Coronavirus updates, April 23: Latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic from Pakistan and around the world
Nationwide death toll jumps above 230, confirmed cases cross 11,000; over 2.6 million infected globally
Updated Thursday Apr 23 2020
KARACHI/LAHORE/ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR/QUETTA: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 11,145 on Thursday after new infections were confirmed in the country.
The province-wise break up of the total number of cases as of 12:25am, April 24, is as follows:
Total confirmed cases: 11,145
• Sindh: 3,671
• Punjab: 4,767
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 1,541
• Balochistan: 607
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 204
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 300
• AJK: 55
Deaths: 237
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 83
• Sindh: 73
• Balochistan: 8
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 3
• Punjab: 65
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 3
Officials have recorded more than 2.6 million cases and 183,000 deaths since the virus emerged in China in December.
Read on for the latest updates from Pakistan and around the world.
Disclaimer: There may be some discrepancy in the number of confirmed cases reported at the country level due to differences in figures quoted by federal and provincial authorities.
Geo News is constantly gathering fresh information from concerned authorities and striving to keep our readers up to date with the most accurate information available.
Orange: General updates coming in from Pakistan
Red: Reports on new cases in Pakistan
Maroon: Reports on new deaths in Pakistan
Green: Reports on recovered patients in Pakistan
END OF LIVE UPDATES FOR APRIL 23
Live updates for April 24 to continue here.
12:25am (April 24) — Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh to hold taraweeh prayers for limited numbers
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, in a late night message, has announced that the taraweeh prayers will only be observed by mosque administration in mosques.
He said that Friday prayers and taraweeh prayers by the people at large must be observed at home.
The chief minister said that he had spoken to the president in this regard and had received his nod. "The president said it is up to the provincial government," said Shah.
Shah said taking such "difficult decisions" are a government's responsibility and this decision was taken especially keeping in mind doctors' recommendations.
11:57pm — Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab reports two deaths, tally hits 4,767
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has announced two more deaths in the province, taking the total death toll to 65.
A jump in the province's tally of infected was also reported, taking the total count to 4,767.
11:03pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — KP reports two more deaths, tally shoots up to 1,541
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department has notified two more deaths in the province, taking the grim total to 85.
A surge by 88 cases was also reported, taking the total number of infected in the province to 1,541.
10:15pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Bilawal appeals to all Muslims to 'stay at home and pray at home'
09:25pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh's cases at a glance
9:00pm — Quetta, Pakistan — Balochistan tally up by 55 to 607
Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani has said that the province has seen a rise in cases by 55 today, taking the total tally to 607.
08:42pm — Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan — Region's tally hits 300 with 10 new cases
The health department of Gilgit-Baltistan has confirmed the region's total number of infected have risen by 10 to hit the 300 mark.
The total number of active cases in the region are 85 and so far 212 have recovered.
People throng Karachi markets for pre-Ramadan shopping
07:43pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — President Alvi clarifies congregational prayers agreement, urges people to 'pray at home'
President Arif Alvi has shared a clarification notice on the responsibilities agreed upon between the federal government and the ulema in the consultative session held a few days ago to discuss congregational prayers in Ramadan.
As a bottomline, the notice has said: "It should also be kept in mind that ulema (and the president along with many politicians) are urging people to pray at home".
07:20pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Rs550 million collected in live telethon for coronavirus relief fund
06:55pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — PM refuses to join hands with opposition
During the live telethon, in response to a question about whether he planned to join hands with the opposition to collect funds for the coronavirus, PM Imran responded by saying: "I'm afraid if I include them in this [coronavirus fund drive] the donations will drop."
The prime minister said that it was only possible to work with his political rivals if they brought back billions of rupees stashed abroad back to Pakistan.
06:43pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Six lucky winners will get bats, balls autographed by prime minister
It has been announced for the motivation of viewers tuned in to the live telethon, that among the contributors, six lucky winners of a draw will receive bats and balls autographed by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
So far more than Rs2.7 million have been pledged to the coronavirus relief fund.
06:33pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — 'Everyone will contribute,' says PM Imran in response to whether sugar mill or IPP owners have donated to relief fund
In the live telethon on Geo News, held to invite donations to the premier's coronavirus relief fund, when asked whether he has received donations from any big names, or "sugar mill owners" or "IPP owners", the premier said: "Everyone will contribute to the fund."
06:11pm — Muzaffarabad, AJK — Four more cases reported, region's tally rises to 55
Four more cases have been reported from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, according to the region's focal person on coronavirus, Dr Mustafa Bashir.
Of the four patients, three are from Rawalkot and one from Palandri.
With the new cases, the region's tally has climbed to 55.
6:00pm - Muzaffarabad, AJK — AJK govt decide to soften lockdown five days a week
Spokesperson for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir government Dr Mustafa Bashir has announced that the regional government has decided to soften the coronavirus lockdown for five days week.
According to the spokesperson, a complete lockdown will remain in place on Friday and Tuesday. He added that shops in the region will remain open only from 8am to 4pm.
He also announced that all government offices will open for a few hours in the region. He added that restaurant swill open from 4 pm till Sehri during Ramadan. However, no one will be allowed to eat inside the restaurant
5:45pm - Paris, France — Lockdown exit in France will not be done region by region: presidency
French President Emmanuel Macron told mayors that unwinding the coronavirus lockdown would not be done region by region, the presidency’s office said on Thursday.
