What happened: The Sindh health department has proposed to the NCOC to block mobile SIMs of unvaccinated people in efforts to push people to get vaccinated. Details: The department has given a four phase plan to the NCOC for blocking the SIMs. Unvaccinated people will be first issued a warning in the first phase to […]
What happened: A provincial coronavirus task force meeting was held on Friday to discuss the response to the quickly rising COVID cases in Sindh. Decisions were taken to re-impose certain certain restrictions from July 26, Monday. The task force meeting was chaired by the Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. The restrictions: Indoor and outdoor […]
What happened: According to sources at the Ministry for National Health, Karachi has reported 25.1 percent positivity of COVID19. Details: Dr Iqbal Chaudhry, director of KU’s International Centre for Chemical & Biological Sciences, stated: “Our experts at the National Institute of Virology at the University of Karachi analysed 90 Covid samples on July 14 and 15, […]
What happened: Doctors and health experts request the government to impose a health emergency in Karachi over rising COVID cases due to which various hospitals have run out of beds to accommodate COVID patients. Details: The Indus Hospital in Karachi says their COVID ward is filled out with no more space. Dr Bari of the […]
What is Siyani Sahelian: It is a program under SOC Films that aims to empower the most marginalized adolescent girls in South Punjab through remedial learning, vocational training and life skills. Until now, the Siyani Sahelian programme has helped over 36,000 out-of-school adolescent girls in South Punjab through post-primary opportunities for learning gains, vocational education […]
What happened: The NCOC has announced that COVID vaccination centres will remain closed nationwide on the first day of Eid-ul-Adha, which will fall on Wednesday (21st July). Details: The COVID vaccination centres will open on the second day of Eid. The decision to close the centres for the first day of Eid was taken due […]
What happened: The Punjab health department confirmed on Saturday that 12 cases of the Indian Delta COVID variant have been detected through random testing via genome sequencing. Details: 28 samples were randomly picked from three hospitals in Lahore, the Services Hospital, Meo Hospital and Jinnah Hospital. Out of these samples, 12 cases were confirmed for […]
What happened: Asad Umar, the NCOC chief, has advised unvaccinated people to avoid going to the North “so that your entertainment does not become the cause of someone’s death”. He requested everyone to take special care and precaution during the Eid holidays. Details: Asad Umar further explained at the press briefing that un-vaccinated people are […]
What Happened: The Eiffel Tower is to reopen to visitors for the first time in nine months following its longest closure since World War II. Details: Daily capacity is set to be restricted to 13,000 people, however, about half of the normal level, in order to respect social distancing. From Wednesday next week, visitors will […]
What happened: The fourth COVID wave is getting stronger in Pakistan as positive cases rise by 28.5 per cent in a single day from 1,980 cases on Wednesday to more than 2,500 on Thursday. Details: The NCOC also states that now the positivity ratio stands at 5.2 per cent whereas a day ago it was […]
What happened: A total of 48,910 tests were conducted during the previous 24 hours, out of which results of 2,545 patients came back positive. The positivity rate of infections was recorded at 5.20 percent. Details: Pakistan recorded 2,545 new cases of Covid-19 over the last 24 hours, pushing the number of confirmed infections to 981,392. According […]
What happened: The Sindh government has decided to ban indoor dine-in, close primary schools and amusement sites in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases in the province . Details: The decision was taken in a meeting of the Provincial Task Force on Coronavirus presided over by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. The ban on […]
What happened: According to health officials Covid-19 positivity rate jumped to 7.1pc coronavirus in Islamabad as 113 positive cases reported were reported today in the federal capital. Delta variant was traced among these cases. Details: Additional Deputy Commissioner (East) Babar Sahib Din informed that the Delta variant was traced among positive cases, however, the total […]
What happened: On Friday, the Food and Drug Authority of Saudi Arabia approved the use of Moderna vaccine in the Kingdom, making it the fourth vaccine approved there. Soon the import of the two-dose vaccine will start. Details: Earlier, only Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccines were approved within the Kingdom. Moderna’s vaccine […]
What happened: On Friday, NCOC and Sindh government prohibited air travel and several other facilities for unvaccinated people from 1st August onwards. People would need to show vaccination certificates to avail facilities such as travel on public transport and get treatment or major surgeries at hospitals. Details: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) and […]
Who is Usman Khan: Usman Khan, a 28 year old, used to be a toy vendor on the streets of Peshawar. Now he is the Charlie Chaplin cheering up Peshawaris. Usman comes from a struggling impoverished family and his role playing Chaplin helps him set aside his own troubles for a while too. Why he […]
What happened: On Thursday, Olympic organizers notified that spectators will not be allowed to attend most Olympic events. The decision was taken after Tokyo’s declaration of a state of emergency in response to a sudden spike in coronavirus cases. Details: The Japanese government put the capital, Tokyo, under a COVID-19 state of emergency because of […]
What happened: Asad Umar, the Federal Minister for Planning and Development and Head of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), announced on twitter that there are clear signs of the fourth wave starting in the country. He highlighted SOP negligence, the Delta variant, and indoor gatherings without following the vaccine condition. Click here to […]
What Happened: Under the New Variant Assessment Platform (NVAP) programme, UK will assist Pakistan with its expertise to detect new and potentially more dangerous variants of Covid-19, a British High Commission press release said. Details: The British government has announced a new package of genomic sequencing support to help Pakistan fight new variants of Covid-19. […]
What happened: TikTok has launched an option to upload video resumes for its users for US-based jobs raging from entry level positions to more experienced positions. The “TikTok Resumes” option will be open between July 7 till July 31. Details: The launch by TikTok comes as a response to labour shortage in the US as […]
What Happened: Prime Minister Imran Khan commended the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the team of the Ehsaas Programme, and the State Bank of Pakistan after Pakistan was ranked among the best performing countries for handling the pandemic. Details: The Economist’s normalcy index tracked the progress of 50 countries’ return to pre-pandemic life on the basis […]
