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  • Shopkeepers to implement ‘no mask, no service’; NCOC discusses easing lockdown

    Shopkeepers to implement ‘no mask, no service’; NCOC discusses easing lockdown

    ISLAMABAD: Market associations to be engaged for implementation of COVID-19 guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for prevention the spread of coronavirus.

    This was discussed at a meeting of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) held on chaired by Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umer.

    Umer said that the shopkeepers should strictly implement “no mask, no service” policy.

    Asad Umer directed the NCOC to concentrate on the plan to ease the lockdown while strictly implementing the Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs).
    The forum suggested taking strict punitive action on violation of SOPs.

    It must be noted that NCOC is working to devise a long and short term strategy on COVID-19 titled “Living with the Pandemic”.

    Asad Umar directed the pursuing of a vigorous mass awareness campaign to highlight the measures taken by the government to contain COVID-19 and underscore its achievements in this regard.

    The campaign should focus on ensuring behaviour change of the people regarding COVID-19 while also underlining that the main aim of the government was to safeguard the people from the pandemic.

    Expressing satisfaction over the availability of ventilators in countrywide hospitals, Asad Umar directed the concerned to provide latest information about the availability of beds and other related facilities for the information of the infected people.

    The forum was told that the Resource Management System (RMS) would be rolled out across country from the 1st of June.

    Under this system, the hospitals would also share the details of local resources available to them, total admitted patients, denial of admissions, no of beds and ventilators available, as well as other facilities being provided to them.

    Dr Zafar Mirza said that his Ministry was planning to mobilise retired doctors of public sector hospitals, young doctors, doctors on house jobs, and final year medical students to cope with the situation.

    Moreover, new doctors and paramedics would be recruited through walk-in interviews. The forum was apprised that the provinces had been asked to ensure community mobilisation and set up call Centres in their respective areas by June 15.

    The forum was told that Sindh and Balochistan governments were not agreeing on imposing smart lockdown. Instead, they preferred the home quarantine policy.

    The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Brig (Retd) Syed Ijaz Ahmed Shah, Minister for National Food Security and Research Fakhar Imam, Minister for Economic Affairs Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Dr Moeed Yousaf and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza.

  • NCOC recommends shutting educational institutions till August

    NCOC recommends shutting educational institutions till August

    ISLAMABAD: National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday recommended that the educational institutions should be kept closed till August as the summer season and pandemic would be at its peak on July 15, 2020.

    The NCOC sought provinces’ feedback on negative list aiming to finalize the recommendations of opening some more sectors of the economy halted due to COVID-19 outbreak.

    A meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar was held at the NCOC to discuss the long and short term strategy on COVID-19 titled “Living with the Pandemic”.

    The forum emphasized the need to revise its communication strategy for better messaging and public outreach on the COVID-19 issue.

    Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar said that the restaurants under the negative list would have to completely close their services or partially initiate its functions with only take away services.

    The forum insisted that the marriage halls should only be allowed with limited number of guests, one dish and strict compliance of standard operating procedures (SOPs).

    Asad Umar directed the concerned authorities to calculate economic impacts of coronavirus pandemic in the first quarter of current calendar year.

    The NCOC stressed that capacity building and restructuring of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination should be done as per approval by the federal cabinet.

    The forum was also apprised that the critical care resources would be increased owing to the surging risk of the pandemic.

    The forum was told that the testing capacity of COVID-19 was being increased to 672,000 tests.

    Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Khusroo Bakhtiar said that National Integrated Management System should be put in place for better coordination between the federal and the provinces.

    Dr Zafar Mirza said that although wearing of masks was mandatory, no punitive action was being taken against the violators.

    The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Brig (R) Syed Ejaz Ahmad Shah, Minister for National Food Security and Research Fakhar Imam, Minister for Economic Affairs Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, SAPM for Information and Broadcasting and Chairman China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Lt. Gen (R) Asim Saleem Bajwa, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Dr Moeed Yousaf, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Digital Pakistan Tania Aidrus.

