ISLAMABAD: Health authorities in Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province on Saturday announced a significant spread of conjunctivitis or pink eye infection, with 10,269 cases documented in the past 24 hours alone, the state-owned Radio Pakistan reported.
Punjab is currently grappling with a significant rise in these cases, with a total of 394,795 people reported to have contracted the disease across all 36 districts, according to the provincial health department.
The Punjab education department already took proactive measures earlier this week by announcing a four-day school closure to stem the spread of the infection.
“The primary and secondary health department of Punjab reported a severe outbreak of pink eye infection with a staggering 10,269 new cases in the past 24 hours,” the Radio Pakistan said.
The health department said that while conjunctivitis usually goes away on its own within eight to 10 days, people should practice proper eye hygiene to minimize the risk of infection.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s interim health minister, Nadeem Jan, also issued a public warning, urging vigilance against the spread of viral infections.
According to the Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, Jan assured the public the government was actively implementing effective measures to control disease outbreaks in the country, adding that a committee of experts had been assembled to comprehensively address the matter.
Jan highlighted that government-run hospitals were operating on high alert to manage both pink eye cases and vector-borne diseases like the dengue virus. He said the eye infection was spreading fast in Punjab with hundreds of patients thronging hospitals daily due to the viral infection.
“The scourge of dengue virus and eye infection will be controlled through collective efforts and coordinated strategy and though it is a difficult task but still achievable,” the report quoted him as saying.
Pakistan’s Punjab province reports over 10,000 conjunctivitis cases in a day — health authorities
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Pakistan’s Punjab province reports over 10,000 conjunctivitis cases in a day — health authorities
- The provincial health department says 394,795 cases of the eye infection have so far been reported in all 36 districts of Punjab
- Interim health minister assures the public the government is making active efforts to control infectious diseases in Pakistan
Pakistan announces plan to develop Port Qasim into climate-resilient industrial complex
- Port Qasim handles 51% of Pakistan’s sea trade, facilitates Islamabad’s trade with Central Asian states
- Maritime affairs ministry says 833 industrial units currently operational at Port Qasim, with 40 under construction
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Maritime Affairs Ministry announced on Monday that it aims to develop Port Qasim into a climate-resilient industrial complex, saying the move would create jobs, usher in investment and ensure sustainable development for the country.
According to its website, Port Qasim is one of the largest contributors to Pakistan’s economy, handling 51 percent of the country’s sea trade. The port also connects directly to Pakistan’s national highway and motorway network, facilitating trade between Afghanistan and the Central Asian Republics.
Pakistan has recently attempted to upgrade its port infrastructure to handle higher trade volumes and improve connectivity between sea lanes and landlocked Central Asian states, leveraging its geographic position at the crossroads of South and Central Asia.
Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry chaired a meeting to discuss projects related to Port Qasim, the ministry said in a statement.
“During the meeting, a long-term plan for a climate-resilient industrial complex at Port Qasim was announced,” the statement said.
Chaudhry said Port Qasim would be developed into a global industrial and logistics hub, adding that it will become a “key gateway” for Pakistan’s national economy.
Officials briefed the minister that the development project for the port would cover an area of more than 14,000 acres. The port’s industrial complex has been divided into three distinct zones, with the eastern one designated for heavy industry and export-oriented units, and the northwestern zone for the promotion of value-added industries and port services.
The southwestern zone of the complex has been earmarked for special industrial and commercial activities, the ministry said.
Chaudhry said 833 industrial units are currently operational at the port while 40 are under construction. He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernizing port infrastructure and improving road and rail connectivity.
“Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said the Port Qasim Industrial Complex will emerge as a hub for employment generation, investment, and sustainable development,” the statement said.
Pakistan seeks to upgrade streamline port operations and enhance trade relations with regional countries as it seeks to escape a prolonged macroeconomic crisis that has put a strain on its resources and triggered a balance of payments crisis in the country over the past few years.
