ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Tuesday it was hopeful it could sustain a steady decline in daily coronavirus infections and deaths during the Islamic month of Muharram by implementing official health guidelines with the help of the public.
Shia Muslims gather in large numbers to take out processions across Pakistan, and around the world, in the holy month of Muharram which falls during the death anniversary of Husain ibn Ali, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
“We are on a path of victory against the virus and hopeful to sustain the progress with the help of the public,” Sajid Hussain Shah, a spokesperson for the health ministry, told Arab News, adding that provincial governments were doing their best to ensure that people abided by health guidelines, including social distancing and wearing face masks in large gatherings.
“Wearing face masks and ensuring social distancing are important to defeat the virus, and we have been repeatedly urging the public to follow these measures,” Shah said.
The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) – the apex federal body to monitor progress against the virus – has also asked provincial governments to ensure that participants at large gatherings and processions follow standard operating procedures to stem the spread of the virus.
“The coronavirus infections may increase in case of negligence,” planning minister Asad Umar, who also heads the NCOC, warned provincial authorities on Monday during a briefing through video link.
A nation of 220 million, Pakistan has so far seen 293,711 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 6,255 related deaths. The number of active cases in the country has steadily declined since hitting its peak in June, with only 672 patients in critical condition, according to statistics compiled by the government.
The country has so far conducted about 2.5 million tests, though critics maintain that testing remains low and the country is underestimating the infection rate.
“The government is testing only those people who visit public health facilities with visible symptoms of COVID-19,” said Dr. Wajiha Javed, head of public health at a multinational pharmaceutical company, Getz Pharma.
She urged authorities to conduct mass testing of people to know the exact prevalence of the virus as many people were asymptomatic and spreading the disease without being aware of it.
In a largest seroprevalence survey of the country conducted last month in Karachi, Javed found that 17.5 percent of her sample population of 25,000 had contracted the coronavirus infection.
“There is no doubt that we have made significance progress against the virus, but we really need to sustain it,” she said. “We may see a second wave of the outbreak after Muharram if people do not follow proper health guidelines.”
Pakistan urges public to follow SOPs to sustain coronavirus gains during Muharram
https://arab.news/9q5ux
Pakistan urges public to follow SOPs to sustain coronavirus gains during Muharram
- Coronavirus national command center pushes provincial governments to ensure rules followed at large gatherings and processions
- Largest seroprevalence survey in Pakistan reveals 17.5 percent of sample population had the coronavirus
Pakistan remittances seen surpassing $40 billion in FY26 as Saudi Arabia leads November inflows
- The country’s November remittances rose 9.4 percent year-on-year to $3.2 billion, official data show
- Economic experts say rupee stability and higher use of formal channels are driving the upward trend
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s workers’ remittances are expected to exceed the $40 billion mark in the current fiscal year, economic experts said Tuesday, after the country recorded an inflow of $3.2 billion in November, with Saudi Arabia once again emerging as the biggest contributor.
Remittances are a key pillar of Pakistan’s external finances, providing hard currency that supports household consumption, helps narrow the current-account gap and bolsters foreign-exchange reserves. The steady pipeline from Gulf economies, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has remained crucial for Pakistan’s balance of payments.
A government statement said monthly remittances in November stood at $3.2 billion, reflecting a 9.4 percent year-on-year increase.
“The growth in remittances means the full-year figure is expected to cross the $40 billion target in fiscal year 2026,” Sana Tawfik, head of research at Arif Habib Limited, told Arab News over the phone.
“There are a couple of factors behind the rise in remittances,” she said. “One of them is the stability of the rupee. In addition, the country is receiving more inflows through formal channels.”
Tawfik said the trend was positive for the current account and expected inflows to remain strong in the second half of the fiscal year, noting that both Muslim festivals of Eid fall in that period, when overseas Pakistanis traditionally send additional money home for family expenses and celebrations.
The official statement said cumulative remittances reached $16.1 billion during July–November, up 9.3 percent from $14.8 billion in the same period last year.
It added that November inflows were mainly sourced from Saudi Arabia ($753 million), the United Arab Emirates ($675 million), the United Kingdom ($481.1 million) and the United States ($277.1 million).
“UAE remittances have regained momentum in recent months, with their share at 21 percent in November 2025 from a low of 18 percent in FY24,” said Muhammad Waqas Ghani, head of research at JS Global Capital Limited. “Dubai in particular has seen a steady pick-up, reflecting improved inflows from Pakistani expatriates owing to some relaxation in emigration policies.”
