Tag: Asad Umar

  • NCOC to give winter vacations in January instead of December

    NCOC to give winter vacations in January instead of December

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has decided to shift the annual winter vacations for education institutions from December to January, reports Geo News.

    The decision was made in a meeting held on Tuesday, which was attended by all the education ministers who backed and agreed to the proposal.

    According to the NCOC, the vaccination process will continue in educational institutions. However, the institutions will remain closed in areas where heavy snowfall occurs.

    On the contrary, Sindh has already announced winter vacations for educational institutions from December 20, 2021 to January 3, 2022.

    Prior to this development, Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood on Tuesday said that as per the “agreed proposal”, winter vacations should be announced from December 25 to January 4.

    However, he added that further notifications will be issued from the concerned governments.

  • Asad Umar urges PCB to give students free entrance to watch Pak vs Windies matches

    Asad Umar urges PCB to give students free entrance to watch Pak vs Windies matches

    National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) head Asad Umar has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to allow free entry for students in the stadium during the Pakistan and West Indies matches.

    Talking to the media outside National Stadium Karachi (NSK), while urging PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja, he said: “This is not the time to make money.”

    The federal minister also asked Karachiites to come to National Stadium and support their team.

    Speaking about PSL attendance, the minister said that PCB and NCOC are working jointly over Covid situation.

    “There will be 100pc attendance during PSL 7 matches if Covid-19 situation did not worsen,” Asad added.

    Separately today, the Karachi police have issued a traffic plan in connection with three T20Is and as many ODIs to be played between Pakistan and West Indies at National Stadium Karachi.

    According to a plan issued by the traffic police, the Hassan Square flyover will remain closed for all types of traffic during T20Is and ODI matches.

    In a bid to ensure foolproof security of the players, the traffic police in a statement said that Sir Shah Muhammad Suleman Road from Hasan Square to the National Stadium will remain closed for all kinds of traffic during the matches.

  • PDM determined to hold long march three months from now

    PDM determined to hold long march three months from now

    Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is determined to hold a long march on Pakistan Day.

    The Opposition alliance on Tuesday pledged to reach Islamabad on March 23 and warned the authorities against any attempt to use force to prevent the marchers from entering the federal capital.

    “So far, we have decided to reach Islamabad. The duration of the stay will be decided [by the leadership] after reaching the capital,” said PDM spokesman Hafiz Hamdullah.

    “We will come. Stop us Asad Umar, if you can,” said Hamdullah, referring to Asad Umar’s statement where the latter said if PDM staged a long march to Islamabad to topple the government, “the people gathered in the public meeting will thrash you“.

    Meanwhile, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed had called out the PDM for announcing a long march on Pakistan Day as an “extremely irresponsible and immoral” move.

  • NCOC approves booster shot for healthcare workers, those over 50 and immunocompromised people

    NCOC approves booster shot for healthcare workers, those over 50 and immunocompromised people

    National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday approved a booster shot of Covid-19 vaccines for healthcare workers, those aged over 50 years, and immunocompromised people.

    A meeting of the NCOC, chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives and NCOC chief Asad Umar, announced to have launched a special vaccination drive in the country from today, December 1.

    The NCOC said that the vaccination teams will remain present at public places to ensure the vaccination of each and every individual.

    “People will be vaccinated on the spot if found unvaccinated,” it said.

    Provincial health ministers and chief secretaries gave presentations during the meeting, highlighting initiatives taken to boost the vaccination campaign, improve testing numbers and establish call centres.

    “All provinces will start vaccination outreach campaigns immediately to [achieve] the vaccination targets,” the statement added.

    The forum instructed the provincial representatives to focus on the spread of the new variant, Omicron.

  • ‘People gathered in the public meeting will thrash the Oppostion’: Asad Umar

    Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar in a public meeting on Friday warned the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) if it staged a long march to Islamabad to topple the government, “the people gathered in the public meeting will thrash you,” reports Dawn.

    His comments come after the Opposition is considering bringing a no-confidence motion against Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani or National Assembly(NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser as a tester to confirm the present strength of treasury in parliament.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Khurram Dastagir said on a Dawn News TV show that the motion would be moved soon. They said if the motion became successful, then a similar motion could be moved against the prime minister.

    Dastagir said: “The motion can be moved within two months against the Senate chairman or the NA Speaker.”

    Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said at a press conference that “the coalition parties have also expressed confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan”.

    The minister said these words after the premier held a third meeting on Friday with the leaders of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in a week amid “shattered” confidence of allies in the government’s working and the Opposition’s threat to topple the government.