What Happened: Only 3.5% of the population in the country has been inoculated so far, while NCOC recently confirmed the presence of the deadlier Covid19 Delta variant in Pakistan. Details: According to NCOC report, so far, only 3.5% of the 100 million people eligible for the anti-coronavirus vaccine have been fully vaccinated. According to data […]
What happened: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has confirmed that different COVID-19 variants including Delta (Indian), Beta (South African), and Alpha (UK) have been detected in Pakistan. Such variants have been present in the country since May as per their study. Details: The NCOC is monitoring these variants in Pakistan through whole-genome sequencing […]
What happened: Out of 50 countries Pakistan has ranked 3rd in The Economist’s Global Normalcy Index. This index shows which countries are returning to the pre-pandemic levels of normal life. Pakistan’s normalcy score out of 100 is at 84.4 making it third after Hong Kong (first) and New Zealand (second). Details: The index uses eight […]
What happened: A 54-year old woman was arrested in Japan for protesting against the Tokyo Games by using a water-gun to spray down the Olympic Torch. She was protesting against holding the games amidst a global pandemic. Details: Her video has gone viral on social media, she is seen trying to blow out the torch […]
What Happened: 70-year-old woman Mathurabai Bidve, from Maharashtra India, claims that she regained her sight after taking the COVID-19 vaccine. Details: Some side effects like fever or body pain are pretty normal after getting a COVID19 jab. However, one 70-year-old lady has claimed to have experienced something miraculous after getting the vaccine jab. According to […]
What happened: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KPK), provincial health department has announced that Pakistani expatriate workers who are stuck in Pakistan and unable to travel abroad to their duty stations can now be given Moderna COVID-19 vaccine starting Monday. Many have been unable to get back to their country of work because of shortage of acceptable vaccines […]
What happened: Asad Umar, The Federal Minister for Planning, has announced that Pakistanis who have to travel abroad especially for work or studies will now be able to get the two-dose Moderna Vaccine. Some countries have not yet accepted the Chinese vaccines, and Moderna is now the third non-Chinese vaccine available in Pakistan. Details: 2.5 […]
What Happened: Three staffers of Lahore’s Expo Centre vaccination facility were reported of charging people for administering AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Details: A case was registered at the Nawab Town police station over the complaint of a shift in-charge of the mass vaccination centre at Lahore’s Expo Centre. The case was lodged against three vaccinators for […]
What happened: Pakistan’s daily coronavirus caseload over the 1,000 cases for the first time in a week. Details: Data issued by the National Command and Operation Centre Thursday morning shows that 46,145 tests were conducted on June 30, out of which, 1,037 people tested positive. The daily case count had been under 1,000 since a […]
What happened: Using different brands of vaccines for first and second doses appears to give better efficacy against the Covid virus, a study by Oxford University revealed. Details: A study by Oxford University has revealed the potential benefits of pairing doses from two different COVID-19 vaccines: Pfizer and AstraZeneca. Researchers tested the efficacy of the […]
What happened: 81 ancient isolation chambers that are carved in caves have been discovered in Oman. They are said to be used to isolate patients of plague and smallpox in the olden days. “The aim of these quarries was to reduce the spread of disease among the population,” said the Omani Ministry of Heritage and […]
What happened: Punjab government announces re-opening of cinemas, indoor dine-in, parks, and pools from July 1st. As per the NOCC guidelines, only vaccinated people can avail the facilities. Details: Cinema houses, indoor dine-in and several other facilities across the country were ordered to close down in March last year. However, an ease in restrictions has […]
What happened: FDE notified that summer vacations for students this year have been reduced to two weeks starting from July 18 to Aug 1. Details: “Summer vacation will be observed in all educational institutions working under the ambit of Federal Directorate of Education w.e.f 18-07-2021 to 01-08-2021,” the notification read by FDE stated. Federal Directorate […]
What happened: According to reports by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan reported the lowest coronavirus cases in a single day since October 25. The positivity rate stands at 1.78%. Backstory: Pakistan continued to report fewer cases of coronavirus today with 735 people contracting the infection. These are the lowest coronavirus cases in […]
What happened White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced on Monday that the Biden administration is sending 1.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine to Pakistan. It will also be sending two million doses of the Pfizer Covid vaccine to Peru. Theses doses are part of the 75 per cent of unused Covid-19 vaccines which […]
What happened: The United Arab Emirates has extended the ban on flights from Pakistan and 13 other countries till July 21. Backstory: According to report by the Gulf News, Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to prolong the ban on flights from Pakistan and thirteen other countries till July 21. Other countries include India, Nigeria, South Africa, […]
What happened: The social welfare programme by the government, Ehsaas Kafalat, announced on Monday that it will now include all transgender persons with valid CNIC in the country under its scheme. Details: The programme will provide a stipend of Rs 2,000 to each beneficiary along with a savings bank account. As transgender people live as […]
What happened: National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has released a document stating that from July 1 inbound flights from United Kingdom (UK), Europe, Canada, China and Malaysia will be increased from 20pc to 40pc. Details: COVID-19 situation in most of the world seems to be improving, and as masses continue to get vaccinated air […]
What happened: The f-9 vaccination center in Islamabad has reopened following vandalisation. The staff at the center had announced to go on strike after the center was vandalised. “We have sought more doses of Astra Zeneca as F-9 mass vaccination center is currently being overcrowded owing to the arrival of people from other districts also”, […]
What happened: At least four picnickers drowned on Sunday as hundreds of Karachiites streamed to the beach to beat the intense heatwave. Backstory: Amidst the excruciating weather and the upcoming fourth wave, people in big crowds are flocking towards the beach and recreational places after the government eased COVID-19 restrictions earlier this month. Although the […]
What happened: The provincial capital’s deputy commissioner has said that vaccination centers across Lahore will remain closed on 27 June 2020 (Sunday). Citizens are advised not to visit any center tomorrow. Click here to see more from Propergaanda.
