Author: newsdesk

  • Herd immunity against COVID-19: 3.7 million deaths projected at 2.11pc mortality rate in Pakistan

    With life in Pakistan returning to normalcy, it is feared that number of cases of the new coronavirus – COVID-19 — will increase further, wreaking havoc in the lives of the general public.

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Zafar Mirza has also warned of the same while Minister for Science & Technology Fawad Chaudhry predicts that Pakistan is expected to see the peak of COVID-19 cases by mid-June.

    Meanwhile, epidemiologists are of the view that it is difficult to predict exactly when the virus will hit its peak in the country since there is always a risk of the number of infections escalating even after positive cases start declining.

    For a little perspective it may be noted that the United States (US) and Italy are the most-affected countries where the pandemic curve hiked and changed several times.

    Coronavirus hit its peak in the US between the 10th and 14th weeks since the first case was reported. More than 800,000 cases were reported during these weeks.

    Italy, on the other hand, witnessed a peak between the 6th and 10th weeks as more than 424,120 cases were reported.

    Pakistan entered its epidemic curve on April 29 (9th week) and the number of cases in Pakistan is still increasing as there is a possibility that the country might experience the peak after June 15.

    Pakistan may experience another curve later on because limited tests are being conducted as for now. According to experts, the country’s testing capacity should be between 40,000 to 50,000 at this point, while Pakistan is testing 7,000 to 13,000 people every day, which is not sufficient.

    Enter herd immunity, which opposition parties do not seem to be a huge fan of.

    Herd immunity is a form of indirect protection from infectious disease that occurs when a large percentage of a population has become immune to an infection, whether through vaccination or previous infections, thereby providing a measure of protection for individuals who are not immune.

    Here are some facts and consequences of herd immunity if the government goes on to consider it an option.

    Any population develops herd immunity when 40 per cent of the total number of people develop immunity against an infectious disease. In some cases, it can go up to 80 to 90 per cent of the total population.

    So, an important question is how much of the total population needs to get infected to develop herd immunity? So far, there is no evidence of herd immunity against coronavirus, as the Netherlands, which had planned to go for it and treat only critically ill patients, also stepped back from the said policy after a spike in mortality rate.

    According to predictions by some experts, it can take up to four or five years to develop herd immunity.

    To develop herd immunity in Pakistan, 176,000,000 people (80 per cent of the total population) have to get infected. This could cause 3,713,600 deaths as per the current 2.11 per cent mortality rate.

  • Faryal Mehmood ties the knot with Simi Raheal’s son Daniyal

    Faryal Mehmood ties the knot with Simi Raheal’s son Daniyal

    It appears that celebrity weddings are undeterred by the ongoing pandemic because ever since the country went into lockdown, at least three celebrity weddings have taken place: Nimra Khan, Agha Ali and Hina Altaf and most recently model Faryal Mehmood and Daniyal Raheal, who is Simi Raheal’s son and Mehreen Raheal’s brother.

    Read more – Nimra Khan ties the knot

    The two got married in a simple and intimate ceremony with only their close family present. Daniyal announced their wedding on social media and said that the couple drove to Lahore so that they could get married in the presence of their family.

    He shared that “everything was perfect. Except it was not” because Faryal’s entire family was in the States and couldn’t be part of the celebrations in person. Despite the setback, his family managed to “pull together a day that will forever warm the cockles of my heart”.

    While there are limited pictures from the event, check out a few of them below, as well as of Faryal enjoying her first Eid as a newlywed.

    The groom’s mother and sister

    Daniyal’s mother Seemi Raheal also expressed her excitement on social media and welcomed her new bahu.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CAw0P9FplZd/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CAk_92hgXu3/
  • 29-year-old woman commits suicide after husband refuses to buy smartphone

    29-year-old woman commits suicide after husband refuses to buy smartphone

    A 29-year-old woman allegedly set herself on fire here in Delhi, India after her husband refused to buy a smartphone for the online classes being conducted by the school of their children.

    According to reports, the woman set herself on fire on May 27 around 8 am. Soon after receiving the information, the police reached the spot and rushed the woman to the nearest hospital. The doctors informed that Jyoti sustained 90 per cent burn injuries and was declared dead.

    Read More: Indian TikToker banned for ‘glorifying’ acid attacks

    In a statement to the police, the deceased’s husband said that the couple got married 7-year ago and have two children together. He said his wife was insisting on buying a smartphone but he told her that he will buy one after the lockdown.

