[Current Affairs] April 05, 2021 Top Pakistan Current Affairs for PPSC Test Preparation

2. PM Khan’s warning to the public

What’s going on? Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan sat down for a Q&A with the country. He talked about the economy, corruption, Kashmir, child abuse, healthcare, and COVID-19. PM Khan himself recently contracted the virus, but has reportedly recovered. A lot of PM Khan’s responses were similar to comments he has made in the past. However, there was a slight change in his stance on COVID-19 restrictions.

PM Khan’s thoughts on COVID-19:

• He claimed the third wave of COVID-19 is extremely dangerous compared to the previous two waves.
• He urged the masses to follow strict standard operating procedures, which are designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• He asked the public to please wear a mask.
• He said Pakistan could have confronted a severe economic crisis if the govt imposed another lockdown (P.S. this would have been the country’s second nationwide lockdown, after the first one last year).
• He said the govt will have to impose major restrictions if people don’t start listening to COVID-19 guidelines.

Trying to strike a delicate balance: PM Khan is urging the public to take necessary precautions, but at the same time, trying to avoid a strict nationwide lockdown. Last month, he said the govt didn’t have enough resources to deal with the economic costs of a major shutdown.

Current restrictions: So far, Pakistan is pursuing a “smart lockdown” policy, meaning, short-term restrictions in specific areas with high COVID-19 infection rates. The federal and provincial govts have announced mask requirements, along with restrictions on gatherings and public transport. However, these guidelines are not being enforced properly.

The key question: Will the public listen to the govt’s existing restrictions unless they’re forced to socially distance, postpone large gatherings (i.e. looking at you big Pakistani weddings), and stay home? There’s a chance people still aren’t taking the virus seriously, because the govt is holding back on major restrictions. Will major restrictions more appropriately convey the severity of COVID-19 in Pakistan?

The bottom line: On March 28, PM Khan ruled out a complete lockdown. Now, he appears to be considering tougher restrictions unless people start taking COVID-19 seriously.

4. Why is #CancelBoardExams2021 trending on Twitter?

Even though Pakistan is dealing with a rise in COVID-19 cases, health and education authorities are reportedly not ready to cancel this year’s board exams yet. Last month, Federal Minister for Education, Shafqat Mehmood, said board exams from classes nine to 12 will take place on schedule. However, students are not taking this news well, and claim the govt is putting them in a risky position. That’s why students started the #CancelBoardExams2021 trend on Twitter. These students believe their health is more important than the exams.

• Backstory: Over 20 education boards throughout Pakistan offer board exams. Education boards are spread out across different provinces. They are known as Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE). These education boards, often referred to as “local boards,” administer national assessments/certificates. The two main assessments in Pakistan are the Secondary School Certificate (i.e. also known as the matric) for students between the ages of 13-15, and the Higher Secondary School Certificate, for students between the ages of 15-17. Students are required to pass these assessments.