What happened: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has given a statement saying Pakistan needs to stop force evicting it’s citizens living along two of Karachi’s narrow watercourses, locally known as nullahs – Gujjar nullah and Orangi nullah through the anti-encroachment drive by city authorities. Details: The statement by the […]
What Happened: The Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) declares it mandatory to show Covid-19 vaccination certificate for all BRT travel. Backstory: In a statement, the Peshawar BRT spokesman said that the people using the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) will have to show their Covid-19 vaccination certificate from August 1, 2021. He urged the citizens […]
What happened: A rise in positivity ratio can be seen two weeks after the lockdown was eased in Karachi. The spokesperson of the Sindh Health Department on Friday stated that Karachi has recorded 404 new cases bringing the corona positivity ratio to 11.46%. Background: The spokesperson further added that Hyderabad recorded 15 new cases bringing […]
What happened: Asad Umar, Federal Minister for Planning, warns of an emerging fourth COVID-19 wave in Pakistan in July. He urges the nation to follow SOPs to stay safe during the pandemic. Backstory: According to data analyzed by National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), another wave of the pandemic can hit Pakistan if safety protocols […]
What Happened: Pakistan will soon be able to produce its own coronavirus vaccine, said Dr Tahir Yaqub, a professor at the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS). Backstory: The UVAS had launched the initiative to formulate Pakistan’s own coronavirus vaccine, as per a report by The Nation. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar agreed to allocate a […]
What happened: The MDCAT 2021 is expected to be held from August to September this year. New regulations have been passed regarding the exam which have worried prospective candidates. Details: Students can appear in the MDCAT exam before the announcement of their intermediate results due to COVID-19 delays and this means over 500,000 students will […]
What happened: There are now more than 40 cases of new COVID-19 Delta Plus variant in India. Indian authorities warn that this a “variant of concern”. It is also known as the AY.1 variant. Details: According to India’s Health Ministry, this variant spreads more easily and affects lungs. The Delta variant was responsible for the […]
What happened: A special PIA plane carrying two million doses of Sinovac vaccine from China landed in Islamabad on Wednesday. “This is part of the planned contracted quantity purchased from China. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is spearheading the purchase process of vaccines from the international market under the auspices of the NCOC. These […]
What happened: Grand Medicos Alliance (GDA) and Young Doctors Association have said at a press conference that doctors will launch a protest against the National Licensing Examination if the government does not cancel the exam. “We have already suffered badly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In case of fresh protest movement, the doctors and patients […]
Violations highlighted by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan report: Cases of forced conversions of religious minorities, accusations of blasphemy, crimes against women and children and enforced disappearances were registered, highlighting the plight of minority and vulnerable segments of society. What the report says about government’s COVID-19 response: The initial response by the Pakistani government […]
What happened: Resulting an agreement signed with Pfizer, Pakistan will receive 13 million doses of the American vaccine. Backstory: The agreement was signed by Pfizer Pakistan and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to supply 13 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (BNT162b2). Doses will arrive in segments over the course of 2021. Sean Marett, […]
What happened: “The unavailability of the vaccine is another proof of the government’s criminal negligence and incompetence,” the PML-N president, Shehbaz Sharif, said in a statement after Pakistan received another shipment of over 1.5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine from China. Backstory: Mr Sharif purported that the “opportunists in this corrupt government” who had already […]
Background: Earlier in May, Pakistani health authorities had restricted the use of AstraZeneca for people under the age of 40. Protests erupted across the country urging the government to administer AstraZeneca or Pfizer as Saudi Arabian travel guidelines did not approve of Chinese vaccines. What happened: Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr. […]
What Happened: The police on Monday arrested a man for selling fake Covid-19 certificates in Karachi. He was arrested after a complaint of those in charge of administrating the Covid-19 vaccine at the Expo centre. According to Aziz Bhatti SHO Pervez Solangi the culprit was a barber that was employed in the IT section of […]
What happened: Leaders of the G7 summit had their first in-person talks in nearly two years on Friday. Hosted by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Carbis Bay. Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States all agreed that a joint approach would be the most effective in countering the global health crisis. They […]
What happened: Multiple McDonald’s outlets were forced to close in Jakarta, Indonesia after an influx of orders for the special ‘BTS MEAL’. The first day the limited meal named after the uber-popular K-Pop boy band was released several orders were made in a frenzy. Most of them were online keeping with Covid-19 restrictions. This resulted […]
What happened: The National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) Chief Asad Umar said on Friday that the Federal government will be setting up large vaccination centres in the Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir regions. According to Umar, this is an imperative step to speed up the vaccination process with the upcoming elections and tourism season. […]
What happened: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has offered to give vaccinated travellers over the age of 50 a 10% concession in airfare. The discounted fares will come into effect from 10th June and can only be availed on domestic flights. Bigger Picture: This is part of the government’s campaign to administer the Covid-19 vaccine quickly […]
What happened: This decision is part of the other precautionary measures that the provincial government has taken to curb the spread of Covid-19. This step was discussed in a high-level meeting chaired by Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid. It came after the drastic measure taken by the Sindh government to cut the salaries of government […]
What happened: A ceremony was held on Wednesday to mark the deliverance of the 10 millionth dose of the covid vaccine in Pakistan. The federal planning minister Asad Umar announced that authorities have aimed to vaccinate 70 million people across the country by the end of this year. More on the administration of the vaccine: […]
Pakistan will start registering people aged 19 and above for coronavirus vaccination from tomorrow (Thursday), as announced by National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) chief Asad Umar via Twitter, following an NCOC meeting. The Response: People used the announcement of the news to communicate vaccine-related concerns and complications to Umer via Twitter.
Pakistan has locally completed the development of a coronavirus vaccine with the assistance of Chinese experts after raw materials for the vaccine were transported to Islamabad last month. What Happened: The announcement was made by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr. Faisal Sultan via to Twitter as he congratulated the […]
As cases of coronavirus rise in Swat, Swatis grow increasingly reluctant to get vaccinated.
Vaccines open for citizens aged 30 and above from tomorrow in Pakistan.
Indian states declare a “black fungus” epidemic as cases surge in Covid-recovered patients.
Indian Riverbanks are strewn with decaying bodies that indicate India’s death toll during the deadly second wave may be higher than recorded.
Sikh temples, also known as gurdwaras, usually serve free food to the public for goodwill. With the Coronavirus crisis quickly exacerbating, however, these temples are now offering free oxygen to passing vehicles via hundreds of frontline volunteers. Following the fatal Covid-19 wave in India, Oxygen supply has deteriorated significantly, while hospitals suffer from an outburst […]
Prime Minister Imran Khan, during a live question/ answer session with the masses on Monday evening stated that Pakistan will not take a step in strengthening ties with India unless New Delhi ends its August 5 decision on the Illegal occupancy of Jammu and Kashmir. Khan went on to criticize the western media while answering […]