    A police investigation into the case is underway.

  • Waqar Younis to quit social media after ‘hacker likes porn video from his Twitter account’

    Waqar Younis to quit social media after ‘hacker likes porn video from his Twitter account’

    Former Pakistani paceman Waqar Younis has announced his decision to delete his social media accounts after “a hacker liked a porn video from his official Twitter handle”.

    Mentioning the incident in a video message, Younis said that he would never be seen on social media again and it was not the first time that his social media account had been hacked.

    Critics were quick to lambaste Younis to which he responded with what may be his final post on any of his social media accounts.

    Younis clarified that he was not the man behind the inappropriate action.

    “Today I have to say with great regret that when I woke up this morning, someone hacked my Twitter account and liked grossly inferior videos from my account.”

    WATCH VIDEO:

    https://twitter.com/waqyounis99/status/1266180048492482560

    “So it is a matter of great shame, it is a matter of great regret and discomfort. For me and my family too. I used to think that social media or Twitter is a way of interacting with people. But unfortunately this man ruined everything. By the way, the hacker has not done this for the first time. I have had an account hack three or four times,” he said further.

    The former cricketer and Pakistan team coach also said he did not think the man was going to stop, so he had decided that he would not come on social media after today. “I love my family more. You will not see me on social media after today. I am sorry if this hurts anyone.”

  • Government mulls allowing restaurants to reopen

    Government mulls allowing restaurants to reopen

    As coronavirus cases continue to surge across the country, the Punjab government has decided to allow restaurants to reopen.

    The decision was taken during a cabinet committee meeting on coronavirus which was convened on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar.

    Reportedly, recommendations in this regard have been sent to the federal government and would be presented before the National Coordination Committee (NCC) for final approval.

    The committee also decided that markets and shopping malls would be allowed to open from 9 am to 5 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, while on the remain three days, they would remain closed.

    The provincial government also recommended opening recreational sites and tourist destinations such as Murree.

    The meeting was attended by Law Minister Raja Basharat, Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan and Commerce Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal.

    Officials of the health department also briefed the meeting about the coronavirus situation while administrative agencies presented a report on the implementation of the standard operating procedures (SOPs).

    Earlier, Lahore Restaurants Unity (LRU) and Lahore Super Markets Association (LSMA) sought help from the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) for reopening their businesses with implementation of SOPs.

    LCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, along with Senior Vice President Ali Hussam Asghar and Vice President Mian Zahid Jawaid Ahmad, met the delegations of the LRU and LSMA and listened to their grievances.

    LRU Chairman Amir Rafiq Qureshi and LSMA President Ahmad Nawaz and Marriage Halls Association Chairman Mian Muhammad Ilyas said that the lockdown had destroyed their businesses to such an extent that they were no heading towards a point of no return.

    They said that restaurants and marriage hall owners were ready to follow the SOPs set by the government to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

    Sheikh said that the LCCI was well aware of the miseries of traders and had already taken up the issues at the highest level. He said that a number of countries, including Turkey, had allowed hotels to open up. “We have to live with coronavirus like various other diseases, therefore, the government should manage and allow businesses to reopen,” he said.

    The LRU representatives demanded relief in rents of restaurants located in buildings of government and semi-government departments. They demanded a 100 per cent waiver in utility bills of small restaurants and 50 per cent waiver in utility bills of large restaurants for the next three months.

  • British-Pakistani woman becomes Britain’s first hijab-wearing judge

    British-Pakistani woman becomes Britain’s first hijab-wearing judge

    British-Pakistani Raffia Arshad has become the first-ever, hijab-wearing deputy district judge in the United Kingdom.

    After completing her law degree from Oxford Brookes University, Arshad worked as a barrister at a firm specializing in family law. She has also written a book titled Islamic Family Law.

    As per reports, she is the first in her family to go to university. 

    Speaking to a private media outlet the newly-appointed judge said: “My appointment is a celebration for all Muslim women. I am delighted that I have broken the glass ceiling for many more capable Muslim women.

    “At a time when everyone is facing uncertainty and unprecedented challenges, I urge everyone to rekindle their dreams and pursue them.”

    Arshad credited her parents and mentioned how their prayers have helped her in her success. She said she felt proud of being counted as an outstanding Pakistani in the west.