  • Eid ul Fitr Mubarak 2

    Eid ul Fitr Mubarak 2

    As the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close, PkRevenue.com extends heartfelt Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to its esteemed readers and followers. In the spirit of joyous celebration and communal harmony, the online platform takes this opportunity to convey warm wishes for a blessed and prosperous Eid-ul-Fitr.

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  • Hot, humid weather drops COVID-19 transmission rate: Pakistan Met

    Hot, humid weather drops COVID-19 transmission rate: Pakistan Met

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has identified that COVID-19 transmission rate declined due to rise in temperature and humidity.

    The PMD on Saturday told the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) that its study had found a decline in COVID-19 transmission rate related to rise in temperature and humidity.

    The PMD official briefed the NCOC meeting headed by Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar through video link about the findings of its research conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health Services, Regulations and Coordination.

    He added that a deep study of the pandemic outbreak pattern showed that the coronavirus spread mostly occurred in the mid latitude which had cold and dry weather.

    No single case was reported in the tropical belt during the first three weeks of the contagion rise.

    “Increase in temperature from 3-5 degrees mainly beyond 30 degree and mean humidity over 50 degree would slow down the virus transmission,” he noted.

    The Forum was also apprised about the testing regime adopted at the airports to contain the epidemic spread.

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Dr Moeed Yusuf said that there was 90 percent local transmission of COVID-19 at the moment and only ten percent were foreign induced.

    He said there was no testing done of the air travelers at the airports in many of the countries rather they were putting the masses under self-quarantine.

    The forum made detailed discussion on the issue with the provinces where the provincial chief secretaries agreed to the idea of abolishing testing on arrival of the passengers and agreed for a strict and proper screening of the passengers arriving at the airports.

    The forum including provincial chief secretaries condoled the demise of the passengers of PIA aircraft crashed in Karachi.

  • Crashed PIA aircraft was unfit: PALPA

    Crashed PIA aircraft was unfit: PALPA

    KARACHI: The Pakistan Airlines Pilots’ Association (PALPA) on Saturday said that the plane crash on a residential area was due to due to the unfitness of the aircraft itself.

    An Airbus 320 of Pakistan International Airline (PIA) conducting PK 8303; travelling from Lahore to Karachi crashed a day earlier on the residential area causing 97 deaths.

    The association said that this is a time for great reflection and introspection. Without assigning blame and / or in any manner implicating any person / persons, we are constrained to identify certain hard facts.

    “We believe that the negligence of the PIACL management (in entirety) in ensuring maintenance of its aircrafts is a dominant factor in the occurrence of this most heart wrenching incident.”

    A statement issued by PIACL’s engineering department has confirmed that aircraft maintenance & repairs are a matter which do not obtain priority.

    The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (‘PCAA’) has also failed in its duty as the regulator. Airworthiness of an aircraft is a concern that falls exclusively within the regulatory domain of the PCAA.

    There have been numerous instances when PALPA has, on behalf of its members, lodged protests with PIACL’s management with regard this particular aircraft & the dangers it posed in being utilised for flying operations.

    Numerous ‘technical logs’ concerning this particular aircraft will validate PALPA’s contentions.

    The aircraft’s landing gear has always been a grave cause for concern.

    Our repeated expressions of distress have been misrepresented by PIACL’s management to government agencies, policy makers, as also the public at large, as unfair negotiatory tactics.

    PALPA has, time and again, insisted on enforcement of the highest flight safety standards. It has been so enabled by ‘working agreements’.

    These standards have been deemed as required to be most elevated particularly during the global devastation experienced at the hands of COVID 19.

    At our insistence, the Aviation Division was pleased to instruct PIACL & PCAA to ensure strictest compliance of SOPs in conducting COVID 19 specific flights. These SOPs should now ideally become an intrinsic part of PIACL’s flight operations.

    On 28.04.2020, the Federal Government issued a notification declaring all employment in PIACL as an ‘essential service’. The effect of this notification is that Pilots cannot, under any circumstances, refuse to partake flight operations as ordained by PIACL’s management.