Arrival of shipment: Pakistan has received its first shipment of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX facility on Saturday morning, according to the NCOC. The consignment contains 1,238,400 doses of the Oxford vaccine, and will be followed by around 1,236,000 more doses in the coming days. The arrival of these vaccines was lauded as it […]
Drug Controller General India: The DCGI has approved emergency use of anti covid drug labelled ‘2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG)’ as an adjunct therapy for use in moderate to severe cases. “Being a generic molecule and analogue of glucose, it can be easily produced and made available in plenty,” said the DCGI in a statement. The drug has […]
First Batch: Minister for Planning & Development Asad Umar has revealed that the first batch of the CanSino vaccine for local processing has arrived at NIH Islamabad. This will be the first that packaging, filling, and processing of any COVID-19 vaccine is being done in Pakistan. This process is intended to produce around 3 million […]
Current Lockdown ruling: Punjab is expected to go into a complete lockdown from tomorrow (May 8) until May 16 in order to curb the spread of COVID-19 during the Eid holidays. The NCOC has said that police, rangers and armed forces personnel will be deployed to major parts of the city to restrict movement as […]
New records: India saw its highest single-day death toll due to COVID-19 yesterday, as 3,971 people succumbed to the virus nationwide. It also saw cases rise up to 412,095, which is the highest single day spike yet. The government forecast model had predicted this peak in the second week on Wednesday, and their calculations were […]
What Happened: U.S President Joe Biden has shown his support in waiving intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines, after being pressured by over a 60 countries and Democrat officials. India and South Africa: India and South Africa led around 60 countries that were demanding the removal or ‘waiver’ of vaccine patents for the last six […]
Federal Minister: The Minister for Planning and Development, Asad Umar shared a tweet early morning stating that the nation wide vaccinations for yesterday crossed the 200,000 mark. He also said that the rate of registration for the vaccination had also seen an uptick. He shared that the total number of registrations for the vaccine in […]
What happened: The Indian delegation at the G7 conference in the UK is self isolating, after it was revealed that two members of the delegation had tested positive. The meeting was titled as ‘COVID secure talks’ before the full G7 summit takes place in the UK next month. India at G7: Even though India is […]
UN: A tweet by the UN Special Rapporteur on rights to housing stated that they were shocked to see the number of evictions because of the pandemic around the world. They said this could be seen everywhere from Brazil to Pakistan to the Bahamas in a vague comparison, and how this must be stopped. They […]
COVID-19 in Pakistan: There has been a resurgence of the third wave of COVID-19 throughout the country over the past month. Numbers of deaths and infections have constantly increased and new variants have been spotted. This has led to a number of partial lockdowns in the country. Franchises request: A formal letter has been written […]
The Broadcast: Federal Minister for Information and Technology spoke to the media today evening and embarked on the conditions and the following of SOPs around the country. He stated that 68% of the country was now following SOPs instead of the previous rate of 34%. He thanked the media for their role in spreading awareness […]
Rising COVID cases: Yesterday, it was reported that two teams returned confirmed COVID-19 positive cases among players and staff. Two players and three staff members from two teams returned COVID-19 positive cases forcing yesterday’s match to be postponed. Chennai Super Kings went into a week-long quarantine to contain the situation. Today, two players from the […]
Dr Faisal: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Dr. Faisal Sultan has stated that the government’s efforts to procure vaccines are in full swing, and currently the capacity is around 30 million doses. Donations vs Procurement: Dr. Faisal has stated that 19 million vaccine doses will arrive in the country by June, and the government […]
COVID in India: As the daily tally of nation-wide cases crosses 400,000, India struggles to keep up with the relief efforts. Currently over 15+ countries have joined in efforts to provide India with oxygen supplies, medicine, kits, and oxygen generation plans to pull them out of the second wave. Numbers of people have are dying […]
NCOC circular: The NCOC has released a circular in the morning outlining major changes to Pakistan’s travel rules and restrictions. It has been formed keeping in mind global disease trends and local positivity rates. The most focal point of this circular is that inbound international flights will be reduced to 20% from May 5 to […]
The Australian Ban: The Australian ministry has said that Australian citizens travelling home from India could face fines and up to five years in jail. The Health Ministry has said that they made the ruling in respect to the fact of how many Indians were in quarantine right now. It is estimated that there are […]
Proactive Measures: The Pakistani government has decided to import 6000 tons of oxygen, 5000 cylinders, and 20 cryogenic tanks in order to prepare capacity to deal with the peak of the third wave of COVID-19 in the country. This was announced after the NCOC meeting on Friday as a proactive measure to avoid future catastrophe. […]
Sindh Health Department: The Sindh Health department has just posted a video message on their Twitter announcing that the South African and Brazilian COVID-19 strains have been found in samples taken at the Agha Khan University Hospital. The Video Message: The Sindh Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Dr. Azra Pechuho stated that out of […]
The issue of SAGs: After the most recent announcement from Education Minister, Shafqat Mahmood, students in the O/A level system have entered a conundrum of a very difficult decision. The cancellation of this CIE session will give students only the choice of giving these exams in October which will give them only 6 months to […]
NA 249: The NA 249 seat fell vacant after PTI minister Faisal Vawda resigned from his seat due to his seat in the Senate. Vawda resigned from his seat as he was a dual nationality holder at the time of his nomination papers being filled. In light of his resignition the election commission announced by-polls […]
What Happened: An Indian man in the Uttar Pradesh state is being prosecuted for trying to arrange oxygen for his grandfather dying, through Twitter. State officers have charged Shashank Yadav with spreading a ‘rumor’ over oxygen shortages ‘with intent to cause fear or alarm’. Mr. Yadav did not mention COVID-19 in his tweet, however he […]
Background: The Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Health was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, and has been fighting the illness since then. She had undergone successful surgery for the disease at Shaukat Khanum Lahore in December 2020. She has been going through phases of chemotherapy since then. Efforts: The Punjab Health Minister has […]
In Testing: The multinational pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced human safety testing of a new pill to treat corona-virus at home last month. If these trials are successful, the at home drug could be prescribed at the early signs of COVID-19, blocking the SARS-COV2 from replicating and preventing life threatening symptoms in patients. Phase 1 trials […]
Coronavirus: Imran Khan highlighted the importance of vaccine availability and how important it is that vaccines be equitable, timely available, in appropriate supply, and delivered quickly to low income countries. PM Khan emphasised on the fact that higher income countries should help out the lower income countries on vaccine development and procurement. This comes after […]
The debate: A lot of debate has been surrounding the resumption of the lucrative Indian Premier League despite the harrowing situation of the coronavirus ‘storm’, as described by PM Modi, in India. The sports league has been criticized for continuing despite the daily infection count crossing 350,000 and over 3000+ deaths daily. Supporters of the […]
NCOC meeting: Shafqat Mahmood’s meeting yesterday was aimed at solving the issue of exams in a pandemic for students, however it seems that matters have been made worse. The Education Minister announced cancelation of exams till June 15, which means that CAIE students can now only appear for O/A levels exams in the October/November cycle, […]
New Brand: Earlier this year, celebrity cleric Maulana Tariq Jamil expressed his intention of launching a fashion brand. Many mockups and images of the logo of the brand popped up around February. After this, the Maulana clarified that he had been praying to God to help him in a venture through which he can fund […]
