ISLAMABAD: President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan have urged Pakistanis to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr safely and maintain restrictions as Pakistan is facing a coronavirus third wave.
Both the president and PM spoke on Wednesday night as the whole country was waiting for the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, the country’s official moonsighting body, to announce last minute that Eid, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, would be observed on Thursday.
As he delivered his Eid greetings, Khan called on Pakistanis to exercise “extra caution and strictly abide by the anti-COVID precautions.”
“The precautions were also the injunctions of Islam as well as teachings of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH),” he said, as quoted by the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
President Alvi said that as Pakistan had shown discipline during the first two waves of the pandemic, it should be able to contain the current one as well if health guidelines are followed.
“I hope that we can contain the massive spread of coronavirus, if we as a nation show discipline during the third wave,” he said, as quoted by APP.
He warned that traditional handshakes and embraces that come with family celebrations on Eid should be avoided “to avert massive outbreak of the pandemic.”
Earlier this month, Pakistan tightened curbs to stop the spread of COVID-19 during the Eid holiday.
Under “Stay Home Stay Safe Strategy,” authorities restricted public transportation to reduce mobility during the period in which a large number of people travel from one city to another to spend the time with their loved ones.
All markets, businesses, and shops remain closed except for those providing essential services.
Pakistani leaders urge caution as Eid starts with tighter virus curbs
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Pakistani leaders urge caution as Eid starts with tighter virus curbs
- Pakistan’s moonsighting committee announced Eid Al-Fitr to be observed on Thursday
- Earlier this month, Pakistan tightened curbs to stop the spread of COVID-19 during Eid
Pakistan, ADB sign $730 loan agreements to boost SOE reforms, energy infrastructure
- Both sign $330 million Power Transmission Strengthening Project and $400 million SOE Transformation Program loan agreements
- Economic Affairs Division official says Transmission Project will secure Pakistan’s energy future by strengthening national grid’s backbone
KARACHI: Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday signed two loan agreements totaling $730 million to boost reforms in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and energy infrastructure in the country, the bank said.
The first of the two agreements pertains to the SOE Transformation Program worth $400 million while the second loan, worth $330 million, is for a Power Transmission Strengthening Project, the lender said.
The agreements were signed by ADB Country Director for Pakistan Emma Fan and Pakistan’s Secretary of Economic Affairs Division Humair Karim.
“The agreements demonstrate ADB’s enduring commitment to supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Pakistan,” the ADB said.
Pakistan’s SOEs have incurred losses worth billions of dollars over the years due to financial mismanagement and corruption. These entities, including the country’s national airline Pakistan International Airlines, which was sold to a private group this week, have relied on subsequent government bailouts over the years to operate.
The ADB approved the $400 million loan for SOE reforms on Dec. 12. It said the program seeks to improve governance and optimize the performance of Pakistan’s commercial SOEs.
Karim highlighted that the Power Transmission Strengthening Project will enable reliable evacuation of 2,300 MW from Pakistan’s upcoming hydropower projects, relieve overloading of existing transmission lines and enhance resilience under contingency conditions, the Press Information Department (PID) said.
“The Secretary emphasized that both initiatives are transformative in nature as the Transmission Project will secure Pakistan’s energy future by strengthening the backbone of the national grid whereas the SOE Program will enhance transparency, efficiency and sustainability of state-owned enterprises nationwide,” the PID said.
The ADB has supported reforms by Pakistan to strengthen its public finance and social protection systems. It has also undertaken programs in the country to help with post-flood reconstruction, improve food security and social and human capital.
To date, ADB says it has committed 764 public sector loans, grants and technical assistance totaling $43.4 billion to Pakistan.