    PALPA is committed to the fact that the notification has been issued (i) at the behest of PIACL’s management; (ii) in bad faith. Pursuant to the notification, PIACL’s management terminated the ‘working agreement’ lastly in vogue.

    The ensuing consequences now compel all Pilots to perform duties at the whims & the fancy of PIACL’s management, without the ability to demand or to hold it accountable for its failings. Any justified resistance may be met with criminal / penal consequences.

    The PIACL management has employed draconian methods in dealing with its most valuable asset; i.e. Pilots. PIACL operations are being administered at the whims and fancies of a man not deemed fit or suitable to helm the organization.

    On this day, the Supreme Court of Pakistan is seized of a matter challenging the appointment of Air Marshall Arshad Malik as Chief Executive Officer (‘CEO’) for PIACL.

    He is discharging duties under an injunctive order passed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Final adjudication of proceedings is awaited.

    The CEO’s unfitness to hold office is demonstrated through his statement to the press. By insinuating that the (deceased) commanding officer of PK 8303 was ‘unable to land the aircraft despite 2 open runways’ is a stark reflection of his lack of knowledge of aviation affairs.

    The reality of the situation is as follows. Landing gear is ordinarily deployed about 2000 feet before the landing strip / runway. In this instance, the landing gear failed & the commanding officer was compelled to ‘go around’. For those who are unaware, ‘go around’ is a term used when an aircraft landing is unsuccessful & the aircraft is brought around to perform a landing. During the second approach, both engines failed & the (deceased) commanding officer declare ‘may day’.

    PALPA (& it’s entire membership) is grief struck & concerned for the overall welfare of all persons (including passengers). Under present circumstances, however, we are unable to enforce good sense, prudent policies & flight safety standards upon PIACL’s management on account of oppressive policies enacted by it in concert with the Federal Government. Any position taken by us is at the risk of facing criminal prosecution.

    We, therefore, call upon:

    1 – The Honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Imran Khan Niazi, & the Federal Minister for Aviation Affairs, Mr. Ghulam Sarwar Khan, to reconsider the Federal Cabinet’s desire to classify PIACL employment as an ‘essential service’

    2 – The Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, to appreciate our concerns & to take up PIACL matters pending before the Supreme Court of Pakistan on urgent basis.

    3 – The PIACL Board of Directors to reconsider their misplaced, unjustified & otherwise unlawful act of (i) ‘unrecognising’ PALPA; & (ii) terminating the ‘working agreement’.

  • World Bank approves $500 million to help Pakistan’s COVID-19 emergency response

    World Bank approves $500 million to help Pakistan’s COVID-19 emergency response

    WASHINGTON: The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved today a $500 million program to help Pakistan improve access to quality healthcare and education, support economic opportunities for women, and strengthen social safety nets as the country braces to limit the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Securing Human Investments to Foster Transformation (SHIFT) program will support policy reforms to help Pakistan’s COVID-19 emergency response and protect human capital investments, a statement said.

    It will support greater coordination between provinces and federal authorities to immunize millions of children and reduce their risks of contracting polio and other diseases.

    SHIFT also improves targeted safety net programs that will benefit 12 million people impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, both at the federal and provincial levels.

    “The global COVID-19 pandemic is impacting day-to-day life in Pakistan – not solely from economic disruptions but also additional stress on public services that jeopardize human capital accumulation,” said Illango Patchamuthu, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.

    “This program underscores the criticality of universal healthcare and social protection services that are durable to exogenous shocks such as Pakistan is facing now.”

    SHIFT supports three policy reforms aimed at building Pakistan’s workforce and improving social safety-net programs, which are:

    (i) increase the quality of essential services, especially primary health care and equitable access to basic education, and civil registration and vital statistics,

    (ii) recognize women’s economic contributions and support participation in the labor force through appropriate working conditions, and

    (iii) improve efficiencies in safety nets for COVID-19 response, and strengthen the effectiveness national and federal safety net programs in the short to medium term.

    “Pakistan’s ability to mitigate socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 depends on how quickly and efficiently social safety net programs can reach those most in need,” said Cristina Panasco Santos, Task Team Leader for the program.

