Tag: covid 19

  • Saheefa Jabbar takes offence at Ramzan transmissions for being problematic

    Saheefa Jabbar takes offence at Ramzan transmissions for being problematic

    Saheefa Jabbar Khattak has called out Ramzan Transmissions for having problematic content and not following COVID-19 SOPs.

    The model-turned-actor, in a series of Instagram stories, said that on one hand, the government and the public are trying their best to follow SOPs, make compromises on their luxurious lifestyle and give up all activities to contain the spread of the virus. But on other, the Ramzan transmissions are allowing large people gathering which will be a serious threat to the life of people.

    “COVID is at its peak. Cricket leagues are getting cancelled, countries in the subcontinent are going into lockdown and strict curfews are imposed on peoples everywhere — we are well in the middle of this horrendous and treacherous third wave,” said Saheefa urging everyone to follow SOPs and wear a mask at all times.

    Khattak then pointed out how she read somewhere how social distancing was a privilege.

    “It means you live in a house large enough to practice it. Hand washing is a privilege too. It means you have access to water. Hand sanitisers are a privilege. It means you have the money to buy them,” she said.

    Saheefa also took the opportunity to highlight the problematic content in Ramazan transmissions.

    VIDEO: Aamir Liaquat sings ‘Laila o Laila’ on the sets of Ramzan transmission

    “They do not follow protocols and are filmed on sets where crews as large as 60 to 70 people are not quarantined and don’t operate inside a bio secure environment. This is a blatant breach of government policy and just shows our inherent insensitivity to the situation,” protested Khattak.

    “Rather, they seem hellbent on ridiculing and insulting human beings in the name of entertainment and profit. It’s crass, rude, and has zero respect for human dignity. I’m sorry but this frustrates me a lot!” she added.

    Khattak also presented a solution to the problem, suggesting that the airtime can be used to “spread awareness about COVID and enforce message sent out by the government.”

    “There was no better time to do it in Ramazan, but no, how would people win a Corolla then?” she sighed, reminding people to take the pandemic seriously.

    “Spend Eid while practicing social distancing, recognise your privilege and try to see through the lies we consume through the magic box!” concluded Saheefa.

    Meanwhile, according to the latest statistics by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 4,109 cases of COVID-19 and 120 deaths were recorded in past 24 hours. The positivity ratio in the country is at 8.54 percent.

  • ‘Complete ban on tourism’ – NCOC’s Eid regulations

    ‘Complete ban on tourism’ – NCOC’s Eid regulations

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has announced a complete ban on tourism, for both locals and outsiders. The ban shall be observed from May 8-16, the week leading up to and including Eid holidays.

    All tourist resorts, formal and informal picnic spots, public parks, shopping malls; all hotels and restaurants in/around tourist/ picnic spots to remain closed.

    All travel nodes leading to tourist/picnic spots both in Northern areas and in South to remain closed. Locals, especially people belonging to Gilgit Baltistan and AJK will be allowed to travel back home.

    The NCOC will form monitoring teams at federal, provincial, and district levels to ensure the implementation of coronavirus SOPs.

    All business and shops to remain closed during this time period, with exceptions like food outlets, grocery stores, paramedics, petrol pumps and bakeries etc.

    On Monday, Pakistan witnessed a total death toll of 161 individuals, due to Covid-19. The country has recorded a total of 837,523 confirmed Covid cases, with current positivity rate of 8.9%.

  • Pakistan to receive first shipment of Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine this week

    Pakistan is expected to receive its first shipment of the Oxford-Astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine by the end of this week under the COVAX program, Arab News has reported. The COVAX program is a global initiative to provide vaccines to countries lacking resources to procure or manufacture the vaccines on their own. 

    Quoting a top government official, the report said that Pakistan will receive the first shipment of 1.2 million doses of Oxford-Astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine on Friday.

    Through the COVAX vaccine facility, Pakistan has planned to vaccinate 20% of its population free of charge.

    As per, Rana Muhammad Safdar, director-general health at the Ministry of National Health Services, the first shipment will arrive from South Korea on May 7.

    “We are committed to vaccinating our maximum population as quickly as possible,” asserted Safdar.

    Pakistan’s vaccination drive began on March 10 with priority given to healthcare workers and senior citizens above 60. Later, vaccinations for those aged 50-59 were started on April 21. Meanwhile, registration for ages 40-49 started on April 27. You can register yourself by sending your CNIC number to 1166. Walk-in vaccinations are available for those aged 50 and above. As per the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), more than 2.5 million people have been vaccinated till now.

    Pakistan is experiencing a deadly third wave of Covid-19, with the positivity rate at an all-time high. According to the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), 3377 cases and 161 deaths were recorded in the country in the last 24 hours.

