ISLAMABAD: The Sindh health department on Monday proposed shutting down primary schools in the southern province, banning indoor dining and keeping businesses closed two days a week as the coronavirus positivity rate hit seven percent in Sindh and 14 percent in the provincial capital of Karachi, Pakistani media reported.
The proposals were presented during a meeting headed by Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah, his spokesperson Farhat Imtiaz was quoted by the Dawn newspaper as saying. The provincial task force on COVID-19 will now vote on the measures before they came into effect, Imtiaz added.
Last month, the Pakistan government lifted nearly all coronavirus restrictions around the country as infection figures showed a constantly decline. But numbers have once again picked up, promoting health authorities to mull new curbs.
“During the meeting, Shah said that all marriage halls, cattle markets, shops and restaurants where coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs) were being violated would be sealed,” Dawn reported. “He also directed the Karachi commissioner to impose smart lockdowns in areas with a large number of cases.”
Around 3.5 million coronavirus vaccine doses have been administered in the province, the health secretary said, adding that vaccines were being administered at 647 centers and through 347 mobile teams.
“All commissioners and deputy commissioners should reach their vaccination targets,” the chief secretary said, ordering that the number of mobile vaccination teams be increased.
The proposals came hours after Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health, Dr. Faisal Sultan, said the government would use whatever administrative measures were required, including calling in the Pakistan Army, to ensure compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
He added that smart lockdowns would also be used again “controls and restrictions [were] needed on mobility as well.”
Sindh proposes new restrictions as coronavirus positivity jumps to 14 percent in Karachi
https://arab.news/2hchf
Sindh proposes new restrictions as coronavirus positivity jumps to 14 percent in Karachi
- Sindh proposes shutting down schools, banning indoor dining, keeping businesses closed two days a week instead of one
- Around 3.5 million coronavirus vaccine doses administered in the province at 647 centers and through 347 mobile teams
Pakistan, UK sign £35 million Green Compact to strengthen climate resilience
- Pakistan ranks among nations most vulnerable to climate change and has seen erratic changes in its weather patterns
- UK will help Pakistan mobilize climate finance, strengthen regulatory frameworks and develop bankable climate projects
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Kingdom (UK) have formalized a comprehensive climate partnership with the launch of a Green Compact that aims to enhance climate resilience, accelerate clean energy transition and scale up nature-based solutions, including mangrove conservation, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday.
The agreement, signed in Islamabad by Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik and UK Minister for International Development Jennifer Chapman, unlocks £35 million in targeted support for green development and long-term climate action, according to Radio Pakistan broadcaster.
Pakistan ranks among nations most vulnerable to climate change and has seen erratic changes in its weather patterns that have led to frequent heatwaves, untimely rains, storms, cyclones, floods and droughts in recent years. In 2022, monsoon floods killed over 1,700 people, displaced another 33 million and caused over $30 billion losses, while another 1,037 people were killed in floods this year.
Mohammad Saleem Shaikh, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change, described the compact as a “decisive move toward action-oriented climate cooperation,” noting that its implementation over the next decade will be critical for Pakistan which regularly faces floods, heatwaves and water stress.
“The Compact is structured around five core pillars: climate finance and investment, clean energy transition, nature-based solutions, innovation and youth empowerment, and adaptation and resilience,” the report read.
“Under the agreement, the UK will work with Pakistan to mobilize public and private climate finance, strengthen regulatory frameworks for green investment, and develop bankable climate projects.”
Clean energy forms a central component of Pakistan’s transition, with Islamabad planning to expand solar and wind generation to reduce fossil fuel dependence, improve energy security and stabilize power costs, according to Shaikh.
“Renewable energy is now economically competitive, making the transition both environmentally and financially viable,” he was quoted as saying.
“Nature-based solutions, particularly large-scale mangrove restoration, will protect coastal communities from storm surges and erosion while enhancing biodiversity and carbon sequestration.”
Under the Compact, technical support, mentoring and access to investors will be provided to climate-smart startups and young innovators, reflecting Pakistan’s recognition of youth-led initiatives as central to future climate solutions.
On the occasion, Chapman, on her first official visit to Pakistan, underscored the urgency of climate action, highlighting the UK’s support for renewable energy, mangrove and ecosystem restoration, early-warning systems, climate budgeting and international investment flows into Pakistan.
Shaikh described the Green Compact as “a strategic turning point” in Pakistan–UK relations on climate change, saying its effective implementation is essential for Pakistan to meet its national climate targets.