  • Govt plans to provide gas three times a day for cooking only

    The government has decided to provide gas to the residential sector only three times a day for cooking purposes throughout December to March to minimise gas shortages in Pakistan, reports Dawn.

    “Gas to residential sector shall be provided three times a day for cooking only,” the meeting was informed by the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Divi­sion), who added that Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) diversion to domestic consumers is to be made bare minimum for stability.

    Gas supply to power and fertiliser sectors of the country is expected to remain stable. Their supply and demand would remain unchanged.

    This was all decided by Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) during a meeting presided over by Minister for Planning and Develop­ment Asad Umar. This is part of the Gas Load Management Plan for winter 2021-22, which was presented to the committee.

    It should be noted that the world is experiencing a fuel and gas shortage as recently it has been reported that the United States (US) government urged its citizens to leave Haiti because of the severe lack of fuel and closing down of gas stations in the country that have affected hospitals, schools, and banks.

    During the meeting, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) also presented their additional measures against illegal gains and other revised rules according to which fines have been revised for licensees. The maximum penalty for major violations now starts from Rs10 million to Rs500 million.

    Like every year, Pakistan is expected to be hit by a major gas crisis, reports Geo News.

    One of the reasons is that local discoveries of gas have witnessed a dip, so the domestic gas reserves are reduced, the sources explained, adding that the local gas supply stood at 4,300 mmcfd a few years back but now it has depleted and stands at 3,300 mmcfd. 

  • Politicians extend Diwali wishes to Hindu community celebrating their festival of light

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan took to Twitter and extended his wishes to Pakistani Hindus on the eve of Diwali, the festival of lights.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif took to Twitter and wrote, “May the festival of lights be the source of peace, love, and joy around the world!”

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto wished the Hindu community and tweeted, “Happy #Diwali to everyone celebrating.”

    Maryam Nawaz tweeted, “Wishing you all the happiness and prosperity. Diya jalaaye rakhna.” [Keep the lights burning].

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) minister Fawad Chaudhry wished the community and tweeted, “Very Happy Diwali to those celebrating… #Diwali.”

    PTI leader Asad Umar tweeted, “Wishing all Hindus a very happy Diwali.”

    PPP Senator Sherry Rehman too wished those celebrating Diwali.

  • ‘Pakistan witnessing lowest positivity rate since we started measuring Covid’: Asad Umar

    Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Asad Umar took to Twitter to announce that Pakistan recorded the lowest Covid positivity ratio since the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) started measuring the statistics of the pandemic.

    “Alhamdulillah, we now have [the] lowest positivity ratio since we started measuring covid. Also, have [the] lowest patients on critical care & [the] lowest daily mortality in a year. [The] positive impact of vaccination showing but vaccination drive must continue.”

    According to the latest statistics given by NCOC, the current positivity ratio of the virus is 1.34 per cent.

  • Pakistan’s lowest daily Covid-19 death count of 2021

    Pakistan has reported the daily death toll from Covid-19 below 10 for the first time in this year, National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data showed on Monday.

    According to the latest statistics of NCOC, nine people succumbed to the virus during the past 24 hours across the country and 698 positive cases were reported.

    The positivity rate now stands at 1.65 per cent and for the tenth consecutive day, it is less than 2 per cent.

    The infections are decreasing day by day in Pakistan, with 593 new cases reported on average each day, reports Geo News.

    Last week, active cases in Pakistan dropped below the 25,000 mark after approximately seven months.

    Pakistan has administered at least 100,741,762 doses of Covid vaccines so far.

  • Another deadly Covid variant identified in Pakistan

    Another deadly Covid variant identified in Pakistan

    The health authorities announced that another variant of the deadly Covid virus has reached Pakistan, reports Dawn.

    Talking to the media outlet, Member Scientific Task Force on Covid-19 Dr Javed Akram said a fatal variant of the virus called ‘Epsilon’ had been detected in the country.

    He confirmed that around 40 patients had contracted the variant so far, however, the figure is not accurate.

    “This variant had originated in California, which was why it was called the California strain or B.1.429,” Dr Akram added.

    “We need to understand that the virus has been controlled but not eradicated, therefore, there are chances of it bouncing back,” said Dr Akram.

    Talking about the vaccines’ efficiency, Dr Akram, who is also the vice-chancellor of the University of Health Sciences (UHS), stated, “The positive side is that all vaccines are effective against Epsilon, therefore people should get immunised and adhere to the standard operating procedures.”

    The Japanese government provided equipment worth 6.59 million dollars to Islamabad through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for enhancing Pakistan’s capacity for Covid vaccine storage.

    According to the statistics shared by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 662 covid cases were recorded in the last 24 hours and the current positivity rate is 1.40 per cent.