ISLAMABAD: Health authorities in Pakistan have detected over five dozen cases of the omicron variant of coronavirus amid a surge in virus infections in the country, local media reported on Saturday.
The omicron strain has higher transmissibility than other variants. It emerged in South Africa in November 2021 and spread across nearly 90 countries within a few weeks of its discovery.
Pakistan has reported more than 500 daily new infections over the last two days, according to official figures. The South Asian nation last month tightened up travel restrictions from some countries to counter the threat of the new strain.
Punjab, the country’s most populous province, reported 49 confirmed cases of omicron variant for the first time, the Dawn newspaper reported, citing an official.
“Forty-eight confirmed cases of the new variant were reported from Lahore while only one from Bahawalpur,” the report read. “Most of the cases were reported from [Lahore’s] Gulberg and Cantonment areas.”
Authorities in Karachi detected an omicron hotspot in Gulshan-e-Iqbal area after the emergence of 12 cases of the new strain, the Karachi East deputy commissioner’s office said.
They have imposed a lockdown in the vicinity to prevent the spread of the new variant.
Pakistan reported its first omicron case in Karachi on December 13. The South Asian nation has also stepped up its vaccination drive against coronavirus.
So far, the country had vaccinated more than 150 million people with Punjab leading the way by inoculating 68 percent of its eligible population, Pakistani Planning Minister Asad Umar said late last month.
A total of 92,086,806 people had received at least one dose of anti-COVID vaccines, while 65,149,948 individuals had been fully inoculated in the country, according to official figures.
Pakistan detects 61 omicron cases amid surge in COVID-19 infections
https://arab.news/6tjf5
Pakistan detects 61 omicron cases amid surge in COVID-19 infections
- In a first, Punjab reports 49 cases of new variant with a majority from Lahore
- Lockdown imposed in Karachi after authorities detect omicron hotspot in Gulshan-e-Iqbal
Pakistan terms climate change, demographic pressures as ‘pressing existential risks’
- Pakistan has suffered frequent climate change-induced disasters, including floods this year that killed over 1,000
- Pakistan finmin highlights stabilization measures at Doha Forum, discusses economic cooperation with Qatar
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Saturday described climate change and demographic pressures as “pressing existential risks” facing the country, calling for urgent climate financing.
The finance minister was speaking as a member of a high-level panel at the 23rd edition of the Doha Forum, which is being held from Dec. 6–7 in the Qatari capital. Aurangzeb was invited as a speaker on the discussion titled: ‘Global Trade Tensions: Economic Impact and Policy Responses in MENA.’
“He reaffirmed that while Pakistan remained vigilant in the face of geopolitical uncertainty, the more pressing existential risks were climate change and demographic pressures,” the Finance Division said.
Pakistan has suffered repeated climate disasters in recent years, most notably the 2022 super-floods that submerged one-third of the country, displaced millions and caused an estimated $30 billion in losses.
This year’s floods killed over 1,000 people and caused at least $2.9 billion in damages to agriculture and infrastructure. Scientists say Pakistan remains among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations despite contributing less than 1 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions.
Aurangzeb has previously said climate change and Pakistan’s fast-rising population are the only two factors that can hinder the South Asian country’s efforts to become a $3 trillion economy in the future.
The finance minister noted that this year’s floods in Pakistan had shaved at least 0.5 percent off GDP growth, calling for urgent climate financing and investment in resilient infrastructure.
When asked about Pakistan’s fiscal resilience and capability to absorb external shocks, Aurangzeb said Islamabad had rebuilt fiscal buffers. He pointed out that both the primary fiscal balance and current account had returned to surplus, supported significantly by strong remittance inflows of $18–20 billion annually from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regions.
Separately, Aurangzeb met his Qatari counterpart Ali Bin Ahmed Al Kuwari to discuss bilateral cooperation.
“Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic ties, particularly by maximizing opportunities created through the newly concluded GCC–Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, expanding trade flows, and deepening energy cooperation, including long-term LNG collaboration,” the finance ministry said.
The two also discussed collaboration on digital infrastructure, skills development and regulatory reform. They agreed to establish structured mechanisms to continue joint work in trade diversification, technology, climate resilience, and investment facilitation, the finance ministry said.
