Pakistan reports first suspected Mpox case after WHO declares it global emergency

Test tubes labelled 'Monkeypox virus positive' are seen in this photo taken on May 23, 2022. (REUTERS/File)
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Updated 15 August 2024
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Pakistan reports first suspected Mpox case after WHO declares it global emergency

  • A person who recently arrived from Gulf country suspected of carrying Mpox disease, says health ministry 
  • Pakistan has put airports on alert after WHO described Mpox outbreak in Africa as global health emergency

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s health ministry reported the country’s first suspected case of infectious disease Mpox of the year on Thursday, a day after the World Health Organization (WHO) described it as a global health emergency of international concern following an outbreak of its new variant in some African countries. 

The Mpox virus is primarily found in Central and West Africa, where it is transmitted from animals, such as rodents and primates, to humans. Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with body fluids, respiratory droplets or contaminated materials like bedding. The disease is characterized by fever, swollen lymph nodes and a distinctive rash. 

Pakistani authorities said on Thursday they have put airports on alert and strengthened screening systems at various entry points out of the country following the WHO’s warning. 

“A suspected case of Mpox has been reported in [person arriving from] a Gulf country in Pakistan which has been sent to the National Institute of Health for verification,” the spokesperson of Pakistan’s Ministry of Health said in a statement. 

It said that the NIH would issue a report after evaluating the case. The ministry added that the NIH had issued a health advisory regarding precautions against the disease. It pointed out that so far 99,518 cases and 208 deaths from the infection have been reported from 122 countries around the world. 

Pakistan has held the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) meeting to evaluate the situation and take precautionary steps.

The NCOC was established in March 2020 and worked as the principal body to coordinate and implement the country’s national response to COVID-19 by collecting, analyzing and disseminating data.

It also coordinated efforts between federal and provincial governments and made critical decisions regarding health measures, lockdowns, vaccination campaigns and public communication.


Shanghai Cooperation Organization commerce ministers conference kicks off in Islamabad today

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Shanghai Cooperation Organization commerce ministers conference kicks off in Islamabad today

  • Event is being attended by ministers of SCO countries dealing with external trade and commerce
  • Pakistan is hosting meetings in capacity as incumbent chair of SCO Council of Heads of Government

ISLAMABAD: The 23rd meeting of ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states responsible for foreign economic and trade activities will kick off today, Thursday, in Islamabad, the foreign office said. 
The event will be attended by ministers of SCO countries dealing with external trade and commerce and be chaired by Pakistani Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan.
“In their deliberations, the SCO Ministers will focus on ways to bolster regional cooperation for enhancing trade, advancing sustainable development and promoting connectivity among SCO countries for enhancing economic prosperity in the region,” the foreign office said in a statement.
“Deliberations and outcome of this Ministerial meeting will be discussed and approved during the upcoming meeting of Council of Heads of Government scheduled to take place on 15-16 October 2024 in Islamabad.”
Pakistan is hosting the meetings in its capacity as the incumbent chair of the SCO Council of Heads of Government, the second highest SCO forum that deals with all economic, trade, social, cultural and humanitarian issues as well as the personnel and budgetary matters of the organization.
The SCO represents a major cross-regional bloc, accounting for nearly half of the world’s population and a substantial portion of global GDP. 
“Strengthening trade and economic ties within this framework is crucial for addressing shared challenges and tapping into the vast economic opportunities the region offers,” the foreign office added. “As the host and Chair of SCO-CHG, Pakistan is dedicated to using this platform to promote enhanced economic cooperation within the region.
“With its strategic geographical location and growing trade potential, Pakistan seeks to play a facilitating role in shaping the future of regional commerce and trade partnerships for the mutual benefit of the people of SCO countries.”


Pakistan says China wants to build special economic zone in Gilgit-Baltistan

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Pakistan says China wants to build special economic zone in Gilgit-Baltistan

  • Mountainous territory is the gateway of the $65 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor infrastructure plan
  • CPEC project had aimed to bring development to the region but proposed projects have not taken off so far

ISLAMABAD: A high-level delegation of Chinese companies visiting Islamabad this week has shown “keen interest” in building a special economic zone (SEZ) in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, state-run Radio Pakistan reported on Thursday.
GB is administered by Pakistan as an administrative territory and consists of the northern portion of the larger Kashmir region, which has been the subject of a dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947. The impoverished, remote and rugged mountainous territory borders Afghanistan and China and is the gateway of the $65 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) infrastructure plan. But the region has so far reaped few rewards.
“Pak-China border region has significant economic and cultural importance, with trade and cultural exchanges between the two regions dating back centuries,” Pakistani Minister for Kashmir and GB Affairs, Amir Muqam, was quoted by Radio Pakistan as saying after he hosted the Chinese delegation led by renowned economist Yuan Jianmin Senior in Islamabad.
Muqam said investing in Gilgit Baltistan could benefit both China and Pakistan and foster economic growth, regional connectivity and a stronger partnership.
“The delegation showed keen interest in construction of a Special Economic Zone in Gilgit Baltistan,” Radio Pakistan added.
GB locals fought pro-India forces and opted to join Pakistan in 1948. But since then Gilgit-Baltistan has not been granted full inclusion by the Pakistani constitution over fears doing so would jeopardize Islamabad’s international stance that all of Kashmir is disputed territory.
The local assembly has few powers. Pakistan’s National Assembly and Senate have no representation from Gilgit-Baltistan, and the region receives only a fraction of the national budget.
The CPEC project had aimed to bring development to the region but that has not happened, a consequence, many residents believe, of the lack of local representation at national levels.
New roads, two hydroelectric power plants, a fiber-optic Internet line, and a special economic zone to boost industrial activities have all been proposed as part of the CPEC project since 2013, but none have been materialized so far.
The only substantial project from the China-Pakistan partnership has been the construction of the Karakoram Highway, completed decades ago.


