanistan at the Dubai International Stadium. In a statement, the ICC said that more than 16,000 tickets had been issued for clash between Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, thousands of ticketless fans traveled to the venue and then attempted to force entry into the stadium. Aplogising to the fans who were unable to enter the stadium despite having valid tickets, the ICC advised them to contact the ticket provider. “The ICC, BCCI and ECB apologise to any fans with valid tickets who were unable to enter the stadium tonight and request they contact the ticket provider,” read the statement. The ICC said that it will work closely with authorities to ensure there is no repeat of this situation in the future. Praising the law enforcers, the ICC said that the Dubai Police and security s

QUETTA: Balochistan Awami Party's (BAP) leader Abdul Quddus Bizenjo swore in as Balochistan chief minister during an oath-taking ceremony at the Governor House in Quetta on Friday. Bizenjo was elected to the office uncontested with the 39 votes in his favour during a session of the Balochistan Assembly earlier in the day. The oath was administered to the newly-elected chief minister by Balochistan Governor Zahoor Ahmed Agha, while Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Qasim Suri, Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, and members of the provincial and national assemblies also attended the ceremony. The former Balochistan chief minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani, who had been facing opposition from his own party, BAP, and others, stepped down from the post last week. Bizenjo, who was serving as the Balochistan Assembly speaker, also resigned from the post soon after and was nominated by the BAP leadership for the top slot. The BAP candidate had gained the support of PT

               The NSC unanimously resolved to guard the country’s sovereignty from all internal and external threats and not to allow TLP to challenge the writ of the state in any way      ISLAMABAD: The National Security Committee (NSC) meeting Friday expressed the resolve that the improper demands of proscribed TLP would not be accepted and the government would not release TLP chief Saad Rizvi nor it would expel the French envoy in any case.      The meeting decried the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) misuse of religion and the issue of ‘Namoos-e-Risalat’ [sanctity of Prophethood] for political gains, which it said was misleading the common man and creating internal discord within the society.      The committee unanimously resolved to guard country’s sovereignty from all internal and external threats and not to allow TLP to challenge the writ of the state in any way.      The participants noted that TLP’s violence had ended up furthering the agenda of sectarian elements and

     PARIS: Treating high-risk Covid-19 patients with the antidepressant fluvoxamine may reduce the risk of prolonged hospitalisation by up to a third, a large-scale study showed Thursday.      Authors said the research could help boost low-cost protection against severe sickness or death in countries that have yet to receive adequate vaccine doses during a grossly uneven rollout.      Fluvoxamine is traditionally used to treat mental health conditions such as depression and obsessive-compulsive disorders and was selected for trial due to its anti-inflammatory properties.      Many problems stemming from Covid are caused by swelling as the immune system over-reacts to the infection.      Writing in the journal The Lancet Public Health, researchers from North and South America, described results in nearly 1,500 Covid-19 outpatients in Brazil.Of the 741 people that received fluvoxamine, 79 -- just over 10 percent -- had an extended stay in hospital. [RELATED POSTS related_post1] Of the 7

     SRINAGAR: Police have launched an investigation after several hundred students in Indian Occupied Kashmir celebrated India's recent defeat to Pakistan in the cricket World Cup, officials said Wednesday.      Around 300 students in two top Srinagar medical colleges gathered in two hostels watching the match on Sunday and burst into celebrations when Pakistan crushed India in the high-octane contest in Dubai.      Videos of the students shouting "Long live Pakistan" went viral. Footage also showed thousands of people in the city and several other towns cheering on the streets and setting off firecrackers in support of Pakistan.      On Tuesday, police opened two investigations under the Unlawful Prevention Activities Act (UAPA) and raided one of the hostels, but no one was detained, a police officer told  AFP  on condition of anonymity.      "The videos are being closely scrutinised to identify cheerleaders who raised pro-Pakistan and anti-Indian slogans at the en

     ISLAMABAD:  Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday issued directives to stop the long march announced by the proscribed Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, saying that "violence will not be allowed to anyone for political gains".      Sources privy to the matter said that the decision to prohibit the proscribed organisation from marching was taken during the meeting of the Federal Cabinet. PM Imran Khan said at the meeting that the government will not allow anyone to take the law into their hands.      The meeting briefed the prime minister on the proscribed outfit's protest march, sources said, adding that the government has decided not to restrict the protestors from marching beyond Jhelum.      Earlier in the day, a clash between the police and TLP workers in Sadhoke left several police officers injured.      Sources further added that the government has been adamant to not allow the long march "under any circumstances," and that "no talks will be held with th

     ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz Wednesday said that using Electronic Voting Machines in the next general elections will deprive  3.2 million visually impaired people of the right to vote.      The minister brought the matter to the fore while responding to a question asked by MNA Noreen Farooq Ibrahim during the National Assembly session.      Faraz, in his written reply submitted to the NA, said that the EVMs lack the braille feature that enables the visually impaired people to cast a vote.      "New directives must be issued to the Election Commission of Pakistan if we need to add the feature to the EVMs’ system," he said.      He further stated in his reply that some of the polling stations will not even have ramps for people with disabilities.      There has been a heated debate between the government, the Opposition, and other stakeholders over the use of EVMs, with the Centre claiming it is a way forward to make the elections in

     ISLAMABAD: A clear and strong message has been sent to the Taliban government in Afghanistan that they should fulfil their commitments made with the international community.      The Afghan territory will not pose any threats to the neighbouring countries, besides it will not be used by criminal, terrorist and separatist groups. In this regard, Kabul should cut ties with all terrorist groups and eliminate them in a decisive manner.      The message was sent through a joint statement at the conclusion of the meeting of foreign ministers of Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries, including Russia, held in Tehran on Wednesday. The third round of the meeting will be held in China in 2022. Pakistan was represented by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tehran Rahim Hayat Qureshi and other senior officials. The foreign ministers of neighbuoring countries of Afghanistan, included Iran, China, P

     KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the secretary Heritage Department and the provincial law officer to submit a report with regard to shifting of the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) from the Hindu Gymkhana.      Hearing a petition about the construction of an auditorium and allotment of office to the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) at the Hindu Gymkhana, which is also a heritage site, the Supreme Court’s three-member bench, headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed, inquired from the secretary Heritage Department that why NAPA had not been shifted from the Hindu Gymkhana despite the court orders. The court observed that the secretary Culture and Heritage was directed to take a decision about shifting of NAPA but the court orders were not complied with after almost three years. The SC bench observed that a heritage site could not be handed over to any institution in this manner.      The secretary culture submitted that the former secretary had sent the mat

     RAWALPINDI: COAS Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has said only a well-trained army equipped with future battlefield technologies can safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.      The army chief visited the Southern Command Multan headquarters Wednesday. He was given a detailed briefing on operational, training and administrative matters of the formation. Later, the COAS visited Kot Abdul Hakim to witness integrated training of strike Corps troops busy in practicing drills and procedures involving crossing of major water obstacles as part of offensive manoeuvre. He also interacted with participants of the exercise.      Speaking on the occasion, the COAS said such exercises enhance confidence of troops and hone professional skills for enhancing their optimal combat potential. Pakistan Army is a well- trained and battle-hardened cohesive force ready to take on any challenge confronting defence and security of Pakistan, he added.      Despite the challenges, our focus re

     MEXICO CITY: Mexico on Monday began Covid-19 vaccinations for adolescents with chronic diseases in the capital, the latest step in an immunization drive in one of the countries hit hardest by the pandemic.      Authorities in Mexico City said they had begun using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to inoculate minors with comorbidities aged between 12 and 17 years old. Fifteen-year-old Paola Abigail Chocooj, who has diabetes, was among those participating, some in their school uniforms.      Her mother Ileana Silva said she had been "very nervous" since the pandemic started that her daughter would be infected, but was now feeling "a little bit calmer."      The northwestern state of Baja California, bordering the United States, also began Covid-19 vaccinations for minors with serious illnesses.      The Mexican government did not include minors in its national immunization plan, saying that exposing them at an early age to the vaccine could affect their immune systems

     WASHINGTON: A medical panel of US government advisors endorsed the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine in five-to-11-year-olds Tuesday, paving the way for younger children to get their shots within weeks.      The independent experts concluded the known benefits -- both directly to kids' health but also in ending school and other disruptions -- outweighed the known risks.      After a day of presentations and debate, the final vote was 17 in favour and one abstention.      The Food and Drug Administration, which convened the meeting, is expected to give its formal green light soon, making 28 million young Americans eligible for the shot by mid-November.      "It is pretty clear to me that the benefits do outweigh the risk when I hear about children who are being put in the ICU, who are having long term outcomes after their COVID, and children are dying," said Amanda Cohn of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who voted yes.      "It's never when you kno