    Read more – Tunisian woman bicycles to Makkah in 53 days

    Arshad’s husband is a doctor and a religious scholar, who completed a diploma in Islamic jurisprudence and coaching while working as a barrister.

    The further said: “I am a court-appointed expert on matters of Islamic family law and have authored many publications, including a textbook that is used by other judges worldwide. I have been invited to Germany and America to speak on Islamic family law.”

    Breaking stereotypes, she highlighted how women could follow their religion and also succeed in their careers at the same time. 

  • Currency worth Rs3 crores was being smuggled on PK8303; discovered in PIA plane’s debris

    Currency worth Rs3 crores was being smuggled on PK8303; discovered in PIA plane’s debris

    In a shocking development, local and foreign currency amounting to Rs30 million was allegedly being smuggled in the plane that crashed in a Karachi neighbourhood on May 22, a spokesperson of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has claimed.

    “Local and foreign currency worth millions of rupees was recovered from the crash site,” said the spokesperson, adding that a total of Rs30 million had been recovered from three separate bags.

    The PIA official said that such an amount cannot be transported without informing the airline and that an extra seat ticket needs to be purchased for transporting such huge amounts of cash. “A passenger cannot carry it in their luggage or cabin baggage.”

    He said for such large amounts of cash, a passenger has to be seated next to the cash but no passenger had brought an extra seat.

    So far, three people have come forward to claim the money, the spokesperson said.

  • Mahira, Mehwish among others raise voice for Uzma Khan

    Mahira, Mehwish among others raise voice for Uzma Khan

    After Uzma Khan was brutally assaulted and attacked by Aamna Usman Malik, a relative of property tycoon Malik Riaz, celebrities including Mahira Khan, Mehwish Hayat, Usman Mukhtar, Hania Aamir and Osman Khalid Butt have come out to support the actor and demand justice for her.

    Read more – Uzma Khan says Usman Malik wanted to marry her

    Here’s what they had to say:

    Mahira Khan

    Mehwish Hayat

    Usman Mukhtar

    https://twitter.com/MukhtarHoonMein/status/1265993524484476930?s=20

    Sarwat Gilani

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CAuRV82DdUr/

    Hania Aamir

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CAvY4OYBHzp/

    Osman Khalid Butt

    Zara Noor Abbas

    Adnan Malik

    Sana Bucha

    THE INCIDENT

    On May 23 (Chaand Raat) Malik Riaz’s daughters – Amber and Pashmina – along with Usman’s wife Aamna stormed into Uzma’s house with 12 gunmen where they assaulted and injured Uzma and her sister and threatened to kill them.

    They vandalised the house, broke things and even attempted to sexually assault the girls by telling their armed guards to touch them. Moreso, they filmed everything including the women which is a breach of their privacy. The lawyer added that Riaz’s daughters took away all the belongings of the two sisters, including their clothes and shoes and said that they will set them on fire.

    Videos of the incident went viral on social media, sparking public outrage. Uzma, in her official statement, named her perpetrators and vowed that she will stand up against their tyranny.

    “I have been shamed, blackmailed, harassed, been threatened to kill in the past three days. I feel I have nothing to lose now and I have decided to fight the strongest people of Pakistan. For me, it is either I get justice or I will be killed but there is no turning back now.”

    “I will fight against daughters (Amber Malik & Pashmina Malik) of Malik Riaz, who stormed into my house around midnight with 12 men,” she added.

    https://twitter.com/uzmaaaK/status/1265607087431782402?s=20

    While an FIR has been registered, as per the latest reports, action against the perpetrators is yet to be taken.

    https://twitter.com/uzmaaaK/status/1266087541419229187?s=20
    https://twitter.com/uzmaaaK/status/1266092127559311361?s=20
  • Pakistan receives export orders of face masks from US, Canada and Europe

    Pakistan receives export orders of face masks from US, Canada and Europe

    Adviser to Prime Minister (PM) on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood has said that Pakistani exporters have received large orders of face masks from the United States (US), Canada and Europe.

    In a series of tweets on Thursday, he congratulated the exporters and termed their achievement a major breakthrough in the country’s export sector.

    “I have received information that some exporters have obtained large orders for face masks from US, Canada and Europe. This is a major breakthrough and I congratulate them for this achievement,” he tweeted.

    He further emphasised the need for Pakistani exporters to diversify into new segments in order to meet the changing global needs.