First-ever visit by UN maritime chief to Pakistan kicks off today

Updated 12 September 2024
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First-ever visit by UN maritime chief to Pakistan kicks off today

  • Secretary-General Velasco will attend a three-day maritime sustainability conference, meet with top officials
  • Foreign office says the visit will give Pakistan opportunity to discuss maritime sector along with blue economy

ISLAMABAD: The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco, is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan today, Thursday, to attend the International Maritime Sustainability Exhibition and Conference, according to an official statement released on Wednesday.
The IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shipping and ensuring maritime safety, environmental protection and security on international waters. Established in 1948, its primary role is to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping, which includes standards for safety, pollution prevention and legal matters surrounding global maritime operations.
Pakistan’s foreign office said in a statement this will be the first-ever visit to Pakistan by an IMO Secretary-General.
“The Secretary General’s visit will afford an opportunity for Pakistan and IMO to exchange views on maritime sector and blue economy,” the statement said.
“As a founding member of IMO, Pakistan is deeply committed to IMO’s vision of safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean oceans,” it added. “Pakistan has served for five terms on the IMO Council and has consistently contributed in upholding the IMO objectives.”
The foreign office informed that Velasco will be visiting the country from September 12 to 14 and will hold meetings with Pakistani leadership and senior government officials.
He is scheduled to attend the international exhibition and conference arranged by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, which will begin in Islamabad today before moving to Pakistan’s port city of Karachi for the next two days.
Pakistan is actively working to increase its global trade through sea-lanes and improve port facilities in Karachi and Gwadar.
It is also positioning itself as a key transit hub for landlocked Central Asian states, receiving encouraging responses from countries like Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to use its ports for international trade.


One dead as rescue teams control fire at residential building in Karachi

Updated 11 September 2024
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One dead as rescue teams control fire at residential building in Karachi

  • Pakistan’s most populous city witnesses hundreds of fire incidents annually due to poor safety controls
  • Rescue 1122 says the firefighters used foam to put out the flames, helped people stranded on the roof

KARACHI: One man was killed and his body retrieved after a fire broke out at a residential building in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi on Wednesday, prompting authorities to deploy five fire brigade vehicles to control the blaze.
Karachi, Pakistan’s largest and most populous city, is home to hundreds of thousands of industrial units, residential neighborhoods and some of the country’s tallest buildings.
However, it suffers from a fragile firefighting system and poor safety controls, leading to hundreds of fire incidents annually.
Last month, a massive fire engulfed a plastic factory in the city, which took several hours to extinguish, though no casualties were reported.
“The fire was brought under control due to Rescue 1122’s quick response,” informed a statement released by the service, adding that its workers used foam to put out the flames.
“During the search, the body of a 55-year-old deceased man was recovered from the building,” it said.
The statement also mentioned that some people who were stranded on the roof were safely rescued.
“The final search operation will be conducted after the cooling process,” the statement continued.
The fire incident occurred at the Shah Faisal Colony, a densely populated neighborhood in the city.


Pakistan and European Union pledge joint efforts to tackle religious intolerance

Updated 11 September 2024
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Pakistan and European Union pledge joint efforts to tackle religious intolerance

  • Religious affairs minister tells a visiting EU official Pakistan is committed to protecting minority rights
  • Pakistan Ulema Council also urges religious scholars to highlight minority rights in Friday sermons

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain met with the European Union’s Special Envoy for the Promotion of Religion and Belief Frans van Daele in Islamabad on Wednesday, discussing the challenge of religious intolerance globally and agreeing to work together towards its eradication.

The EU has previously raised concerns over extremist violence perpetrated in the name of religion in Pakistan, specifically mentioning its blasphemy laws and forced conversions, which it says have marginalized religious minorities.

These concerns even prompted the European Parliament to consider reassessing Pakistan’s preferential trade status under the GSP+ scheme, which grants Pakistani exports duty-free access to the European market.

According to a statement circulated by the ministry after the meeting, they also discussed “terrorism, the eradication of sectarianism, the establishment of peace, and the promotion of interfaith harmony.”

“The participants [of the meeting] agreed to work together to reduce the trend of intolerance and achieve a peaceful common future,” it added.

Hussain told the EU official his ministry had formulated a policy on interfaith harmony and sent it to the federal cabinet for approval.

“Pakistan is committed to protecting the rights of minorities,” he said.

FRIDAY SERMONS

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Ulema Council urged religious scholars across the country to highlight the rights of women and minority rights in Islam during the Friday sermons.

“Like other sections of the society, women and minorities are entitled with due respect and honour in the teachings of Islam and all these rights play a pivotal role for the existence of an ideal society,” the council said in a statement.

The council said the teachings of Islam centered on human dignity and respect, urging prayer leaders across the country educate the public about this in the light the Qur’anic teachings.