    “This program supports alignment efforts between Ehsaas, safety nets provincial programs to ensure that the most vulnerable and affected populations are identified and receive assistance.”

    The World Bank Group, one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, is taking broad, fast action to help developing countries strengthen their pandemic response.

  • PEPA seals Monal Restaurant for illegal activities

    PEPA seals Monal Restaurant for illegal activities

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (PEPA) and Commissioner Office, Islamabad on Tuesday sealed off the popular Monal Restaurant located in Marghalla Hills for illegal tree cutting for its expansive construction activities.

    The Climate Change Ministry Media focal person, Muhammad Saleem, told media that it was brought to the notice of the Prime Minister’s Advisor Malik Amin Aslam that illegal construction activities for expansion of the Monal restaurant were gonging on for a few days and initiated by management of the restaurant, which led to a significant loss of tree cover and land degradation in its vicinity.

    “Taking serious notice of the illegal construction activities and tre cutting, the advisor Malik Amin Aslam on Tuesday directed the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency Islamabad (Pak-EPA Islamabad) to take legal action against the culprits,” he told media.

    Later, Pak-EPA Islamabad and the Chief Commissioner Islamabad office moved together and sealed off the Monal restaurant and lodged FIR against the culprits at the Islamabad Secretariat Police Station, the media focal person Muhammad Saleem said further.

    He told media that few pictures of tree cutting and land leveling appeared in social media widely.

    The same was shared with the Chief Commissioner, ICT by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) and Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) to take immediate action. Resultantly, the District Administration conducted the raid on 18-05-2020 evening and it was observed that images of destruction activities appeared in social media were authentic and genuine in nature.

    During the raid, two persons namely Muhammad Sagheer and Muhmmmad Naeem were arrested on the spot and FIR NO 224/20 has also been lodged in Police Station Kohsar, F/7, Islamabad, the media focal person added.

    He said furrher rthat simultaneously, a case was fixed in the larger Bench of the Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding the stone crusher and protection of the MHNP, the instant matter has also been discussed by the Honorable Court and order is being issued including immediate stoppage of the all construction activities in the MHNP extended in Punjab and Khyberpakhtunkhaw including all types of hotels, rental residential construction.

    However, order copy is awaited. It is pertinent to mention that Pak-EPA also took action about these restaurants in MHNP as all have been constructed without any environmental approval and causing damages to eco-system and increasing load pollution in the vicinity. He informed that the prime minister’s advisor Malik Amoin Aslam along with the climate change ministry’s high officials will visit the damaged site tomorrow on Wednesday and take stock of the damage caused to the land and trees.

    The ministry’s media focal person also added that tree plantation activities will also be carried out by him in support with the local forest officials at the damaged site for its rehabilitation. It is pertinent to mention that Pak-EPA also took action about these restaurants in MHNP as all have been constructed without any environmental approval and causing damages to eco-system and increasing load pollution in the vicinity, according to the climate change ministry official.

    Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) falls under the jurisdiction of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and also extended into Khyberpakhtunkhaw and Punjab as per notification of April, 1978. Few parts of the said MHNP are also located in Shakarparian and Rawal Lake area within ICT.

    The MHNP has been declared as protected National Park and no major construction activity causing damage to the environment, ecosystem and flora & fauna of MHNP is allowed.

    In the year 2005, a restaurant named Monal was allowed construction by the Capital Development Authority (CDA). Later on, few other restaurants including Lamontana, Gloria Jeans, Whispering Pines (located in KPK) and some other recreational activities spots were constructed in the MHNP in KPK area as well.

  • Sindh allows property registrations; issues SOPs

    Sindh allows property registrations; issues SOPs

    KARACHI: The Sindh government has allowed registration of properties from Monday May 04, 2020 with certain restriction to ensure compliance of lockdown to prevent spread of coronavirus.