  • BCCI suspends IPL 2021 indefinitely

    BCCI suspends IPL 2021 indefinitely

    The Board of Cricket Control India (BCCI) has indefinitely postponed the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) following several positive cases of COVID-19 across teams over the past couple of days.

    The decision was taken in an emergency meeting called after players of Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad tested positive for COVID-19. Hyderabad’s Wriddhiman Saha and Delhi’s Amit Mishra were the players who had tested positive and have now been put into isolation.

    The BCCI had contemplated moving the whole tournament to one city but the coronavirus outbreak in the IPL setup left them with no choice but to cancel the event.

    In a media statement, the IPL said the decision was “unanimously” taken by the tournament’s Governing Council along with the top brass of the BCCI.

    “The BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff and the other participants involved in organising the IPL,” the statement said. “This decision was taken keeping the safety, health and wellbeing of all the stakeholders in mind.”

    “These are difficult times, especially in India and while we have tried to bring in some positivity and cheer, however, it is imperative that the tournament is now suspended and everyone goes back to their families and loved ones in these trying times,” read the statement further.

    “The BCCI will do everything in its powers to arrange for the secure and safe passage of all the participants in IPL 2021,” it added.

    As per reports, IPL officials also consulted a few franchises for their take on the situation and it is believed that some suggested to call it off totally. Other reports have suggested that the tournament has been postponed for a few days only.

    Meanwhile, IPL chairman Brijesh Patel confirming the news said the decision was taken for the safety of all stakeholders as the number of cases in the tournament bubble continue to rise by the day.

    India on Tuesday reported 3,57,229 new case, taking the overall case count past the 2 crore mark to 2,02,82,833. 

  • “I’m choking, please give me treatment” – Barkha Dutt’s father’s last words

    “I’m choking, please give me treatment” – Barkha Dutt’s father’s last words

    Senior Indian journalist Barkha Dutt shared the pain of losing her father to COVID-19. In an emotional note on Twitter, Barkha Dutt expressed her grief of how she failed in bringing her ailing father back home safe.  

    She also acknowledged the hospital staff and everyone who tried their best to help her family in this situation. The last words of her late father rang loudly in her mind, “I’m choking, please give me treatment”

    The day her father SP Dutt, was hospitalised, both Barkha and Bahar ( sister of Barkha Dutt ) narrated the difficulties they faced, right from getting an ambulance to oxygen supply issues.

    The day she cremated her father, she said in an interview that urgent help must be sent to India for the sake of the world. She also added, “It is a calamity and a crisis of the kind that I have not seen in my adult life.”

    The second wave in India has firmly gripped the country. Thousands of families have lost their loved ones due to Covid-19. The hospitals are overwhelmed and there are no beds for patients. Shortage of oxygen has killed far more people than the virus alone.

    ” I am an upper middle class Indian. I had access to a hospital, “she said in an interview, “most people I am reporting on are dying at the gates of the hospital.”

    Actors Farhan Akhtar and Abhishek Bachchan and others tweeted their condolences.

  • South African, Brazilian variant of COVID-19 detected in Karachi

    Minister for Health and Population Welfare Sindh Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho has alerted citizens that the South African and Brazilian variant of COVID-19 has been detected in samples taken by the Agha Khan University (AKU).

    In a video message, the minister said: “13 samples were studied yesterday in Agha Khan University Hospital. 10 UK, two African and a Brazilian variant were found.”

    Dr Pechuho further said that South African and Brazilian variants have a high fatality rate and that these variants are not vaccine responsive.

    The doctor warned that those infected with these new found variants can get severely ill.

    She further urged people to stay indoors, avoid gatherings and Eid shopping.

    The minister also added that if citizen continue with such carelessness, hospitals and medical centres will be overburdened as “we have seen in India”. She added that if the virus begins to spread, it will become difficult to control it.

    Last year in December, Pakistan reported three cases of the new strain of coronavirus that first emerged in the United Kingdom, prompting countries to ban travel with the UK.

    Pakistan is experiencing a deadly third wave of Covid-19, with the positivity rate at an all-time high. According to the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), 5112 cases and 131 deaths were recorded in the country in the last 24 hours.

  • Sheheryar Munawar apologises for attending birthday party amid pandemic

    Sheheryar Munawar apologises for attending birthday party amid pandemic

    Sheheryar Munawar has apologised for attending a birthday amid the deadly third wave of the coronavirus in Pakistan. The actor was recently spotted at Fahad Mirza’s 40th birthday celebrations, where he was photographed sans mask enjoying a candid moment.

    After he was called out for being irresponsible, Sheheryar Munawar, in a statement apologised for his actions, saying: “Last week I went to wish my neighbour on his birthday on an invitation I had accepted two weeks prior.”

    Munawar said that he was not expecting such a crowd and left five minutes after wishing the birthday boy.

