ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Institute of Health (NIH) said on Monday the first cases of the coronavirus omicron sub-variant BA.2.12.1 had been detected in samples collected at airports from foreign travelers.
BA.2.12.1 is accounting for a growing share of United States cases — about 36 percent of samples sequenced during the week ending April 30, according to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It has also been found in other countries and is believed to be 27 percent more contagious than the BA.2 variant.
“We have reported this case to the media and public after this sub-variant was detected in some samples recently collected at our airports,” NIH focal person Dr. Mumtaz Ali Khan told Arab News.
“We aren’t recommending any new coronavirus-related restrictions at the moment, but have enhanced our monitoring and screening of all incoming travelers at airports.”
“We cannot disclose the name of the particular country from which this sub-variant was brought in Pakistan,” Khan said, adding that the variant had been found in more than one sample, and the news was being made public so citizens would understand the urgency of taking precautions and getting vaccines.
“This is more transmissible than previous variants with mild symptoms and less severity,” Khan said, saying the best preventive measure was to wear masks in crowded places and get vaccinated.
“We strongly recommended getting vaccinated and all those due for booster must get the shots immediately,” he said, saying the NIH was recommending a fourth shot to build immunity against the virus.
Khan said the coronavirus would keep mutating as long as it spread through the population: “The omicron variant will continue to evolve, and it is good in a way that the virus may weaken too.”
Pakistan lifted all coronavirus-related restrictions in March following a significant decline in daily infections across the country.
In the last 24 hours, Pakistan reported 100 new infections with zero deaths. Around 122 million people in Pakistan, out of a population of 220 million, are fully vaccinated.
No new COVID-19 restrictions as Pakistan detects omicron sub-variant in incoming travelers
https://arab.news/vg5u9
No new COVID-19 restrictions as Pakistan detects omicron sub-variant in incoming travelers
- Authorities do not disclose name of country from where variant brought to Pakistan
- BA.2.12.1 believed to be 27 percent more contagious than previous BA.2 variant
Pakistani, Bangladeshi officials discuss trade, investment and aviation as ties thaw
- Pakistan and Bangladesh were once one nation, but they split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war
- Ties between Pakistan, Bangladesh have warmed up since last year and both nations have resumed sea trade
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider on Sunday met Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka, the latter's office said on, with the two figures discussing trade, investment and aviation.
Pakistan and Bangladesh were once one nation, but they split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war, which saw the part previously referred to as East Pakistan seceding to form the independent nation of Bangladesh.
Ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh have warmed up since former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster as a result of a student-led uprising in August 2024. Relations remain frosty between Dhaka and New Delhi over India’s decision to grant asylum to Hasina.
Pakistan has attempted to forge closer ties with Bangladesh in recent months and both South Asian nations last year began sea trade, followed by efforts to expand government-to-government commerce.
"During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to expand cooperation in trade, investment, and aviation as well as scaling up cultural, educational and medical exchanges to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two South Asian nations," Yunus's office said in a statement on X.
In 2023-24 Pakistan exported goods worth $661 million to Bangladesh, while its imports were only $57 million, according to the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan. In Aug. this year, the Pakistani and Bangladeshi commerce ministries signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a Joint Working Group on Trade, aiming to raise their bilateral trade volume to $1 billion in the financial year that began in July.
The Pakistani high commissioner noted that bilateral trade has recorded a 20 percent growth compared to last year, with business communities from both countries actively exploring new investment opportunities, according to the statement.
He highlighted a significant increase in cultural exchanges, adding that Bangladeshi students have shown strong interest in higher education opportunities in Pakistan, particularly in medical sciences, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence. Haider also said that Dhaka-Karachi direct flights are expected to start in January.
"Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus welcomed the growing interactions between the two countries and emphasized the importance of increased visits as well as cultural, educational and people-to-people exchanges among SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) member states," the statement read.
"Professor Yunus also underscored the need to further boost Bangladesh–Pakistan trade and expressed hope that during Mr. Haider’s tenure, both countries would explore new avenues for investment and joint venture businesses."