    “It is part of our strategy to diversify into new segments and this has been achieved by the exporters through their own efforts. I’m sharing this information with others to encourage them to seek more orders from different parts of the world,” he stated.

    Separately, the adviser stated that in order to achieve the target of agricultural exports, the government was striving hard to make space in the rice markets of the Middle East, North America and Africa.

    Talking to APP, he said the government intends to take the exports to the highest-ever level and in this regard, it was taking different measures to reclaim traditional markets besides getting access to new ones.

    “All members of the Rice Exports Association Pakistan (REAP) should prepare themselves for this opportunity so that they could get their orders approved in the Mexican market.”

    He further informed that rice export to Mexico was stagnant for the past few years but after the delegation’s visit, “we are hoping that our rice will be able to enter the Mexican market”.

    Dawood said that rice was the largest agro-export commodity in the country’s export basket, having a total volume of over $2 billion, which would be increased to $5 billion in the next five years.

  • Uzma Khan says Usman Malik wanted to marry her

    Uzma Khan says Usman Malik wanted to marry her

    Uzma Khan, who was recently attacked and assaulted by Aamna Malik, a relative of property tycoon Malik Riaz, has said that Aamna’s husband Usman wanted to marry her.

    Read more – Uzma Khan vs Malik Riaz’s daughters: Everything we know so far

    Addressing a press conference after videos of her being harassed and assaulted by Aamna along with Malik Riaz’s daughters Amber Malik and Pashmina Malik and their guards went viral on social media, Uzma shared that she was friends with Usman for two years and that his wife never reached out to her or “warned” her despite knowing that Usman had proposed marriage to her in December 2019.

    “I was friends with Usman and he wanted to marry me. His wife never called me. [When] I saw her for the first time, they had a gun pointed at me,” said Uzma. Her lawyer Ali Ashfaq added that the women extracted a confession out of Uzma and her sister Huma Khan under duress.

    Uzma alleged that Usman continues to call and text her and that she has saved all the evidence to present in court.

    “Usman Malik is still sending me messages and I will prove in court how he has been calling me and messaging me even now,” said the actor.

    Responding to Aamna’s claim that the house belonged to Usman, Uzma’s lawyer said that the house was in the name of Babar Naseem, who is also a friend of Uzma’s. He said that the sisters had rented the place and had been living there for a few years, adding that he had all the documents to prove the ownership and rental agreement,

    Explaining the legalities, Ashfaq said the women are guilty of three offences: trespassing, vandalism and criminal intimidation. He said that trespassing is a non-bailable offence but no arrests have been made so far and no pre-arrest bail has been secured by Aamna or other women involved in the incident. He said that though the FIR registered criminal intimidation under Article 506 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Pakistan (CrPC), it should have been registered under Article 506-B because weapons were involved.

    https://twitter.com/uzmaaaK/status/1266016406811918341?s=20

    Uzma’s lawyers, including Hassan Niazi, thanked IG Punjab and CCPO Lahore for their support and hoped that DIG Investigations will conduct proper investigations into the matter so that justice is served. They also demanded that those guilty should be arrested without any further delay.

    They also shared that their lives are under threat and that they are being harassed and requested the state and government to provide them security.

    THE INCIDENT

    On May 23 (Chaand Raat) Malik Riaz’s daughters – Amber and Pashmina – along with Usman’s wife Aamna stormed into Uzma’s house with 12 gunmen where they assaulted and injured Uzma and her sister and threatened to kill them.

    They vandalised the house, broke things and even attempted to sexually assault the girls by telling their armed guards to touch them. Moreso, they filmed everything including the women which is a breach of their privacy. The lawyer added that Riaz’s daughters took away all the belongings of the two sisters, including their clothes and shoes and said that they will set them on fire.

    Videos of the incident went viral on social media, sparking public outrage. Uzma, in her official statement, named her perpetrators and vowed that she will stand up against their tyranny.

    “I have been shamed, blackmailed, harassed, been threatened to kill in the past three days. I feel I have nothing to lose now and I have decided to fight the strongest people of Pakistan. For me, it is either I get justice or I will be killed but there is no turning back now.”

    “I will fight against daughters (Amber Malik & Pashmina Malik) of Malik Riaz, who stormed into my house around midnight with 12 men,” she added.

    https://twitter.com/uzmaaaK/status/1265607087431782402?s=20