KARACHI: Authorities in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province on Monday warned that more restrictions could be put in place as members of the public and businesses flouted coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs) and positivity rates climbed in a number of cities, including to as high as 22 percent in parts of Karachi.
Sindh reported 895 new infections in the last 24 hours, with 11 deaths, the chief minister said. Pakistan is currently battling a third wave of the coronavirus, and in the last 24 hours recorded 4,213 new infections and 79 deaths.
“The situation of coronavirus is getting dangerous with each passing day and to tackle the dangerous situation, the government had taken some strict decisions in the people’s best interest and at the same time people were given some concessions to live their normal life with SOPs,” government spokesman Murtaza Wahab said in a video message posted on Twitter. “But it has been noticed that these SOPs are being violated.”
He said offices, restaurants and markets had been allowed to remain open subject to following health guidelines, but they continued to violate rules: “If you keep violating the SOPs, the government will be forced to impose harsher restrictions.”
A statement released by the Sindh chief minister’s office said the province’s second largest city, Hyderabad, which earlier had a coronavirus positivity rate of less than five percent, was now recording a ratio of 19 percent, whereas the detection rate in parts of Karachi had climbed to 22 percent.
In light of this, the statement said, the chief minister had directed the administration to take strict measures to implement SOPs announced by the government.
“The district administration and the police must take coercive action against business units defying government orders in respect of working hours and enforcement of SOPs,” the chief minister said at a meeting on Monday, directing the commissioner of Karachi “to launch an awareness campaign.”
Pakistan’s Sindh province warns of ‘harsher’ COVID restrictions over violations, case surge
https://arab.news/4thte
Pakistan’s Sindh province warns of ‘harsher’ COVID restrictions over violations, case surge
- Sindh spokesperson says restaurants, offices, grocery, and medical stores continuing to violate standard operating procedures
- Positivity rates climb in a number of Sindh cities, including to as high as 19 percent in Hyderabad and 22 percent in parts of Karachi
US freezes immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including Pakistan
- Immigrant visas to be suspended from Jan 21, tourist visas unaffected
- Move targets “public charge” concerns as Trump revives hard-line immigration rules
ISLAMABA: The United States will pause immigrant visa issuances for nationals of 75 countries, including Pakistan, from January 21, the State Department said on Thursday, as President Donald Trump presses ahead with a hard-line immigration agenda centered on financial self-sufficiency.
In an update published on its website, the State Department said it was conducting a comprehensive review of immigration policies to ensure that migrants from what it described as “high-risk” countries do not rely on public welfare in the United States or become a “public charge.”
“The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates. The freeze will remain active until the US can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people,” the department said.
The pause applies specifically to immigrant visas, which are issued to people seeking permanent residence in the United States. The department said applicants from affected countries may still submit applications and attend interviews, but no immigrant visas will be issued during the suspension.
According to the State Department, the affected countries include Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Russia, Somalia, Brazil, Thailand and dozens of others across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Latin America.
The department said tourist and other non-immigrant visas are not affected, and that no previously issued immigrant visas have been revoked. Dual nationals applying with a valid passport from a country not on the list are exempt from the pause.
The State Department did not indicate how long the visa pause would remain in effect, saying it would continue until its review of screening and vetting procedures is completed.
The announcement underscores the breadth of the Trump administration’s renewed immigration crackdown. Since returning to office last year, Trump has revived and expanded enforcement of the “public charge” provision of US immigration law, which allows authorities to deny entry to applicants deemed likely to rely on public benefits.
During his previous term, Trump imposed sweeping travel restrictions on several Muslim-majority countries, a policy widely referred to as a “Muslim ban,” which was challenged in courts before a revised version was upheld by the Supreme Court and later rescinded under former president Joe Biden.
The visa freeze also comes amid an intensifying domestic enforcement push. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has expanded operations nationwide, drawing scrutiny over its tactics. Last week, an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good, a US citizen, during a federal operation in Minneapolis, sparking protests and renewed debate over immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
