Today’s top Pakistan current affairs April 26, 2021 with download link available in pdf. These are the latest breaking news about Pakistan which will be helpful for aspirants in test preparation of current affairs, Pakistan affairs, General knowledge for NTS, PPSC, CSS, FPSC, KPPSC, SPSC, BPSC, AJKPSC, OTS, PTS, and other Govt Jobs, exams & MDCAT, ECAT Entry test preparation.
One Liner
- Shafqat Expresses Best Wishes For Students Over Start Of A-level Examination. Federal Minister for education Shafqat Mahmood on Monday expressed best wishes to the students of A-level over the start of their examinations.
- Sindh Govt Decides To Close Govt Offices and Educational Institutes Across Province. Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday decided to close schools, colleges and other educational institutions across the province in the wake of surge of coronavirus.
- Govt’s Historic Initiative Of Kisan Card To Transform Agri Sector: PM. Prime Minister Imran Khan says the government’s historic initiative of Kisan Card will transform the agriculture sector in Pakistan, making farmers prosperous.
- NCOC Considering Lockdown Amid COVID Cases Surge. In view of the alarming surge in COVID-19 cases during the third wave of the pandemic across the country, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) is considering lockdown.
- Military troops deployed in 16 cities across Pakistan: ISPR DG. ISPR DG Major General Babar Iftikhar said on Monday that the army has deployed troops in 16 cities across Pakistan, where they are assisting the civil administration in implementing coronavirus SOPs.
- Pakistan announces five-day Eid-ul-Fitr holiday. The government has announced a five-day holiday on Eid-ul-Fitr, the Ministry of Interior said in a notification Monday.
- Turkey to enter full lockdown April 29 to May 17. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday announced a full lockdown from April 29 to May 17 to fight a surging third wave of coronavirus infections.
- Dollar price climbs again in Pakistan over lockdown fears. The dollar rate crept up to Rs154.80 in the open market as lockdown fears loomed because Covid-19 cases are going up in the country. It has increased by Rs1.20 in the last four days.
- Gold increases Rs2,600 in two weeks as bitcoin drops. The per tola price of gold has increased Rs2,600 since April 13, according to data shared by the All Sindh Sarafa Jewelers Association. A tola now costs Rs104,600.
- Pakistan Test Squad Starts Practice in Harare. After the completion of three-match T20I series, Pakistan and Zimbabwe will now lock horns in a two-match Test series, starting from April 29.
Spotlight by The NewsRun
1. COVID-19 IN PAKISTAN
- 24-hour count: Pakistan reported 5,611 new cases and 118 deaths in 24 hours. Pakistan also conducted 55,128 tests in the span of 24 hours (P.S. this data was last updated on April 25 at 9:27 am).
- Pakistan offers essential supplies to India: You’ve probably seen reports and video clips of the dire COVID-19 situation in India. Indian officials reported nearly 350,000 new infections on Saturday. Due to the recent surge, hospitals are extremely full, oxygen supplies are dangerously low, and people are reportedly dying waiting to see doctors. In a rare moment of solidarity between the two rival neighbors, Pakistan is sending well-wishes and prayers to India. Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan said he wants to “express solidarity with the people of India.” According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan offered to provide relief support to India, including ventilators, oxygen supply kits, digital X-ray machines, PPEs and related essential items. Pakistan-based charity, Edhi Foundation, offered to send ambulances and medical staff to India.
- The status of Pakistan’s own essential supplies: While the virus surge in India is overwhelming the country’s healthcare system, Pakistan is dealing with its own medical supply crunch amid rising COVID-19 cases. Ventilator occupancy in Lahore has reportedly reached 94% in public hospitals, meaning, nearly all of the ventilators are in use. Public hospitals in Lahore have beds in their intensive care units that are filling up. Federal Planning Minister Asad Umar reported that 90% of Pakistan’s oxygen capacity is being used, mostly by the health sector. It’s possible that Pakistan could face an oxygen shortage as well. COVID-19 patients are already using a majority of the oxygen supply in Pakistan. The virus is causing pneumonia-type symptoms in several people. Many of these patients need oxygen to treat virus-related respiratory problems.
2. Govt and courts deny request to cancel exams
What’s going on? The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) came up with new restrictions on schools and public activities. These are still stopping short of a full-fledge lockdown. At the same time, the NCOC said Pakistan will power through with in-person/indoor O and A level exams throughout the country. Students asked to receive school-assessed grades as an alternative to taking in-person exams, but the govt and courts said ‘nope.’
But why? The NCOC reportedly thinks in-person Cambridge exams are fine since a small number of students are taking them in Pakistan.
The details: On Friday, four different high courts in Pakistan sided with the NCOC and turned down a student-led petition to cancel physical O and A level exams. The A levels are starting on April 26 and O levels are starting on May 4. The Cambridge Assessment International Education program issues O and A levels.
Tell me more: A group of students who filed the petition don’t think it’s fair for them to take in-person exams during a pandemic, especially while COVID-19 cases in Pakistan are increasing. According to the students, they didn’t have physical classes for most of the academic year, and didn’t get a chance to complete the syllabus either. Plus, they believe in-person exams will put their lives and the lives of their family members at risk. These students are worried about being exposed to the virus while taking physical exams in packed examination halls.
The context: Schools in districts with a positivity rate of over 5% will be closed until Eid. Markets can only remain open until 6:00 pm, but essential services can continue operating. There are already restrictions on indoor dining, but outdoor dining is banned until Eid. Indoor gyms will be closed. Office timings are limited to 2:00 pm. Offices can only operate with 50% of their staff, while the rest work from home. The interior ministry said provinces and federal territories can ask the army to help enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) if people aren’t following COVID-19 prevention rules.
Something to know: On Sunday, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood also stood by the NCOC’s decision and said physical Cambridge exams are happening on schedule. From a health standpoint, he said the number of students is small enough and SOPs at exam centers will be manageable. Mehmood also doesn’t want the grading system to get messed up. According to Mehmood, Cambridge International gave students in Pakistan the option to take O and A level exams in October/November without paying additional fees.
Cambridge International’s position on running exams: On its official website, the program said it plans for the summer 2021 exam series to go ahead where it’s “permitted and safe.” It did give school-assessed grades as another option in countries where exams cannot take place.
Looking ahead: Students are still waiting on PM Khan to suddenly say physical exams are cancelled, but the chances of that happening are slim.
The bottom line: People who think exams should be cancelled are asking why the govt is insisting on holding exams when there are restrictions on other things like in-person school, market timings, restaurant dining, office timings, and staff allowed in offices.
3. Police arrest Lahore park aggressor
On April 22, make-up artist and activist, Leena Ghani, posted a video on Twitter showing her encounter with a man at a park. She and a few other women were at Jami Shireen Park in Lahore when a man reportedly started taking their picture. On Twitter, Ghani said she intervened and asked him to leave. He was apparently taking their picture without permission. That’s when the situation escalated, and he got aggressive. Ghani claimed the video started after he pushed her and snatched her phone from her hand. In the video, he can be heard verbally abusing them. At one point, he can be heard saying, “I’m going to snatch that spray and put it on your face, don’t spray,” though no one specifies what this spray is. Two other men can be seen leading him away at the end of the video.
- Update: According to a tweet by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of operations in Lahore, police recently arrested the guy who abused the group of women at Jami Shireen Park. The tweet said, “Lahore Police Operations Wing will continue to strive in ensuring a safe environment for everyone, irrespective of gender and race.
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