KARACHI: A senior Sindh administration official on Tuesday defended the provincial government’s decision to extend a ban on indoor dining in the southern cities of Karachi and Hyderabad, saying the rules could be relaxed only once people started taking necessary precautions against COVID-19.
The number of new coronavirus cases in the province declined from 2,734 on August 4 to 1,042 on August 30 but the death rate still remains high, with 71 deaths on August 24.
The virus claimed 41 lives across the province on Monday when the Sindh administration announced new lockdown rules for September 1 to 15.
“How can we give relaxations when no one is willing to follow the SOPs [standard operating procedures],” Qasim Soomro, a parliamentary secretary for health in the province, told Arab News, referring to officially prescribed guidelines such as social distancing and wearing of face masks in public places.
He added that Sindh was using all available resources to defeat the virus and move toward normalcy.
According to the new regulations for the first fifteen days of September, outdoor dining will be allowed in the province under strict protocols until 10pm.
“Business timings, market and business activities in Karachi division and district Hyderabad may continue till 8pm,” a provincial administration notification said, adding that commercial activities could continue in other cities of Sindh until 10pm.
The new rules also extended a ban on indoor weddings and related ceremonies whereas outdoor weddings were allowed until 10pm for a maximum of 300 guests.
According to the notification, shrines and cinemas would remain closed while a complete ban on contact sports, such as boxing, water polo and wrestling, would be extended.
Sindh has also announced that it will vaccinate 1.4 million students from grade nine to 12 from September 6. According to a handout issued by the provincial health department, the inoculation drive will be carried out by 2,527 teams.
Medical professionals are skeptical of the government’s plans.
“The government has announced to launch a vaccination campaign in schools, but how will it do that when people are sent back from vaccine centers due to the unavailability of the second dose of several coronavirus shots,” Dr. Qaisar Sajjad, general secretary of the Pakistan Medical Association, said.
Asked about non-compliance with COVID-19 rules, he said the government itself was allowing political rallies in the province while trying to implement strict measures at shopping malls and other places.
Sindh has vaccinated 32.70 percent of its adult population, and inoculated 242,912 people in the last 24 hours.
While 43.73 percent of Karachi’s eligible population has received COVID-19 jabs, there is a huge disparity among its various districts. According to official statistics, 86.24 percent people have been vaccinated in district south, though there are areas like Keemari where only 18.51 percent of the population has received coronavirus shots.
“Besides the overall disparity, the vaccination process has also been mismanaged,” Sajjad said.
Soomro however said the provincial administration had meticulously planned the vaccination drive for schools.
“Vaccination is an important step toward normalization of life and complete opening of educational institutions,” he added.
Sindh defends decision to ban indoor dining, asks people to follow virus protocols
https://arab.news/wa3t2
Sindh defends decision to ban indoor dining, asks people to follow virus protocols
- Provincial health authorities announce they will inoculate 1.4 million students from grade 9 to 12 from September 6
- A leading association of doctors says the vaccination campaign in the province has been mismanaged
Pakistan raises fuel prices by Rs55 per liter as Middle East conflict drives oil surge
- Government says adequate fuel stocks in place despite global energy shock
- Oil prices jump from about $78 to over $106 per barrel amid regional conflict
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 ($0.20) per liter each as escalating conflict in the Middle East sent global oil prices sharply higher and disrupted energy supply routes, officials said.
Global oil markets have been rattled since coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran began last week, triggering retaliatory attacks across the region, raising fears of disruption to key energy shipping routes and pushing petroleum prices sharply upward.
The price adjustment in Pakistan was announced after a joint press conference by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, who said the government was monitoring international energy markets and domestic supply conditions amid the crisis.
“So, the decision we have made by changing the levy a little bit is that we are going ahead with increasing the price of both fuels, petrol and diesel, by Rs55 ($0.20),” Malik told reporters.
“And as soon as this matter settles, we will revise the prices downward with the same speed and take steps on how to increase people’s income and purchasing power.”
He said Pakistan entered the crisis with “comfortable energy reserves” due to earlier planning but rising global prices had forced the government to adjust domestic fuel rates to maintain supply continuity.
He said international petrol prices had climbed from roughly $78 per barrel on March 1 to around $106.8 per barrel, while diesel prices had risen to about $150 per barrel.
Malik added that the government had taken steps to minimize the burden on consumers, noting diesel plays a critical role in agriculture, transportation and public mobility.
Malik also warned that authorities would take strict action against anyone attempting to hoard fuel or manipulate supply for profiteering.
The minister said Pakistan was working with international partners to secure additional energy supplies, including arrangements with Saudi Aramco and the use of Pakistan National Shipping Corporation vessels to transport crude oil imports.
Finance Minister Aurangzeb said a high-level government committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had been meeting daily to review developments in global petroleum markets and their potential impact on Pakistan’s economy.
“Pakistan currently maintains adequate energy stocks and macroeconomic stability,” Aurangzeb said, adding that the government’s response was based on preparedness rather than panic.
He said the committee, which includes senior ministers, the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan and other officials, was assessing short-, medium- and long-term implications of the crisis for inflation, foreign exchange reserves and broader economic indicators.
Deputy PM Dar said the regional conflict had significantly disrupted global energy markets, with international petroleum prices rising by as much as 50–70 percent in recent days.
The deputy prime minister added that Pakistan was also engaged in diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions and restoring stability in the region.
Petroleum prices will now be reviewed more frequently, potentially on a weekly basis, and any reduction in global oil prices would be passed on to consumers.
Pakistan, which relies heavily on imported fuel to meet its energy needs, is particularly vulnerable to global oil price shocks that can quickly feed into inflation and pressure the country’s external accounts.
