ISLAMABAD, March 21, 2020 – Pakistan has decided to suspend the operation of all international flights with immediate effect in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
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FBR allows exemption on import of 61 medical, testing equipment to fight against coronavirus
ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has allowed exemption from duty and taxes on import of medical and testing equipment regarding outbreak of coronavirus.
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SBP announces loan scheme to fight coronavirus
KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Tuesday announced a refinancing scheme for combating coronavirus. The size of the scheme is Rs5 billion and available for end-user at three percent.
Dr. Reza Baqir, SBP governor, announced the scheme namely “Refinance Facility for Combating COVID–19 (RFCC)” and its Shariah compliant version to support hospitals and medical centers in combating the spread of COVID–19.
Under this scheme, the SBP will refinance banks to provide financing at a maximum end-user rate of 3 percent for 5 years for the purchase of equipment to detect, contain and treat the coronavirus.
The SBP will provide this facility to banks at zero percent.
All hospitals and medical centers registered with federal or provincial health agencies and which are engaged in the control and eradication of COVID-19 will be eligible for this facility.
The total size of the scheme is Rs 5 billion, with a maximum financing limit per hospital or medical center of Rs 200 million.
This scheme will help contain the spread of the Coronavirus and reduce its human toll. It is available until end-September 2020.
The SBP governor said that considering the necessity and success of the scheme the size of the scheme could be enhanced.
He said that the medical institutions and banks had jointly conducted survey for the purchase of ventilators, which was primary need to fight against coronavirus.
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Economic managers discuss coronavirus impact
ISLAMABAD: Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue, chaired a meeting on Monday the impact of the ongoing corona virus epidemic on the economy and the strategy to achieve the targets with maximum success.
The meeting was held at the Finance Division to review the progress being made by the major sectors of the economy.
Ministers for Energy and Economic Affairs Division, Chairperson FBR and Secretaries of Finance Division, Ministry of National Food Security and Research and Ministry of Commerce attended the meeting.
The participants of the meeting shared the details of the ongoing major initiatives of their respective ministries and divisions, their current status of progress to meet the targets set during the current financial year, the impact of the ongoing corona virus epidemic on the economy and the strategy to achieve the targets with maximum success.
It was agreed during the meeting that all sectors related with the economy will work in unison to achieve the economic targets with maximum effort and that the government will ensure that the common man is not affected by any adverse fallout of the epidemic.
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NCCPL allows remote access on coronavirus threat
KARACHI: National Clearing Company of Pakistan (NCCPL) has allowed stock investors to access the company remotely in the wake of spread of coronavirus epidemic.
A notification issued on Monday said as part of this endeavor, NCCPL’s is providing an option to all its clients to connect remotely from any location in Pakistan to avail and access all the services provided by the Company.
In order to avail this option, clients are required to meet following basic pre requisites:
Two Mbps Internet connection from any vendor with Public static IP.
Share the above connectivity details with NCCPL customer services through official communication channel.
On fulfillment of these requirements, NCCPL technical support team will get in touch to setup necessary configuration at client’s end.
NCCPL has been continuously updating and aligning its processes, technology and human resource capabilities as per emerging national and international Business Continuity challenges.
The NCCPL said: “We are also making sincere efforts to ensure that all such scenarios are covered in our Business Continuity Drills. Because of recent outbreak of pandemic diseases CORONA, NCCPL has improved its business continuity planning with key focus on mitigating such risks.”
With reference to pandemic diseases such as the recent outbreak of COVID’19, NCCPL has designed a live BCP drill involving all its business applications.
This activity is planned on March 18-19, 2020 with special focus on NCCPL staff conducting daily operations from remote locations.
“We would also encourage all NCCPL clients to take part in this activity and connect NCCPL business applications from remote locations as well in order to test and ensure continuity of their operations from their remote setups.”
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Coronavirus prevention: Clearing agents advised avoid unnecessary visits to Custom House
KARACHI: Customs clearing agents have been advised to avoid unnecessary visits to Custom House Karachi as a preventive measure against coronavirus.
In a circular Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) on Saturday, informed its members that the association had conducted meetings with the Model Customs Collectorate Appraisement & Facilitation (East) & (West) regarding outbreak of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and decided to take appropriate precaution measures in order to avoid unnecessary visits and long sit-ins at visitor’s area of Custom House, Karachi.