NCOC Announcement: The Education Minister, Shafqat Mahmood has made a monumental announcement. All exams have been suspended till June 15, 2021. These include all board exams for classes 9-12, and also O/A levels exams. He said that O/A levels will now happen in the OCT/NOV cycle and special arrangements will be made for A2 students […]
FIR booked: A first information report(FIR) has been launched against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra for violating various COVID-19 SOPs after hosting an iftar party at a restaurant. The FIR has also been booked against the restaurant owner by the district administration for hosting an event where plenty of guests were present. […]
Twitter uproar: As soon as the decision to go ahead with exams has gone ahead, everyone has shared their two thoughts on how dangerous the decision is. The CIEs commenced yesterday for A levels students amid high tensions. Soon after the morning session papers, social media flooded with images & videos of the violations in […]
What happened: Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan visited a COVID-19 vaccination center in her hometown of Sialkot to review the efficiency and arrangements. She also gave instructions to staff members. Dr. Firdous also vaccinated several senior citizens on this occasion and boosted morale of the staff. Speaking to the media, she promised the announcement of vaccination […]
The Storm: India once again set a new global record of most COVID-19 cases in a day, when they recorded 354,531 cases nationwide on the 25th of April. This was the fourth straight day of record peaks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all citizens to get vaccinated and practice extreme caution, as the ‘storm’ of […]
CIEs begin: A levels exams commenced today after a week of protests by students and a court plea, which was dismissed on Friday. The Sindh High Court dismissed the case to cancel exams and it was decided that CIEs would go as scheduled with strict imposition of SOPs. A levels exams have started today, while […]
The announcement: PTI MPA and Health Minister of Punjab, Murad Raas posted an announcement citing the opening of schools in the Sialkot district. He mentioned how Sialkot now had a low infection rate of 3% and mentioned that Sialkot shall follow the schedule of districts without any restrictions. He also urged residents to follow ‘SOPs’. […]
The Issue: As the world enters the second year of the pandemic, vaccine production is in full swing. Many countries have entered the race of vaccine production, and with kind of mass production, patents follow. A disparity has been seen among first world countries with high percentages of vaccinated population and third world countries that […]
What happened: The Indian government has decided to take necessary action to battle the oxygen shortage in the country, and has arranged to airlift 23 oxygen generation plants from Germany. The Indian Defense Ministry has decided to take this step after India experienced a few days of patients dying from oxygen shortage. Capability of plants: […]
The Gesture: Faisal Edhi, head of Pakistan’s largest charitable foundation, the Edhi foundation has penned a letter to Indian PM Narendra Modi offering a fleet of 50 ambulances to help with India’s lethal second wave of COVID-19. Current Situation in India: India has seen a fourth consecutive day of 300,000+ cases, and the death toll […]
The incident: The devastating news came out of the Kashmore district, where Dr. Qadir Nawaz Jakhrani reportedly committed suicide due to non-payment of salary since 6 months. Dr. Qadir Nawaz Jakhrani was married with three children and the sole breadwinner of his family. Background: The young doctor had been posted to Kashmore Headquarters Hospital under […]
The Verdict: The much anticipated decision was finally announced at 4:30 pm in the Sindh High Court, after the Islamabad High Court had already dismissed the students’ pleas. The SHC presented reasons for their judgement stating ‘The holding of in-person exams does not infringe or intrude any fundamental rights of the petitioners’. The SHC further […]
Her statement: Maryam Nawaz, Vice President of the PML-N recently announced her support in the student’s struggle for cancellation of CIEs. She criticized the government through a tweet saying they are unnecessarily putting students in harm’s way, whereas all other countries in the region have cancelled Cambridge exams. She expressed hope that sense prevails and […]
What’s happening: As India battles the brutal third wave of COVID-19, reactions have started pouring out globally on how horrible the situation is and what other countries can do to help. A harrowing video report on the on ground situation by the BBC went viral on Twitter yesterday that showed how close the Indian healthcare […]
Decision Day: Sindh High Court hosted oral arguments today, as the decision to take face-face CIE exams was argued after plenty of online and physical protest efforts by students across the country. The students argued that all countries across Saudi Arabia to India have cancelled face to face CIE exams in respect to the dangerous […]
The Situation: A record of 315,802 COVID-19 cases have been recorded in India in the past 24 hours, the highest daily global total. Fatalities were reported to be around 2,104 across the country. The lethal second wave owing to the new Indian variant has been termed as a “super spreader”. According to research, this new […]
What Happened: On Wednesday, the University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore announced that they have decided to postpone the postgraduate entry test which was due to be held this week. They added that the primary reason for this was due to internet disruptions across major cities due to the Tehreek-i-Laibbaik (TLP) riots as well as […]
The Announcement: Speaking to the media after attending a meeting with the NCOC (National Command and Operations Centre), the Minister for Planning and Development expressed concerns over the trajectory of the dangerous third wave of the novel coronavirus. Warning from the Minister: Asad Umar shed light on how the current death and positivity rate is […]
What Happened: For the first time since the initial COVID-19 outbreak in march, 2020, some degree of normalcy has returned to international travel. On Monday. Australia and New Zealand finally launched their awaited trans-Tasman travel bubble, which allows passengers to travel between the two states without quarantining. 1800 Australians crossed into New Zealand on the […]
India’s Variant: A new strain of COVID-19 has emerged in India, which is highly infectious. Delhi has been locked down for 6 days as infections pass the 15 million mark. This variant is also called the ‘double mutant variant’ and is highly infectious. This is the second wave of COVID in India and has been […]
Federal Minister for Housing Tariq Bashir Cheema of the Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid came under fire on Tuesday after video clips surfaced on social media allegedly showing several of his family members getting vaccinated for the coronavirus. The video clips, that were originally shared on the Instagram account of one of Cheema’s relatives, showed […]
Lahore: In light of the recent surge of Covid-19 cases, the provincial government of Punjab has decided to delve into a semi-lockdown, placing an immediate and complete restriction on weddings, parks and restaurants and reducing daily working hours, effective immediately. The bans were placed in an attempt to halt the spread of the virus. ‘All […]
Prime Minister Imran Khan took the coronavirus vaccine on Thursday. During the occasion, Imran Khan appealed to the nation to ensure full implementation of SOPs in view of the third wave of Corona while a nationwide corona vaccination campaign is underway during the third Covid-19 wave. Premier Khan, 68, himself falls under the senior citizens […]
The district Central administration on Wednesday imposed discrete ‘micro’ smart lockdowns in nine areas to curb the spread of third Covid-19 wave. Areas under smart lockdown: Areas placed under smart lockdown include, Sector 5-F and Sector 5-L in North Karachi, Blocks C, D, K of North Nazimabad and Blocks 12, 14 and 15 in Gulberg. Deputy […]
The first batch of privately-imported Russian COVID-19 vaccine, (Sputnik V) comprising of 50,000 doses, arrived at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on Wednesday night. Health department officials said the vaccine will be given to major hospitals and medical institutions. “I congratulate AGP Limited for receiving the first batch of Sputnik V vaccine comprising 50,000 doses. From now […]
During the third ongoing wave of Covid-19, Pakistan’s positivity rate has spiked up to 7.8% on Thursday, according to the daily stats released by National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC). Past 24 hours: 44,377 tests were done, out of which 3,495 new coronavirus cases were reported which takes the number of active coronavirus patients in the […]
