- ‘We will have lost the war‘ if poverty rises by the time we defeat coronavirus, says PM Imran Imran Khan credits the country’s lower number of confirmed Covid-19 cases than previously projected to timely actions.
- President Alvi outlines plan agreed with ulema on congregational prayers during Ramazan Says after ijma (unanimous consensus) on action plan, not following the measures will be equivalent to sinning.
- President consults religious leaders over gatherings Minister expects govt, ulema will reach consensus in today’s meeting.
- PM Imran for crackdown against smugglers, hoarders Ulema’s help to be sought to ensure precautionary measures are taken during Ramazan to contain spread of virus.
- Govt, IMF agree to put on hold $6bn programme Extended Fund Facility will be revised after Covid-19 is over as macroeconomic indicators deteriorate.
- LHC moved against dismissal of factory workers in Punjab during lockdown Petition requests court to instruct Punjab government to reinstate employment and provide financial aid to workers.
- PIA schedules 23 flights for Pakistanis stranded abroad The special flights will operate from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad and Peshawar.
- Fearing more Covid-19 cases, CM Murad orders setting up of field hospitals in every district Says coronavirus hotspots to be sealed completely; of 4,653 Tableeghi Jamaat members 429 test positive.
- Full transparency ensured in corona relief fund, claims Nasir Highly “credible committee” looking after disbursement of funds.
- SC urged to order govt to declare financial emergency Petitioner calls for a national policy under “one flag, one nation“.
- Doctors demand strict enforcement of lockdown in Sindh “Agenda to enforce a complete lockdown couldn’t be achieved if the poor remained deprived of ration.”
- Pakistanis’ deaths abroad shock Bilawal “I hope that Pakistani missions around the world will be in close touch with troubled citizens.”
- PAF aircraft brings medical equipment to Balochistan 11,000 pounds of medical equipment flown to PAF’s Samungli base.
- 195 Pakistanis return from Afghanistan Authorities say that almost all those who returned were transporters stranded on the Afghan side of the border.
- PIA crew fined at Manchester airport Crew fined for not having valid visas, in spite of having their names mentioned in the General Declaration.
- Per tola gold price plunges by Rs3,400 The 10 gram domestic gold price fell by Rs2,915 to Rs83,675.
- First Rs200bn sukuk issue launched via stock market The amount generated from it will be used for the settlement of partial circular debt related to the power sector.
- Textile exports contract 4.5pc in March Karachi Port, which handles 76pc of the country’s total trade cargo, has seen a significant decline in trade shipments.
- US announces $8.4m to help Pakistan’s anti-virus efforts The contribution was announced on US mission’s social media platforms by Ambassador Paul Jones.
- Ali Habib, prominent businessman and chairman of Indus Motors, passes away in Karachi Prime Minister Imran Khan expresses grief at his death, terms him a “respected and enterprising businessman”.
- ‘Universally low-cost’ vaccine needed to fight Covid-19: IMF “Countries could be vulnerable to new waves of social unrest … if support measures are seen as insufficient,” says IMF.
- French investigate 900-plus virus cases on aircraft carrier One person remains in intensive care and some 20 others hospitalised.
- 40,000 could die in UK as govt was too slow to act, says expert Prime Minister Boris Johnson initially refrained from approving the stringent controls.
- Dubai extends 24-hour curfew by one week The UAE has imposed a nationwide nightly curfew since March 26.
- Astronauts land back on Earth transformed by pandemic One astronaut has been in space since July last year, the other two since September.
- The Wuhan lab at the core of a virus controversy The institute is home to the China Centre for Virus Culture Collection, the largest virus bank in Asia.
- Zaheer asks PCB to punish all current and past culprits involved in fixing “PCB’s plans to criminalise match fixing is a commendable move and should have been done long ago.”