It is highly recommended for the general public to reduce exposure and limit the risk of spread/transmission of Novel Coronavirus.
Members and their employees are advised to avoid unnecessary visits at Custom House Karachi and wear masks by following other safety instructions as already displayed on the notice boards at Custom House, Karachi.
However, in case of any emergency meetings/hearings are required to be attended, a written applications by mentioning the reasons to the officers concerned should be submitted for the redressal of grievance.
In case of any assistance members are advised to contact the CHO-Office of MCC Appraisement & Facilitation (East & West).
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KCCI for more stringent measures to fight coronavirus epidemic
The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has called upon the government to implement stricter measures in the battle against the coronavirus epidemic. Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan, President of KCCI, emphasized the need for enhanced efforts to combat the threat posed by COVID-19, urging both the government and the public to remain vigilant and proactive in containing the spread of the virus.
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FPCCI calls for strategy to save national economy amid global meltdown on coronavirus epidemic
KARACHI: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), the apex trade body of the country, has urged the government to outline strategy to save national economy in the wake of global meltdown on coronavirus epidemic.
FPCCI president Mian Anjum Nisar in a statement on Saturday urged the government to take preventive measures and develop strategy to protect the pace of economic and trade progress of Pakistan from likely impacts of world economic slowdown apprehended by leading think tanks due to the recent global spread of the novel coronavirus.
Globally, more than 145,682 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus. The death toll above 5436, in China death toll 3173, South Korea, mass testing has turned up over 6,000 cases and more than 60 deaths.
Italy has confirmed more than 17660 cases, along with more than 1200 deaths. Iran has announced 514 deaths and 11364 cases. The United States confirmed 41 deaths from the outbreak, along with more than 1264 confirmed cases.
Mian Anjum Nisar said that in order to safe national economic system from the impacts of slowdown of world economy due to coronavirus and other global economic challenges government should announce economic relief package to protect trade and industry of the country. He informed that the Europe is now the “epicentre” of the global coronavirus pandemic.
The Europe Union (EU) is the second biggest trading partner of Pakistan where around 20 percent of Pakistani exports have duty-free access to the Europe, while 70 percent avails preferential treatment.
FPCCI under the current scenario has organized a consultative session seeking feeding back from the stake holders on likely impact of this coronavirus on Pakistan’s foreign trade.
The session was attended by Dy. Governor SBP Dr. Murtaza Syed, Dr. S.M. Qaiser Sajjad Secretary General, Dr. Samreen Sarfarz Pakistan Medical Association, Dr. Adil H. Haider Dean Aga Khan Medical University, Dr. Ijaz, health department of Sindh Government, Aga Fakhar Hussain Additional Secretary Industry & Commerce Sindh, Dr. Saeed SINA Welfare Trust, Prof. Dr. Zarna Wahid, Dow University of Health Sciences, Pakistan National Shipping Corportation and KPT. The session was chaired by Sheikh Sultan Rehman Vice President FPCCI.
The chief of the apex trade body also informed that the US Congress has voted for a US $ 50 billion emergency funding package to fight the coronavirus. Several central banks around the world, including the U.S. Federal Reserve, have lowered interest rates to support their economies amid the coronavirus outbreak. Lowering interest rates make borrowing costs cheaper and could encourage business to take loans and spend which will in turn stimulate the economy. He further stated that the IMF is making available US $ 50 billion in emergency funding to help poor and middle-income countries.
Mian Anjum Nisar President FPCCI emphasized that as the inflationary trend shows declining that support to reduce interest rates while on the other hand to boost and safe economic activity all segment of economy needs to be supported and facilitated to contribute in economic growth.
Other- wise we will again face economic crises, lower industrial growth and shifting of industrial units in sick industry. Government should also reduce the cost of doing business and encourage the domestic & foreign investors to make investment in country at this critical time when the global economy is shrinking.
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International arrivals restricted to three airports to control coronavirus spread
KARACHI: Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan (CAA) has implemented the decision of National Security Council and issued notification to restrict international arrivals at three major airports of the country.
The authority restricted the international arrivals at airports included: Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore; Islamabad International Airport; and Jinnah International Airport, Karachi.
Earlier, the NSC had decided to limit the international passengers to few airports of the country in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The CAA said that international aircraft operation would remain suspended from remaining airports of the country to control the spread of COVID-19.