    The provincial government has permitted Board of Revenue (BOR) to allow functioning / opening of the offices of sub-registrars in Karachi Division with effect from May 04, 2020 with the condition of strict observance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

    The Sindh government issued following SOPs for functioning of sub-registrar offices:

    01. The offices of sub-registrars shall start functioning from 10:00 am daily on all working days and close at 4:00 pm during Ramazan ul Mubarak and on the notified office timings of the government of Sindh in the subsequent months;

    02. Each aspirant for registration of document shall contact the concerned sub-registrar through one of the messaging services (SMS/Whatsapp) to get an appointment of a fixed time reserved for execution of his/her documents;

    03. Each party shall get a fixed time of 20 minutes, and the party concerned shall be obligated to reach within the office premises at least five minutes earlier, and get their presence acknowledged by the concerned officials/ peshkar;

    04. No person shall be allowed to enter the office without demonstrable message of appointment;

    05. Only actual executants and identifiers shall be permitted to enter the office who all shall make sure that they present themselves in the office at the fixed time;

    06. If any one of the mandatory signatories is missing, the documents shall not be received, and a new time shall be given;

    07. The executants shall bring along their hand sanitizers; sanitize their hands before and after execution/registration of the document; wear a recommended face mask; maintain social distancing among themselves and with the staff;

    08. No executants/identifier shall be allowed entry in the office premises unless he/she has adopted the above protective measures;

    09. The executants and identifiers shall stand in a queue at their designated spot marked by the sub-registrars at three feet distance for each person;

    10. The entire job shall be completed within 20 minutes where after the parties shall leave the office, and the next party shall be called in;

    11. For the party in waiting, there shall as well be markings at three feet distance for each individual in the corridor or other appropriate place to be identified by the sub-registrar concerned. Such notices shall be displayed at conspicuous places for public information;

    12. No hand shake or other means of body touch shall be permissible;

    13. It shall be lawful for the sub-registrar to defer registration by putting a specific note about violation of these SOPs and / or other relevant SOPs notified by the Home Department Government of Sindh by any one or more persons from amongst the executing parties;

    14. Minimum nuclear staff shall be called for duty;

    15. The sub-registrar shall be duty bound to follow and implement the SOPs.

    16. The sub-registrar shall keep his office, record etc. disinfected continually;

    17. The entire staff shall put on face mask and hand gloves of appropriate specifications;

    18. The district registrar shall constitute monitoring team, and shall himself carry out surprise visits to the office of sub-registrars to check whether the SOPs are being followed in letter and spirit;

    19. A daily log of inspections along with a brief account of the observations shall be submitted to the inspector general of registration Sindh and Member RS&EP Board of Revenue Sindh;

    20. The concerned deputy commissioner/assistant commissioner shall carry out surprise inspection of the offices of sub-registrars to monitor implementation of the SOPs and upon finding any violation, the deputy commissioner shall immediately generate a report for senior member board of revenue for criminal/departmental action;

    21. No private person shall be allowed entry in the scanning or audit office;

    22. All the relevant SOPs notified by the Home Department shall be additionally followed in letter and spirit; and

    23. The sub-registrar shall cause these SOPs to be conspicuously displayed in and outside his office.

  • Prices of petroleum products slashed up to 39 percent

    Prices of petroleum products slashed up to 39 percent

    ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday announced a significant reduction in the prices of petroleum products, with cuts reaching up to 39 percent. This move aims to pass on the benefits of the massive decline in international oil prices to the public.

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  • PIA gets permission for direct US flight operation

    PIA gets permission for direct US flight operation

    KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been allowed to conduct direct flight operation and airlift Pakistani nationals from the United State of America (USA).

    The US Department of Transportation on Thursday issued special authorization to permit up to twelve round-trip or one-way planeload charter flights, carrying passengers and cargo, between a point or points outside the US and a point or points in the US.

    The sources said that CEO PIA Arshad Malik formally requested the US authorities a week ago for the airlift of Pakistani passengers in the wake of COVID-19.

    They said that it would be first time the PIA conducts direct US flight operation.

    Due to restriction of direct US flights, the PIA planes have to get permission and clearance from EU countries.