LAHORE: A senior health official in Pakistan’s Punjab province said on Sunday there had been a “significant decline” in coronavirus cases across the province, local media reported.
Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, reported one death and 57 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, according to official figures.
“Special standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been issued for various sectors to bring about a further decrease in the virus cases,” the Express Tribune newspaper quoted Punjab health care secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch as saying.
The official also urged the general public to “maintain social distancing, wear masks and contact 1033 helpline for any guidance or complaints.”
Pakistan recorded two more fatalities and 358 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, according to official data.
The South Asian nation also continues to report cases of the omicron variant. The strain was first detected in South Africa last month and within a few weeks of its discovery has spread across nearly 90 countries in the world.
On Saturday, Pakistan’s federal capital reported its first case of the new strain, a senior official announced, saying the patient had traveled to Islamabad from Karachi.
Pakistan reported its first omicron case in Karachi on December 13, though many other people were suspected to have contracted the variant in other parts of the country, including Balochistan.
Last week, Pakistani Planning Minister Asad Umar requested eligible Pakistani nationals to get themselves vaccinated after the emergence of omicron cases in the country. He said the spread of the new variant across the world had made it “even more urgent” to increase the pace of Pakistan’s vaccination campaign.
So far, 92,086,806 people have received their first dose of anti-COVID vaccines in Pakistan, while 65,149,948 have been fully inoculated, official data shows.
COVID-19 cases declining across Pakistan’s Punjab province — health official
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COVID-19 cases declining across Pakistan’s Punjab province — health official
- Health secretary says special directives issued to bring about “further decrease” in cases
- Pakistan continues to report new cases of omicron variant, first one identified in capital on Saturday
Pakistan says over 500 Afghan Taliban militants killed in airstrikes as fighting continues
- Clashes began last week after Afghanistan targeted Pakistani military sites along the border
- Pakistan says it struck 62 targets in Afghanistan, destroyed 237 check posts in the conflict
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has killed 527 Afghan Taliban fighters, wounded more than 755 and struck 62 locations inside Afghanistan in air attacks, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Friday, as fighting between the two neighbors enters the second week.
Clashes between the two countries began last week when Afghan forces launched a surprise attack on Pakistani military installations along their shared border. Afghanistan said the assault was in retaliation for Pakistan’s earlier airstrikes in February on what Islamabad described as militant camps inside Afghanistan.
Last Friday, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the situation had become “open war” between Pakistan and Afghanistan as strikes and fighting escalated.
“Summary of Afghan Taliban losses: 527 killed, 755 + injured, 237 checkposts destroyed, 38 posts captured, 205 tanks, armored vehicles and artillery guns destroyed,” Tarar wrote on the social media platform X.
“62 locations across Afghanistan effectively targeted by air.”
The development comes after the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, announced a fresh offensive against Pakistan earlier today.
Pakistan accuses Kabul of sheltering militant groups such as the TTP on its soil and facilitating attacks against Pakistan. Afghanistan denies the allegations and has urged Islamabad to address its security challenges without blaming Kabul.
Afghanistan has called for dialogue to resolve the conflict. Pakistan, however, has rejected talks with Kabul, saying its operation “Ghazab Lil Haq” — meaning Wrath for Truth — will continue until its objectives are achieved.
Since the conflict began, diplomatic efforts have intensified, with several countries and international bodies, including the European Union and the United Nations, urging restraint and calling for talks.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that Ankara would help restore a ceasefire, as other countries that had offered to mediate have themselves been affected by the conflict in the Gulf.