According to an official statement issued following the NCOC meeting on Monday, people were requested to ensure vaccination of senior citizens as most mortality cases were being reported in the old age group. It was decided to allow people aged 70 years and above, who have registered themselves on the helpline 1166, to walk into any […]
The capital’s administration has made it mandatory for residents to wear face masks at all times in public spaces due to rising number of coronavirus cases. What happened: The decision was taken after coronavirus cases in the city rose dramatically. Islamabad has reported 47,365 so far. Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Hamza Shafqat has imposed Section 144 of the Code […]
What happened? On Thursday, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood via a Tweet announced that all schools will conduct regular five-day classes from March 1, Monday. The students’ reaction Following the announcement, several students responded with what they do best, memes. Earlier Previously, the National Command Operation Centre (NCOC) announced to relax some of the coronavirus […]
What happened Cinemas are shut down in many parts of the world due to coronavirus lockdown restrictions however, Chinese consumers are watching movies so much these days that box-office revenues are breaking records. Chinese consumers returned to cinemas as the country contained the spread of COVID-19 in most regions last year. What you should know […]
Cansino Biologics Inc On Friday, Chinese company Cansino Biologics Inc’s vaccine was approved by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), making it the fourth Covid-19 vaccine to be approved for emergency use by Pakistan. Cansino Bio is the only vaccine for which Pakistan conducted a clinical trial, with around 18,000 volunteers participating from across […]
Monday: Head of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) Asad Umar announced that the government has opened up registrations for citizens over the age of 65 to obtain the coronavirus vaccine. “Pleased to announce that registration for getting COVID vaccine is now open for all citizens 65 and above,” said the minister who is […]
An Iranian cleric, Ayatollah Abbas Tabrizian famous for his dissent towards western medicine, posted that interacting with people who receive the Covid-19 vaccine will turn one homosexual. Posting on social media platform Telegram on Tuesday, he wrote “Don’t go near those who have had the COVID vaccine. They have become homosexuals.” As per Iranian law, […]
What Happened Joseph Flavill, a 19-year old British teenager woke-up from a coma after almost a year with no knowledge of the coronavirus pandemic. Flavill suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was hit by a car in English town Burton-on-Trent on March 1st, 2020, three weeks before the first lockdown and remained in hospital […]
Monday: The Sindh government announced that the first phase of the coronavirus vaccination drive in the province will begin from February 3. Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho said that in the first phase frontline workers, from private and public medical facilities, would be vaccinated. Sinopharm’s coronavirus vaccine is 90% effective against the virus, Dr. Pechuho […]
What’s Happening University students continue to protest against the decision to conduct ‘on-campus’ exams and demand online exams. “When we were taught online, our papers should also be conducted online,” urge the students. Repercussions Student unions have reported the disappearance of four students of University of Central Punjab(UCP), Lahore after a clash with law enforcement […]
Faizan Ahmad is a visual storyteller who published his first book, Lahore by Metro on a crowdfunding site, Kickstarter this month. “Lahore by Metro is a book that captures the emotion and stories of a common Pakistani, in powerful portraits and moving stories,” said Ahmad in a tweet. ‘Back in 2013, I moved to Lahore, […]
There is much concern of what will happen once the coronavirus vaccine lands in Pakistan; first and foremost, with an initial 1.1 million doses being procured for a population of 220 million, who will be vaccinated – will the doses actually reach frontline healthcare workers or can we expect the corrupt to get their hands […]
What happened: Students are protesting on social media against their educational institution, stating they have to resort to cramming the exam syllabus and allegedly sit for exams on campus that may violate coronavirus SOP’s. Earlier developments: Last week, renowned educational institution Beaconhouse School System informed students of their exam dates only 9 days prior to […]
What the Ministry of National Health Services is saying: Dr Nausheen Hamid, Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of NHS, has stated Pakistan will receive the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of January. Currently, it is not known which vaccine Pakistan will receive. Earlier developments: A week prior to this statement, Fawad Chaudhry tweeted, […]
What happened: Asad Umar, the head of the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) and the minister for planning and development, confirmed that he tested positive for the coronavirus, on Friday. “Just got my covid test result and it is positive,” stated the chief of Pakistan’s coronavirus monitoring body. He added that he, “Will be […]
What happened: Health officials have stated that, to date, 13,000 people have volunteered for Covid-19 vaccine trials in Pakistan. Trials of a chinese vaccine made by CanSino Biologics started on the 22nd of September, and since then the vaccine has been given to 13,000 Pakistanis. Dr Ejaz Khan, chairman of infection control at Shifa Hospital […]
What happened: The Institute for Public Opinion Research (IPOR) conducted a survey which found that 35% of the 1,500 Pakistanis surveyed preferred China’s coronavirus vaccine. While 14% of those surveyed backed a Pakistani vaccine and 9% said the U.S vaccine would be better. A government approved vaccine got the green-stamp of 15% of the respondents, and […]
What happened: According to data issued by the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday, the novel coronavirus took the live of 105 people in the last 24 hours, surpassing the grim milestone of 9,000 deaths. As per the statistics, out of 105 people who died, 70 were on ventilators and the mortality rate […]
What happened : As the number of covid-19 cases increase drastically across the country, with the positivity ratio being the highest in Sindh, the number of active coronavirus cases in Sindh’s prisons has risen from 31 to 112 in a span of 10 days. The new round of Covid-19 screening among inmates was initiated on […]
What happened : Toronto based Pakistani doctor, Dr Naqeeb Khalid has introduced an instant Covid-19 diagnostic test easily accessible using a smartphone. Dr Naqeeb Khalid, who graduated from King Edward Medical University in 1983 before gaining expertise in the invention of medical devices and systems, told High Commissioner for Pakistan to Canada, Raza Bashir Tarar, […]
What happened: Researchers who studied the DNA of 2,700 Covid-19 patients in 208 intensive care units across Britain found that five genes involving in two molecular processes – antiviral immunity and lung inflammation – were central to many severe cases. Their research also highlighted several existing drugs that could be repurposed to treat people who […]
What happened: Astrazeneca is set to start trials to test a combination of its experimental Covid-19 vaccine with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. The trials will be to investigate whether combining the two different vaccines will boost the efficacy of Astrazeneca’s shot. Russia’s Sovereign Wealth Fund (RDIF), which funded the Sputnik V vaccine named after […]
What happened : A proposal was made by Sindh health minister, Dr Azra Pechuho, to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to help meet the ongoing challenges of vaccination for coronavirus prevention in the province, and she asked the international body to help the local bodies in this process from the procurement of the vaccines to […]
What happened: The bodies of muslim Covid-19 victims are forcefully being cremated, and their families are being asked to foot the cost of cremation in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is one of the few countries in the world which has made cremation compulsory for the bodies of all those that succumbed to Covid-19. However, this […]
Dr Salman Kazmi told the court that private hospitals were charging fees of Rs 150,000 from COVID-19 patients for each day spent in the hospital. Subsequently, the court sought a report from a commission over heavy fees charged by the private hospitals and adjourned further hearings till December 11. Social media was in an uproar […]
