ISLAMABAD: About 46 percent of Pakistanis who have tested positive for the coronavirus have a travel history to Iran, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a report published on April 1.
Pakistan closed its border with Iran last month following the outbreak in the neighboring country, which has reported more than 47,500 cases of coronavirus and more than 3,000 deaths, making it the worst hit country in the Middle East. Pakistan, where testing for the virus is not widespread, has 2,696 confirmed cases and 40 deaths.
“Out of the total 2,039 confirmed cases in Pakistan till April 1, 46% have a travel history to Iran, 27% had travel history to other countries and local transmission has been reported in 27% of the confirmed cases,” the WHO report said.
All data used in the report comes from the government of Pakistan, Dr. Palitha Mahipala, WHO’s Pakistan representative, told Arab News on Saturday.
Pakistan and Iran, one of the countries worst hit by the outbreak, share a 900 km border, which is frequently used for trade and by Pakistani Shiites, who travel to Iran for religious pilgrimages, often crossing at a border crossing at Taftan.
Pakistan’s Director General Health, Malik Muhammad Safi, told Arab News, that around 6,000 pilgrims had entered Pakistan without being properly screened for coronavirus on the Iranian side.
“Iran announced their coronavirus outbreak very late due to which more than 6,000 zaireen [pilgrims] entered Pakistan unchecked, which became a source of local transmission in Pakistan,” Safi said.
He said Iran’s late announcement of the outbreak within its borders resulted in the spread of the respiratory illness to many regional countries.
Indeed, Iran has emerged as the second focal point after China for the spread of coronavirus. Cases in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, and even Canada have all been traced to Iran.
The Iranian government denies concealing facts about the outbreak. President Hassan Rouhani said during a televised speech on March 18 that his government had been “honest and straightforward with the nation.”
WHO officials said in early and mid-March that Iran’s response to coronavirus was coordinated and evolving in the right direction, but that more needed to be done.
Talking about Pakistan’s anti-coronavirus efforts, Saifi said the government would use 14,000 nationwide polio eradication centers as part of its coronavirus response.
“We are going to use all these 14,000 centers, and also 200 polio surveillance officers have also been deputed for the surveillance of potential coronavirus patients,” the director general health said. “We have started COVID-19 testing at 20 places around Pakistan and working on taking this number to 50 labs to increase testing across the country.”
46% Pakistanis with coronavirus have travel history to Iran — WHO
https://arab.news/jspa3
46% Pakistanis with coronavirus have travel history to Iran — WHO
- 27% Pakistanis with covid-19 have travel history to other nations, 27% confirmed cases are local transmission, WHO says in report
- Around 6,000 pilgrims had entered Pakistan without being properly screened for coronavirus on the Iranian side — Director General Health
Pakistan stocks hit record as fertilizer sales jump, rate cut hopes build
- KSE-100 jumps 1.5 percent to close above 179,000 points for the first time
- Stocks start 2026 on a strong note amid broad-based institutional buying
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani stocks extended their rally on Friday, with the benchmark index closing above the 179,000-point mark for the first time, driven by strong fertilizer sales data and expectations of further monetary easing by the central bank.
The KSE-100 index rose 2,679.44 points, or 1.52 percent, to close at 179,034.93, compared with its previous close of 176,355.49, according to data from the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).
Ahsan Mehanti, chief executive officer at Arif Habib Commodities, said buying interest picked up ahead of key corporate earnings due next week, supported by easing inflationary pressures and improving sector-specific data.
“Rupee gains, strong fertilizer sales growth of 34 percent year-on-year in December 2025 and expectations of further policy easing by the State Bank of Pakistan, after headline inflation slowed to 5.6 percent year-on-year, acted as key triggers for bullish activity at the Pakistan Stock Exchange,” he told Arab News.
Fertilizer sales in Pakistan have shown mixed trends in recent months, with overall offtake affected by weak farm economics and seasonal factors. While urea sales declined in some periods, December data showed a sharp rebound, helping lift investor sentiment in the sector.
This has supported fertilizer stocks on the PSX, including Fauji Fertilizer Company, Engro Fertilizers and Fatima Fertilizer, which continue to draw interest due to their market dominance and dividend payouts.
Samiullah Tariq, head of research and development at Pakistan Kuwait Investment Company Limited, said investors were positioning for another rate cut amid improving macroeconomic indicators.
“Expectations of another rate cut, strong macroeconomic fundamentals and better corporate results are driving the market,” he said.
Pakistan’s central bank cut its key policy rate by 50 basis points to 10.5 percent last month, surprising markets after maintaining rates unchanged in its previous four policy meetings. Consumer price inflation eased to 5.6 percent year-on-year in December, while prices declined on a monthly basis.
Friday’s close capped a strong start to 2026 for the PSX, with broad-based institutional buying lifting major sectors and reinforcing investor confidence at the beginning of the year.
