ISLAMABAD: Authorities in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad have started closing schools amid a surge in coronavirus cases, the Islamabad deputy commissioner said late Monday.
The development comes as the South Asian nation reports more than 5,000 new infections in the last 24 hours. The country is battling a fifth wave of COVID-19, fueled by the highly transmissible omicron strain.
"Due to covid rise Islamabad Administration has started sealing schools for a period of ten days so that contact tracing can be done and positive cases are prevented to interact with other kids," Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat said on Twitter.
The per day COVID-19 positivity rate has crossed 10 percent in Islamabad, according to the official.
He said the city's administration had also launched a crackdown on those violating the government-prescribed standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent the spread of the virus.
"Please wear masks and get everyone around you vaccinated as soon as possible," the deputy commissioner urged.
Pakistan on Tuesday reported 10 deaths and 5,034 new cases of coronavirus, according to the National Command and Operation Centre, which oversees the country's pandemic response.
The overall virus positivity rate in the country stands at 9.45 percent.
Authorities in Pakistan's Islamabad start closing schools amid rising virus cases
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Authorities in Pakistan's Islamabad start closing schools amid rising virus cases
- Deputy commissioner says educational institutes being closed for a period of 10 days
- The COVID-19 positivity rate has crossed 10 percent in Islamabad, Hamza Shafqaat adds
Pakistan stocks rebound on easing regional tensions, gain over 1,500 points
- The development came after Iran said it was keeping communication channels with Washington open amid cost-of-living protests
- It followed a threat by President Donald Trump last week to intervene militarily if Tehran continued cracking down on protesters
ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) edged higher on Tuesday as the benchmark index gained more than 1,500 points, with analysts citing easing regional tensions following signals of potential talks between Iran and the United States (US).
The benchmark KSE-100 index gained 1,567.36 points, or 0.86 percent, to close at 183,951.50 points, compared to the previous close of 182,384.14 points when the market had shed more than 2,000 points, according to PSX data.
Iran has been witnessing public unrest over worsening economic conditions. Around 2,000 people, including security personnel, have been killed in violent protests, Reuters reported, citing an Iranian official.
Tehran said on Monday that it was keeping communication channels with Washington open as US President Donald Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs on countries trading with the Islamic republic.
“Stocks showed sharp recovery at PSX after Iran and US signal talks over unrest in Iran,” Ahsan Mehanti, chief executive officer at Arif Habib Commodities, told Arab News.
“Surging global crude oil prices and speculations ahead of corporate results in the earnings season played a catalyst role in bullish close.”
Najeeb Ahmed Khan Warsi, digital and retail business officer at Al-Habib Capital Market, said the index had seen a three-day bearish streak.
“Geopolitics and global volatility driving downturn, profit-taking and economic concerns weigh in,” he added.
Meanwhile, Pakistani market research firm Topline Securities said the benchmark index ended the session on a “positive note” on Tuesday.
“Trading interest remained subdued, as total market volumes reached 1,033 million shares, while the value of shares traded stood at Rs62.9 billion,” it said in a daily market review on X.
United Bank Limited (UBL), National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Muslim Commercial Bank Limited (MCB), Lucky Cement Limited (LUCK) and Meezan Bank Limited (MEBL) jointly contributed 936 points to the index, according to the research firm.
Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC), Sazgar Engineering Works Limited (SAZEW) and Haleon Pakistan Limited (HALEON) collectively shaved 158 points off the index.
“Bank of Punjab (BOP) led the volume rankings, emerging as the most actively traded stock with 73 million shares,” Topline Securities added.