What happened : The British health authorities, on Wednesday, warned that anyone who has a prior underlying health history of allergic reactions should not get the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, at least for the time being. This statement was made after some of the National Health Service (NHS) staff, who received the vaccine, suffered from an […]
What happened: Asad Umar, The Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives while addressing a press conference after the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) meeting in Islamabad said that the government will be bound to take stricter measures, if the public does not take the pandemic seriously. He said that, if the surge in […]
What happened: Health experts say that the coronavirus has mutated itself, its new strain is unable to be detected in some tests, and it seems to last longer. Pakistan is facing the second wave of the novel coronavirus, and with each passing day, more cases are being reported. The number of spikes on the coronavirus […]
What happened: On Monday, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan said that Pakistani health authorities are negotiating with China and Russia, to acquire the coronavirus vaccines. While talking to a Turkish news agency, Anadolu Agencycine, Faisal Sultan said “We are in talks with China, Russia and some other countries […]
What happened: According to the BBC, Margaret Keenan, a 90-year-old woman hailing from Northern Ireland, has become the first person to receive a full dose of the new Pfizer/BionTech Covid-19 vaccine outside of ongoing trials. This marks the start of UK’s mass vaccination programme. As a worldwide immunization program kicks off, the health authorities in […]
What happened: On Monday, England’s one day international series in South Africa was cancelled, when two members of England’s cricket squad tested positive for the coronavirus. On Friday, when the series was scheduled to start, a member of the South African cricket team tested positive and the match was cancelled just an hour before its start […]
What happened : India’s first female comic-book superhero Priya, who has previously appeared in campaigns against sex trafficking and molesters, has now joined hands with her Pakistani counterpart Jiya, commonly referred to as the “Burka Avenger”, in order to fight the misinformation about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Both the superheroes will now work together to […]
What happened: 7 coronavirus patients died, on Saturday, as a result of not being supplied oxygen in Peshawar’s Khyber Teaching Hospital. “The hospital receives oxygen cylinders from Rawalpindi,” said Khyber Teaching Hospital spokesperson. “Oxygen cylinders did not arrive on time.”, he said. The oxygen cylinders which did not arrive on time were the main factor […]
What happened: On Wednesday, the employees of Pakistan Institute of medical sciences (PIMS) protested in Islamabad against the new Medical Teaching Institute (MTI) ordinance. Despite of the ongoing coronavirus emergency all around the country , they kept their services off. MTI Ordinance: MTI ordinance was promulgated by President of Pakistan Arif Alvi in November, this […]
What happened: Pakistan’s number of active coronavirus cases surged past 50,000 on Wednesday, according to the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC). The second wave of the virus is spreading throughout the country as 3,499 new infections were reported in the past 24 hours. With the addition of the new cases the number of active […]
What happened: Dr Nausheen Hamid, the Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services Regulations and Coordination (NHSRC), said that once Pakistan had procured the Covid-19 vaccine it will be administered to citizens free of cost. In an interview with a private news channel Dr. Hamid stated that once its “efficacy is proved” it will be made […]
What happened: On Wednesday, The United Kingdom became the first western country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine, jumping ahead of the United States and Europe after its regulator cleared a shot developed by Pfizer for emergency use in record time. The vaccine will be rolled out from early next week in a major coup for […]
What happened: The coronavirus has caused the deaths of almost a 100 healthcare workers in Pakistan. The country is in the grip of the second wave of the deadly virus and concerns are mounting, once again, over the lack of sufficient protective gear for healthcare workers. The National Command Operation Center (NCOC) has stated that of […]
After almost a year of the world fighting against the coronavirus pandemic, governments and pharmaceutical companies are rushing to roll out the COVID-19 vaccines In a bid to save people from the pandemic, the US-based company Moderna has revealed that the experts are hoping to roll out the vaccine for the general public before the […]
The pandemic has put a stop to many things, but even it cannot stall the tide of creativity. When inspiration strikes, it’s imperative to act fast and that’s exactly what musician Maanu did when he filmed and dropped his new music video during the pandemic. Maanu whose real name is Rehman Afshar, is a talented […]
What happened: A Singaporean woman who contracted the coronavirus has given birth to a baby with antibodies against the virus. Celine Ng-Chan, was 10 weeks pregnant when she got infected with Covid-19, after returning from a family holiday in Europe, in March. She has given birth to a healthy baby boy, Aldrin, and coronavirus antibodies […]
What happened: According to the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) data released on Sunday, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Karachi are the cities that have reported 70 percent of all coronavirus cases in Pakistan. The NCOC meeting also revealed that Mirpur, Karachi, Hyderabad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar were all cities were the coronavirus positivity rate […]
What happened: Prime Minister Imran Khan categorically said the government would not give permission to the opposition to hold its rallies in Multan and other cities. “The coronavirus is spreading dangerously, therefore the opposition should postpone PDM public meetings,” said PM Imran Khan PM also added, “The government will strictly enforce standard operating procedures and […]
What happened: In order to provide the residents of Islamabad with safe entertainment during this pandemic the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is planning on building an open air cinema in the federal capital. CDA officials who are privy to the details of the project told the media of the CDAs plans on Wednesday. The cinema […]
What happened: 3, 113 cases of the novel coronavirus have been reported in the last 24 hours. This is the third day in a row that Pakistan has recorded more than 3, 000 infections, according to data from the government’s Covid-19 portal. The highest number of cases were reported by Sindh. And, the second highest […]
What happened: 6 players of the Pakistani cricket team, currently on tour in New Zealand, have tested positive for the coronavirus. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) posted a statement on its website stating that it was, “made aware today that six members of the Pakistan touring squad, currently in managed isolation in Christchurch, have tested positive […]
What happened: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has stated that approval has been given for the registration of the rapid test kit. The chief executive officer (CEO) of DRAP Asim Rauf said that with the virus detection time cut down to 20 minutes people will no longer have to wait for 24 hours or […]
Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the Ministry of health to start the coronavirus vaccine production process, via a letter he wrote to them. The Prime Minister has told Health Ministry officials to start preparing proposals for the production of a vaccine. Officials have been directed to prepare proposals after consulting about the vaccine with […]
What happened: Protesters broke into Guatemala’s congress and burned part of the building amid growing demonstrations against President Alejandro Giammattei and the legislature for approving a budget that cut educational and health spending. When: The incident on Saturday came as about 10,000 people were protesting in front of the National Palace against corruption and the […]
Relationships can be a challenge in general, but if you and your partner don’t live even remotely close to one another, it can be even more difficult to express your love and keep your bond intact. Fortunately, extra separation also can strengthen relationships just as much as it does to strain them. Long-distance love may […]
An audit report has revealed that almost 300 coronavirus deaths were not reported by the Punjab government. This has prompted serious controversy and criticism around the Punjab government’s data entry system. Up until the 19th of November, the Punjab government maintained that the number of Covid-19 related deaths was 2,519. However, the coronavirus death toll […]
