Sindh government is soon going to announce a relief package for the public transporters, said Transport Minister Awais Qadir Shah on Thursday.
“We won’t leave them alone,” he said. “A good package will be announced for them soon.” He even clarified that public transporters can’t be allowed to operated until the federal government lifts the lockdown. The National Coordination Committee will make the decision on lifting the lockdown and after that, we will see how to bring life back to normal, Shah added.
“The government always make such promises but it rarely ever follows through,” said a representative of the Motorcycle and Rickshaw Association. They have once again said that there is a big package for transporters.
Another member of the association said that they are giving the government two days to meet their promise. “If nothing is done, then all rickshaw drivers and their families will stage a protest outside CM House on Sunday,” he remarked. “We want some concrete action.”
A man killed his friend over Rs10,000 in Attock on Thursday night, the police said.
The suspect, identified as Akbar, had lent Rs10,000 to his friend, Rizwan. Akbar, however, asked Rizwan to return the amount but he couldn’t pay him back. The suspect then called him to a deserted area and shot him. Rizwan died on the spot.
The suspect is still on the run while his accomplice has been arrested.
Here are some of the news stories we are expecting to follow today (Friday).
Sindh has decided to extend its lockdown until Eid. Some exemptions have been given but the public movement to remain restricted from 5pm to 8am. Sindh Information and Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah refuted reports that the coronavirus lockdown is being lifted in Sindh. He told the media on Thursday that the government’s priority is to save the lives of its people and for this, every measure will be adopted.
Sindh has implemented a strict restriction on movement from 12pm to 3pm on Fridays. All the people whose businesses have been given exemption won’t be allowed to operate during this time.
The government has slashed the prices of petroleum products for the month of May, with petrol going down by Rs15 per litre. The new price of petrol will be Rs81.58 per litre, according to a notification issued by the Finance Division.
At least140,000 tonnes of wheat, which was being carried in a truck from Ghotki to Karachi, has reportedly disappeared on the way. The wheat has been valued at Rs4 billion. The matter has been sent to the anti-corruption department for investigation.
ICYMI: Asad Qaisar, the national assembly speaker, has tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, he confirmed in a tweet. “I have placed myself in quarantine at home,” Qaisar said, requesting the people to adopt precautionary measures against the virus. You can read the story here.
Pakistan’s former Test captain Saleem Malik has said that many players would find themselves in hot water if the findings of the inquiry against retired fast-bowler Ata-ur-Rehman come out in the open.
“The same law should be in place for everyone,” Saleem said while speaking in Samaa TV program Awaz. “I was acquitted by the courts after fighting my case for eight years. I was previously exonerated in an inquiry by former Supreme Court of Pakistan judge GA Ibrahim before a high court judge gave the decision against me. I believe that I should be treated in the same way as other cricketers are.”
He added that the side was divided into groups led by former fast-bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis who wanted to lead the side. “Former PCB chief Arif Ali Khan Abbasi asked me if I wanted to take the reins. I took the job and went on to win every series during my tenure. From that moment on, rifts began to take place. I was left alone and conspiracies began to take place.”
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Khalid Mehmood said that harsh punishments would have been handed to the players who were named in the match-fixing inquiries if the claimants had stuck to their statements in the inquiry.
He went on to say that that the 1999 World Cup squad that reach the final was extremely good and even Imran Khan said that it was better than the one which won the tournament back in 1992. “The side was the best team in the tournament and they were playing extremely well. Losing matches to weak teams was surprising undoubtedly and I even mentioned that before. Losing the competition after beating India in ODIs was disappointing. Pakistan were on top of their game when they reached the final at Lord’s. They adopted the strategy of batting first at the venue but some thought that they should have bowled first since it had rained the day before. The bowling unit was so strong that they could have troubled Australia on a wet pitch.”
We will keep updating this story. Last update: 9:34am, Thursday, April 30, 2020.
Known case updates as of 9:34am, Thursday, April 30, 2020 Pakistan: 15,253
Islamabad: 297
Punjab: 5,827
Sindh: 5,659
Balochistan: 915
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 2,160
Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 65
Gilgit-Baltistan: 330
Deaths from the virus as of 9:34am, Thursday, April 30,2020 So far, 335 people have died of the virus in Pakistan.
