KARACHI: Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has banned meals and snacks on flights from January 10, it said on Saturday, amid a surge in the number of coronavirus infections.
The South Asian nation on Saturday reported 4,286 new coronavirus infections, its highest caseload since the end of August, as a fifth COVID-19 wave sweeps the country, driven by the highly transmissible omicron strain of the virus.
The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), which oversees Pakistan’s pandemic response, met on Saturday to discuss the disease prevalence and proposed non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in the wake of rising number of infections, especially in urban centers.
“Amid rising trend of disease across the country, detailed stock of the disease situation and currently enforced NPIs was carried out at NCOC,” the CAA said in a notification.
“Accordingly, forum decided to impose ban on serving of meals/snacks in domestic air travel and public transport with effect from 17 January [20]22.”
The CAA directed officials to ensure dissemination of the new directives on priority.
The last time Pakistan reported over 4,200 new cases was on August 25, 2021, when 4,467 people tested positive for the virus in a single day.
The omicron variant was first detected in southern Africa and Hong Kong in November, with the first known case in Pakistan identified last month in a woman who had no travel history outside the country.
The NCOC asked all federating units to take strict measures against those violating government-proposed precautionary measures, including wearing masks and maintaining a safe social distance at public places. It asked authorities to ensure strict enforcement of obligatory vaccination regime and existing NPIs.
The pandemic response body also asked provinces to carry out immediate surveys of health care facilities, fast-track vaccination drive and ramp up efforts to achieve vaccination targets.
Pakistan bans meals, snacks on flights from Monday amid rising coronavirus cases
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Pakistan bans meals, snacks on flights from Monday amid rising coronavirus cases
- Country is facing fifth COVID-19 wave, driven by highly transmissible omicron strain
- South Asian nation reported 4,286 new infections on Saturday, its highest since August
Pakistan PM directs ministries to fast-track foreign investment recommendations
- Pakistan’s foreign direct investment fell by over 25 percent during July-November period, official data states
- Premier directs ministries to provide support via embassies worldwide to facilitate foreign investors
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed all ministries to prepare recommendations for domestic, foreign investment and development projects related to their sectors, state media reported as Islamabad eyes sustainable economic growth.
The premier’s directives came while he chaired a meeting of the federal ministries on the implementation of economic governance reforms, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
Foreign direct investment inflows in Pakistan fell by more than 25 percent to $927 million during the July-November period, as per data from the central bank. Pakistan’s FDI inflows have never surged beyond $3 billion in nearly 20 years, worrying Islamabad as it seeks to escape a prolonged macroeconomic crisis.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed all ministries to promptly prepare recommendations for domestic and foreign investment and development projects related to their respective sectors,” Radio Pakistan reported.
Sharif said it was his government’s top priority to provide institutional and administrative facilitation to investors.
The prime minister instructed federal ministries to provide “special importance” to proposals that promote exports.
“The prime minister directed the concerned ministries to provide effective support through Pakistani embassies worldwide to facilitate foreign investors,” the state media said.
Sharif stressed that equal attention be provided to industrial production, agriculture, and other key sectors to increase investment.
Pakistan’s government has said it is eyeing sustainable economic growth, driven by exports and foreign investment.
The South Asian country has recently signed agreements worth billions of dollars with regional allies such as Gulf nations, China and Central Asian nations to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, livestock, mines and minerals, and other sectors.