What happened: A small town in Indonesia has reportedly using volunteers dressed as ghosts to try to scare people into social distancing over the coronavirus. In Indonesian folklore, ghostly figures known as “pocong” are said to represent the trapped souls of the dead.The initiative was organised by the head of a youth group in coordination […]
What happened: Tokyo’s Kaisei Senior High School recently found that one of its registered students had not been attending classes and that another boy was pretending to be him. A representative from the school told Japanese newspaper The Mainichi that the boy who took the entrance exam on Feb. 10 and the one who had […]
Background: Education ministers held a meeting on Monday which was chaired by Federal Minister for Education, Shafqat Mahmood. A few suggestions and recommendations were discussed however no final decision was taken and the government announced that another meeting next week would take place to further deliberate on the issue. Propergaanda launched a survey in which […]
What happened: On Wednesday Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri revealed that, United Arab Emirates has temporarily suspended the issuance of visit visas to Pakistan, including a dozen of other countries, until further notice. Why: Chaudhri said in a statement that the decision by the UAE authorities is “believed to be related to the second […]
Many news outlets have posted, recently, that mouthwash can kill coronavirus particles in your mouth. This however is not a cure nor is it going to protect you from corona. Although the internet seems to have run with joke now. So they’re saying Listerine could kill COVID. This isn’t surprising to me, as I’m pretty […]
What happened: After eight months of havoc by coronavirus, scientists are moving towards an optimistic route where experimental vaccines are showing positive results. Till now the estimated cost of the Covid-19 vaccine is not available, but Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved a $100 million allocation and allowed advance payment for procurement of the vaccine […]
All of the coronavirus cells currently infecting people worldwide can fit almost entirely in a teaspoon, according to TV mathematician Matt Parker. Despite the staggering number of coronavirus cases worldwide— 53 million— the microscopic size of the coronavirus cells mean that they can fit in a little more than a teaspoon. One teaspoon, on average, […]
What is happening: Pakistan has recorded nearly 15,000 cases this month alone, giving credence to health experts’ warnings about a second wave of the novel coronavirus. The number of active cases has reached 24,938 Back In September, the number of cases dropped to less than 300 but in October cases again started increasing due to which […]
What WHO is saying: The World Health Organization has declared educational institutions as a significant source of coronavirus transmission in the general population. WHO has expressed concern about the government’s failure to decide about school closures in light of the growing Covid-19 incidence in the country. The WHO representatives told the media that the Covid-19 […]
What happened: Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth passed away on Thursday at the age of 59, days after contracting the coronavirus and being shifted to a private hospital in Islamabad. A protocol officer of the high court, Zubair Hussain, told media that Justice Seth tested positive for Covid-19 on October 22 and […]
What happened: Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal, the chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), has tested positive for the coronavirus, said the authority’s spokesperson. According to the NDMA spokesperson, Lt Gen Afzal has isolated himself at home. He decided to get himself tested after meeting a close relative, he added. The NDMA is one […]
The recent announcement of Pfizer and BioNtech’s Covid-19 vaccine sent the world into a tizzy, including Pakistan. There is already talk of the pandemic coming to an end soon and life returning to normal. However, while this vaccine is good news it isn’t the magic cure-all that everyone is perceiving it to be. And, Pakistanis […]
What is Happening: Hundreds of Pakistanis stranded have been stranded at Dubai airport over the past few days due to non-compliance with new travel norms. Indian and Pakistani airlines have started flying back Dubai tourists who were stranded at the Dubai International Airport after being denied entry for not following immigration requirements. The Consul General […]
The “bakra-mandi” experience has been a part of Eid tradition for decades. Going from cattle vendor to cattle vendor, observing the physical conditions of animals, haggling for a better price – it is all something entrenched in Pakistani society. However, with the coronavirus pandemic on the loose, the Eid animal-buying experience was significantly different this […]
The way that the corona virus has been dealt with in Pakistan has been, to say the very least, anxiety inducing and angering. I remember reading Arundhati Roy a while back, and she eloquently phrased it when she said that the pandemic is a portal. Rightfully so, because it has diversified my understanding of how […]
Psych Central is a student-led initiative that aims to put forth its views in meaningful, lighthearted conversations regarding mental health in a way that is as relatable as possible. Stress became our companion at the very beginning of O-levels. As academic years progressed, it piled on and invited its little friend anxiety into our lives […]
In Islamic tradition, the idea of Qurbani emerged when the Prophet Ibrahim trusted in God when asked to sacrifice his son. Hence, to Muslims, the idea of Qurbani was about sacrificing something in the name of God and helping the underprivileged by giving them good. Since those times, however, while the spirit of Qurbani remains […]
If there’s one good thing arising from the coronavirus pandemic, it is increased awareness and appreciation of the integral role healthcare workers play in Pakistani society. Aware that doctors and nurses were fighting on the front-lines and risking their lives to combat coronavirus, student-led organization Aik Aik Qadam decided to offer them a small token […]
Careem recently released a well-intentioned commercial poking fun at coronavirus conspiracy-theorists and encouraging the wearing of masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic. While Careem’s ad was indisputably a positive step forward, and one that other organizations could learn from, the internationally-recognized organization could also have gone a step forward in bringing about social awareness against the […]
It is only a matter of time until gyms finally reopen and men and women are back to pushing heavy weights above their heads – blood pumping through their veins and faces glistening with sweat. On the flip side, however, many Pakistanis are understandably hesitant to suddenly start sharing equipment in a closed space with […]
As countries grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and the social and political upheavals caused by Black Lives Matter, it is regrettable that the country facing the “largest humanitarian crisis in the world”, as per the United Nations, has been forgotten, with the world turning a blind eye to it. According to a multitude of UN […]
In Dehradun city of Uttarkhand state, a woman along with her two newborn twins has died due to hospitals’ refusal of treatment on suspicion of the coronavirus. Reportedly, she had visited four hospitals who had all rejected her admission, believing that she might be infected by the coronavirus. This led to her death only two […]
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is considering cancelling the annual pilgrimage of Hajj for the first time since the country’s creation in 1932, according to reports from The Financial Times. In the past, there have only been 40 occasions since the year 630 that the annual pilgrimage did not occur. Why is Saudi Arabia considering […]
The United Nations and UNICEF pleaded with international donors and countries to raise more money for Yemen. They warned that 30 of its 41 aid-programs would shut down if additional funds weren’t secured, which would leave more than 4 million people, more than half of them children, without access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene. […]
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain announced that Pakistan’s first covid-19 testing kit has been approved for usage reports Naya Daur, He took to Twitter to announce the commendable achievement of Pakistani scientists. Another landmark achieved…. DRAP has approved Pakistan first COVID testing kit, Congratulations to @Official_NUST and our brilliant scientists …you […]
The ministry of state for climate change benefited from the coronavirus, said minister Zartaj Gul. How did the climate ministry benefit? Gul pointed out the improved Air Quality Index (AQI) of Pakistan, which dropped from 117 to 69 in Karachi, from 195 to 51 in Lahore and 194 to 87 in Peshawar. This decrease, she […]
