Thursday saw some major developments in Pakistan where the center and provincial governments took important decisions to forestall the spread of coronavirus in the country.
PM Imran Khan has called an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee on Friday (today) to discuss the coronavirus situation in the country and required preventive measures to curb the spread.
The meeting will be chaired by PM Imran Khan. All three heads of the armed forces, DGs of ISI and IB, representatives of all provinces, interior and foreign ministries, as well as PM’s aides on health, economy, information & broadcasting, and national security division will participate in the meeting.
On Thursday night, the PM Office quoted data from the National Institute of Health in a tweet and rectified the number of affected people to 20, from the previously reported 21.
Earlier, the military’s top brass discussed country’s COVID-19 related developments in the Corps Commanders Conference presided over by Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa at the GHQ.
Sindh Educational Institutions to Remain Closed till May 31
Some significant measures were taken by the Sindh government in view of the pandemic threat. It was decided that all educational institutions across the province would remain shut till May 31.
The spokesperson for the Sindh government Barrister Murtaza Wahab announced the development in a tweet informing that the period would count as summer vacations.
PSL Matches in Karachi to be Hosted without Crowd
The Sindh Government and Pakistan Cricket Board announced that the Pakistan Super League matches scheduled in Karachi will be played in an empty stadium starting Friday (today).
However, spectators were allowed in Thursday’s match that was played between Lahore and Karachi teams. The PCB issued a set of preventive measures for the players and the general public to safeguard themselves from the virus that discouraged handshakes and advised players to minimize public appearances.
Pakistan’s First Case of Local Transmission – Tally Reaches 21
It has been reported just hours ago that a new COVID-19 case has emerged in Sindh where a 52-year-old patient tested positive for the virus. The person had ‘arrived from Islamabad 2 days ago’.
The development could mark the first case of local transmission because as of now, all who tested positive had brought the virus from outside Pakistan, mainly Iran.
On Thursday, another case emerged from Skardu, Gilgit Baltistan where a 31-year-old individual who had returned to Pakistan on February 25 after traveling to Iran was found with the virus.
For our coronavirus coverage from Thursday, click here.