Islamabad: 4
Punjab: 100
Sindh: 100
Balochistan: 14
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 114
Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 0
Gilgit-Baltistan: 3
What should I do if I suspect I or someone in my family has coronavirus? Don’t panic. There are government helplines you can call for help.
Sindh helplines: 021-99203443, 021-99204405.
Federal helpline: 1166
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa helpline: 1700
Balochistan: Two options given below
Call: 081-9241133-22
WhatsApp: 0334-9241133
Punjab: 0800 99 000
What are the symptoms of COVID-19? Cough, fever, difficulty breathing, tiredness, loss of smell (reported in some patients)
Which authorities should I contact? Your government helplines
What will they do? They will guide you about the next steps. You will be connected to a doctor who will take your medical and travel history. You will be told whether you need to be tested or not.
If you need to be tested health authorities will send an ambulance your way to take you to a hospital isolation ward. Your contacts will be traced and also tested.
What precautions should I take to protect myself from COVID-19?
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Carry an alcohol-based hand sanitiser with you. The alcohol content should be 60% or higher.
Wear a face mask in public places
Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes
Follow social distancing, keep a distance of at least one metre from other people
Avoid large public gatherings
Stay at home if you feel sick
Disinfect workplace surfaces, door knobs, counters
Cook food thoroughly
Where can I go to get tested? Punjab:
All Divisional Headquarters hospitals
Lahore: Mayo Hospital, Expo Centre, Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute, Shaukat Khanum and Chughtai Lab Sindh:
Karachi: AKUH Karachi, Dow OJHA, Indus Hospital, SIUT, Chughtai Lab
Hyderabad: LUMHS Hospital
Khairpur: GIMS KP:
Peshawar: Khyber Medical University, Hayatabad Medical Complex
Swat: Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals Balochistan:
Quetta: Fatima Jinnah Hospital
Taftan: Mobile testing unit Gilgit-Baltistan:
Skardu: CMCH
Gilgit: DHQ Islamabad: PIMS, NIH Azad Jammu and Kashmir:
Muzaffarabad: Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences
1. Zafar Mirza, State Minister of Health of Pakistan: @zfrmrza
2. National Institute of Health (NIH) Pakistan: @NIH_Pakistan
3. Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination: @nhsrcofficial
4.Health and Population Welfare Department, Sindh: @SindhHealthDpt
5. Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Minister of Health & Population Welfare Sindh: @AzraPechuho
6. Sindh Governor: @Governor_House
7. Taimur Khan Jhagra KP Finance and Health Minister: @Jhagra
8. World Health Organisation Country Office in Pakistan: @WHOPakistan
9. UNICEF Pakistan: @UNICEF_Pakistan
10. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation: @DrTedros
11. Dr Yasmin Rashid Punjab Minister For Primary & Secondary Healthcare: @Dr_YasminRashid
12. Punjab Healthcare Commission: @PHC_Punjab
13. Health Department Punjab: @HealthPunjabGov
14. Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan MMIDSP: @mmidsp
15. Pakistan Antimicrobial Resistance Network (PARN): @PARNetwork
16. Aga Khan University; @AKUGlobal
17. The Indus Hospital: @indus_hospital
Here are some of the stories we are expecting to follow today (Thursday):
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah will take Prime Minister Imran Khan into confidence over reopening shops and markets across the province. The reopened markets will have to follow SOPs.
Sindh Transport Minister Awais Qadir Shah will discuss SOPs with transporters for resuming public transport in the coming days. The meeting will be held at the Sindh Assembly building at 1:30pm.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority has proposed a price cut of Rs20.68 per litre for petrol in its summary.
Imam-e-Kaaba Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais has said Masjid Al Haram and Masjid Al Nabawi will be reopened for worshipers soon. He said the Kaaba is being sterilised using latest technologies.
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar will head various meetings during his visit to Bahawalpur.
As of Thursday, Pakistan has reported more than 15,500 confirmed coronavirus cases.
ICYMI: An amendment to the National Accountability Ordinance has taken away the powers of the bureau chairperson to issue arrest warrants for suspects in corruption cases and investigate them for 90 days. Click here to read the full story.