    “In a candid moment I was asked to take my mask off and pose for a picture,” continued Sheheryar. “Rightly so, I was called out for doing that and not following the SOPs. There is no justification for my actions and I stand corrected.”

    Taking full responsibility, Sheheryar apologised for his “ignorance, lapse in judgement and lack of better sense” and thanked his social media family for “keeping my moral compass in check”

    “Times are tough and we must all follow SOPs outlined by the government,” added the actor before extending prayers for those affected.

    Later, while responding to a social media user, Munawar asserted that there are “no justifications for my actions”.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Munawar had tested positive for COVID-19 when Pakistan experienced its first wave.

    Meanwhile, Mirza’s birthday party was an extravagant affair with many celebs including wife Sarwat Gilani, Zeba Bakhtiar, Frieha Altaf, and Mansha Pasha in attendance. After pictures from the celebrations went viral on social media, people present at the event were heavily criticised for not following the SOps.

    Frieha had defended the celebrations, saying: “First of all, it was a very small gathering and it was on an open rooftop. All SOPs were followed, there were masks, temperature checks at the gate and I believe most of the guests already vaccinated or had antibodies.”

  • Private schools request Cambridge for School Assessed Grades

    With the government announcing that all exams are cancelled until June 15, students are now demanding School Assessed Grades. In this regard, Jibran Nasir who has been a vocal advocate for the student throughout shared a screenshot of an email written to students by the CEO of Cedar College Karachi to inform them that schools in the city are uniting for a joint effort to get School Assessed Grades option for students.

    “In a situation that is evolving rapidly, I am happy to report that in the meeting that we had with school leaders of O’ and A’ Level schools from across Karachi, we reached a unanimous decision to write Cambridge International as one unified block requesting that they give our students the option to op for school/teacher assesses grades for the June 2021 exam series,” read the email.

    The email further stated, “We hope that the fact that we are all speaking with one voice, and have one message will have a greater impact on Cambridge International with respect to allowing Pakistani students the option of taking school assessed grades.”

    “May this become a nationwide effort. Schools are filling shoes of [the] government as Education Minister remains absent,” wrote Jibran in the caption.

    Jibran Nasir also shared names of other private schools who are in favour of School Assesses Grades and requested other schools to do the same.

    Students have been demanding Teacher and School Assessed Grades with the hashtags #ShafqatDestroysOurCareer and #ResignShafqatMahmood trending on social media. They argue that their study schedules have been disrupted because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Shafqat Mahmood disappointed with derogatory language used by students for him

    Federal Minister of Education Shafqat Mahmood in a recent television show expressed his disappointment at the students protesting for their exams to be delayed.

    Answering a question about Twitter trends against him the minister said: “The kind of language these children are using on Twitter, I think it is a collective failure of government Teachers and parents.

    “The kind of language children of age 16 and 17 are using, one feels ashamed,” he said further, adding that it highlights our collective failure.

    Read more- Shafqat Mahmood memes light up the internet once again

    Ayesha Omar and Omair Rana also condemned the disrespectful behavior by some students.

    On the other hand, activist turned politician Jibran Nasir accused Shafqat Mahmood for blocking him for “only raising students concerns and demanding resignation.”

    After Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood announced on Tuesday that no examinations will take place in the country until June 15 and that O’ and A’ Level exams will now take place in the October-November cycle, students are now demanding Teacher and School Assessed Grades with the hashtags #ShafqatDestroysOurCareer and #ResignShafqatMahmood trending on social media.

  • Asim Azhar urges students to sit home, cancel parties after exams postponed

    Asim Azhar, who had backed students on multiple occasions and rallied for their exams to be cancelled, has now urged them to cancel all parties and get-togethers and sit home till COVID ends. The Federal Government on Tuesday had announced that all exams have been cancelled till June 15 in view of rising coronavirus cases.

    “Mubarak bacho,” wrote Asim, after the news of the cancellation came.

    “Ab khuda ka waasta hai parties aur get togethers bhi cancel karna apne aur ghar baithna until we’re done with COVID,” he added.

    Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood on Tuesday had announced that no examinations will take place in the country until June 15 and that O’ and A’ Level exams will now take place in the October-November cycle. Students had long been demanding the government to cancel exams arguing that their study schedules had been disrupted due to COVID-19 and that they had been unable to prepare for the exams.

    Other celebrities including Mehwish Hayat, Adnan Siddiqui and Falak Shabir also appreciated the government’s decision to cancel exams.

    Meanwhile, Aijaz Aslam is disappointed that government is not considering the option of grade assessment.

    “What a mess this examination process has become,” remarked the actor.

    After the cancellation of exams, students are now demanding Teacher and School Assessed Grades with the hashtags #ShafqatDestroysOurCareer and #ResignShafqatMahmood trending on social media. Students are arguing that their study schedules have been disrupted because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and are demanding Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGs) and School Assessed Grades (SAGs).