Coronavirus spread slows down, New Blue Area project attracts Rs. 12 billion, and more
Numbers out of Pakistan suggest that the country might be over its peak, a new construction project fetches record investment and more top stories from Pakistan.
📆 A special COVID-19 update: Pakistan reported 2,085 new coronavirus cases and 49 deaths yesterday.
Is the country finally over the peak and nearing the end of the pandemic? There’s cause to be optimistic. Here’s why:
Despite testing hovering between 20,000 to 25,000 per day, Pakistan’s test-to-positive case ratio has dropped from 25% to 8.7% compared to last month.
Pakistan’s effective reproduction rate, according to several international studies and estimates, has been below 1 for several weeks now.
According to the country’s National Emergency Operations Center, hospitalizations have halved compared to last month (7500 to 3000), with the most drastic reduction in Punjab.
We’re still keeping our masks on but our fingers are crossed.
🏢 New Blue Area: The government has earned over Rs 12 billion in 2 days from the auction of the New Blue Area project in Islamabad. It’s a 170 canal project located in front of F-9 park. Read more.
📈 Mobile imports increase: Mobile phone imports increased by 81% in FY 2019-20, jumping to $1.37 billion compared to $755 million in the same period last year. Read more.
🤝 Ehsaas welfare program: The government has expanded the Ehsaas Emergency Cash welfare program to 16.9 million families. The budget has been increased to Rs. 203 billion. Read more.
🦠 COVID fake news policy: The government has finalized a framework to monitor both mainstream and social media for Covid-19 disinformation. Regulatory bodies will take strict action against people propagating fake news about the pandemic. Read more.
✈️ Pilot licenses: The Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed that it received requests from 10 countries for verification of licenses of Pakistani pilots. Read more.
🇮🇳 Jadhav case: Indian diplomats left without talking to spy Kulbhushan Jadhav after being given consular access, according to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Pakistan has off. Read more.
🔌 Electricity respite: Prime Minister Imran Khan has postponed the decision to increase the price of electricity for K-Electric consumers. Read more.
🌊 Water crisis: A water crisis is looming for over 270 million people in South Asia because of shrinking glaciers, which will cause water flow in the critical Indus River to decline after 2050. Read more.
💰 PPP corruption: PTI has accused Sindh’s PPP government of corruption of Rs. 33 billion in the RO plant project. The project was supposed to be completed at a cost of Rs. 13 billion. Read more.
🚧 Billions for the construction sector: The government will launch construction projects worth Rs. 400 billion by the end of the year. Projects worth Rs. 145 billion for housing and apartments will begin in October. Read more.
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