- PM visits Red Crescent Corona Care Hospital The district administration has turned the Red Crescent Hospital into a coronavirus field hospital.
- Ulema’s responsibility to ensure SOPs for prayer congregations are followed: PM Imran “I know my nation. I knew people had to come out [to pray] during Ramazan,” says Imran Khan.
- PMA urges govt, CJP to review decision on prayer congregations PMA president says government should “not push the country into a test that it is not prepared for“.
- Ruet-i-Hilal Committee to meet today for Ramazan moon-sighting Committee Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman will preside over the meeting.
- Sindh govt challenges high court verdict in Daniel Pearl case Appeal filed in SC against overturning of Omar Sheikh’s conviction.
- Moon-sighting not possible today: minister “On April 23, the moon will only be 2 degrees above the horizon at sunset.”
- NAB calls Shahbaz’s reply ‘unsatisfactory’ Summons him for third time; refuses request of the opposition leader to quiz him through video link.
- Punjab govt unable to breathe easy amid shortage of ventilators As many as 77 ventilators have been found out of order in various state-run hospitals of Punjab.
- Karachi traders threaten to open markets from first of Ramazan “We will open our trade whether SOPs are finalised or not,” says All City Tajir Ittehad general secretary.
- Testing labs at divisional level planned in KP Chief minister lauds doctors and paramedics working on the frontlines in the fight against the pandemic.
- Trump assures PM of support amid pandemic Imran calls US president ahead of launching $595m funding appeal to the world.
- Army to help govt adopt ‘test, trace and quarantine’ strategy Bajwa attends briefing at National Command and Control Centre.
- Kohat clerics, elders refuse to observe SOPs for Ramazan “Covid-19 is nothing but God’s wrath for people’s wrongdoings,” says seminary caretaker.
- PPP terms state-ulema accord on congregational prayers ‘beyond logic’ Govt urged to enforce “pray-at-home” policy.
- Portal launched to publicise data about cash distribution PM vows to expand programme to provide relief to the poor during lockdown.
- Chinese pharma offers to conduct clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccine in Pakistan “Successful clinical trial in Pakistan will make it one of the first few countries for launch of a Covid-19 vaccine.”
- SBP offers more incentives for businesses to avoid layoffs The bank has enhanced incentives for active taxpaying businesses by reducing the mark up rate.
- Rupee rises to Rs159.5 vs dollar Currency dealers in the interbank market are clueless about the future trend in rupee-dollar parity.
- Stocks gain despite foreign selling The market opened in deep red by 529 points and remained under pressure.
- Pompeo maintains virus leaked out from lab, presses China to allow inspections “We still do not have a sample of the virus,” says US secretary of state.
- US vaccine expert says he was removed for opposing Trump-backed chloroquine Says move in response to his resistance to “misguided directives” to support the use of malaria treatments for Covid-19.
- Race for vaccine picks up as Germany, UK start trials German and British plans are among only five clinical trials on humans which have been approved across the globe.
- WHO warns of long fight ahead Still a long way to go with most countries in the early stages of dealing with the pandemic, says WHO.
- US Army to test vaccine on humans in September A second outbreak during winter’s flu season could cause a more dire health crisis, warns CDC director.
- Bangladesh hospitals accused of discrimination Two members of Bihari community who tested positive for Covid-19 refused admission.
- Nearly 600 US, British citizens fly back home All the passengers were subjected to health screening and temperature check before they boarded the aircraft.
- Over 46,500 Pakistanis registered for repatriation, says FM Qureshi 5,629 overseas Pakistanis have been repatriated while 428 prisoners had been brought back home from jails abroad.
- Virus traps, sickens foreign labourers in Gulf Arab states Some 35 million labourers work in six Arab Gulf states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
- India could host T20 World Cup in 2020: Gavaskar Australia is scheduled to stage the World Cup from Oct 18 to Nov 15, but ICC has said it is “exploring all options”.
- Players will be ready to adjust if it comes to salary cuts, says Imam “Whatever the PCB decides with regards to pay cuts, we’ll respect it.”