The authority asked the operators having scheduled operation from the airports being closed for international operations to reschedule their flights as an alternative option to AIIAP Lahore, IIAP Islamabad and JIAP Karachi during lean traffic period at these airports.
1. A National Coordination Committee for COVID-19, to be convened by SAPM on Health, has been established to monitor the situation and make necessary decisions on a daily basis. The Committee will have representation of all provinces and relevant civilian and military stakeholders.
2. NDMA will be the lead operational agency and will coordinate its efforts with the provincial and district authorities for necessary implementation of the preventive and curative actions.
3. All educational/technical institutions, public and private, at all levels will remain closed for three weeks across the country.
4. The entire Western border will be closed for two weeks for all human and commercial traffic. Sost border will continue to remain closed for two further weeks.
5. The Kartarpur Corridor will be closed for Pakistanis. Indian pilgrims will be allowed to continue visiting.
6. Outgoing and incoming international flights will only be allowed at the Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad airports. Screening and administrative measures at these airports will be reinforced immediately.
7. Reinforcement of screening and administrative measures at all sea ports will also be ensured.
8. All public gatherings will be banned with immediate effect. Wedding halls and cinemas will be closed for two weeks. Large conferences will also be barred for the same period. Remaining PSL matches may be conducted without any crowd.
9. Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony and Chairman, Council of Islamic Ideology will reach out to Ulema and all relevant stakeholders to work out the modalities for management of congregational religious services in light of the Corona Virus.
10. Honorable Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Honorable Chief Justices of the provincial High Courts will be requested to:
(i) instruct all courts not to schedule cases of civil nature for three weeks.
(ii) Judicial Magistrates and Session Court Judges to visit the concerned jails for three weeks to process remand and bail cases.
11. No visitors will be allowed to visit prisoners in jails for three weeks.
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PIA issues flight operation plan for amid coronvirus travel restriction
KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Friday issued flight operation plans after Saudi Arabia imposed restriction on travelers from many countries owing to threat of coronavirus spread.
Saudi Arabia
The PIA said that in accordance with new directives from the civil aviation authorities in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, PIA will be operating its flights from Pakistan to Jeddah, Medina, Dammam and Riyadh to facilitate the return of the following types of passengers only till March 15, 2020:
Saudi nationals (citizens)
Valid Iqama holders (local residents)
All other types of visa holders are not allowed to enter any of the KSA airports.
Change of booking options for affected passengers:
Any change of booking, cancellation, refund, and/or no-show charges have been waived for all passengers who are booked on Jeddah & Medina bound flights from Pakistan, and are unable to travel due to KSA’s travel restrictions due to coronavirus. This facility is valid till March 31, 2020.
KUWAIT
In accordance with the directives of DG Civil Aviation Kuwait, PIA is temporarily suspending its flights between Pakistan and Kuwait with effect from March 13, 2020 till further notice.
Change of Booking options for affected passengers:
Any change of booking, cancellation, refund, and/or no-show charges have been waived for all passengers who are booked on Pakistan-Kuwait flights and are affected by this travel restriction. This facility is valid till March 31, 2020.
ITALY
In accordance with the travel advisory directed by the government of Italy due to the coronavirus outbreak, PIA is temporarily suspending flight operations between Pakistan and Milan from March 10, 2020 until further notice.
Change of Booking options for affected passengers:
Any change of booking, cancellation, refund, and/or no-show charges have been waived for all passengers who are booked on Pakistan-Milan flights and are unable to travel due to the travel restrictions. This facility is valid till March 31, 2020.
QATAR
In accordance with travel restrictions imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Qatar, PIA is temporarily suspending flight operations from Pakistan to Doha from March 09, 2020 until further notice.
Change of Booking options for affected passengers:
Any change of booking, cancellation, refund, and/or no-show charges have been waived for all passengers who are booked on Doha-bound flights from Pakistan, and are unable to travel due to the above travel restrictions. This facility is valid till 31st March 2020.
CHINA & JAPAN
In accordance with directives from regulatory authorities in Pakistan, PIA has temporarily reduced its services to Beijing and Tokyo. Flights have been suspended till March 31, 2020.
Change of booking options for affected passengers:
PIA advised passengers to contact nearest PIA offices.