Mayors were also told at a video conference call with Macron that non-professional masks for the public would be recommended but not compulsory, his office added.
5:42pm - US economy sheds 4.4 million jobs
5:35pm - Faisalabad, Pakistan — Hosiery exporters and manufacturers say provincial, district authorities have not understood PM Imran's orders
Chairman of Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association Mian Naeem has claimed that the provinces and district authorities have not understood PM Imran’s instructions regarding the opening up of the industry.
Naeem also warned that if the supply chain is not opened then the conditions will worsen. He added that if this industry works then it will benefit thousands of employees.
5:20pm - London, UK — Scotland's Sturgeon says life will not return to normal in the near future
Life is unlikely to return to normal even when the tighest coronavirus restrictions are lifted and social distancing measures could be in place for the rest of this year and beyond, Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Thursday.
“A return to normal as we knew it is not on the cards in the near future... What we will be seeking to do is find a new normal - a way of living alongside this virus but in a form that keeps it under control,” Sturgeon said at a news conference.
“Social distancing and limiting our contacts with others will be a fact of life for a long time to come, certainly until treatments and ultimately a vaccine offer different solutions. So that means possibly for the rest of this year, and maybe even beyond.”
5:05pm - Tehran, Iran — Iran death toll from new coronavirus outbreak rises by 90 to 5,481: health ministry official
Iran’s death toll from the new coronavirus outbreak increaed by 90 in the past twenty four hours to 5,481, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said in a statement on state TV on Thursday.
The total number of diagnosed cases of new coronavirus in Iran has reached 87,026, he said.
5:05pm - Karachi, Pakistan — Test samples of cricketer Sadiq Muhammad and wife taken: Murtaza Wahab
5:03pm - Beijing, China — China says Australia call for COVID-19 probe is political maneuvering
China’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that Australia’s call for an independent probe into the coronavirus epidemic was political maneuvering and said the country should end its ideological bias.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang also told reporters during a briefing that China has no wildlife wet markets, responding to a question about US Secretary of State Pompeo’s comments calling for China to close all wildlife wet markets in the country.
5:00pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — CM Buzdar briefs PM IMran on coronavirus situation in the country
Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar on Thursday briefed Prime Minister Imran Khan on the coronavirus situation in the province.
During the meeting, the PM was also briefed on the steps being taken by the Punjab government regarding the reopening of the industries in the province and food hoarders, said the PM Office.
4:53pm - Karachi, Pakistan — US companies donate month’s ration to 5,000 families in Karachi
4:50pm - Karachi, Pakistan — CM Sindh directs health department to carry out tests of former cricketer Sadiq Muhammad at his home
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah directed the provincial health department to carry out former Test cricketer Sadiq Muhammad’s coronavirus test at his home, said his spokesperson.
CM Murad issued the instructions after calling Sadiq as news of his ill health spread on social media. In the conversation assured the former cricketer that he was an asset for the country and his test will be done.
The former cricketer, in a video posted on social media, had stated that he has been coughing since last night but did not want to go to the hospital to get his coronavirus test. He had feared that even if he doesn’t have coronavirus, he will contract it during the visit to the hospital.
4:40pm — Lahore, Pakistan — Number of virus recoveries rise to 2,453
Another 115 recoveries from the novel coronavirus were reported in Punjab during the past 24 hours, taking the provincial tally to 905.
The total number of recovered patients in Pakistan has risen to 2,453 as a result.
4:40pm — Lahore, Pakistan — Death toll from coronavirus rises to 230
The death toll from the novel coronavirus rose to 230 in Pakistan on Thursday after Punjab reported two new deaths.
So far, the province has reported 60 deaths from the virus.
4:40pm — Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab reports 116 new cases, nationwide tally rises to 10,927
Punjab on Thursday reported 116 cases of the virus to taking the provincial tally to 4,706.
The number of confirmed cases in the country now stands at 10,927.
4:30pm - Quetta, Pakistan — Balochistan govt to quarantine lockdown violators: spokesperson
Balochistan government has decided to put those individuals violating the lockdown or found not wearing masks, shawl or muffler will be quarantined, said the provincial government spokesperson Laiquat Shahwani.
The spokesperson tweeted that the violators will be quarantined in the PSIIR quarantine centre which was being used for pilgrims coming from Iran. He added that the pilgrims being quarantined in the centre have been removed from the facility.
4:20pm - Dubai, UAE — Mideast governments failing to protect airlines: IATA
Middle East governments are failing to take the action required to protect their airlines from the economic crisis caused by the new coronavirus pandemic, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Thursday.
Several states have stepped in to help their airlines that have seen travel demand decimated by the global outbreak, such as the United States, Singapore and Australia, though few in the Middle East have made their intentions clear.
IATA, which represents 290 global airlines, has been consulting with Middle Eastern governments, regulators and stakeholders on how to revive air travel as some countries start to slowly ease lockdowns.
However, IATA Vice President for the Middle East Muhammad Albakri said the association was not satisfied with regional state efforts to support their airlines.
“We have not seen the desired movements and decisions of governments and decision makers to ... put on the table the economic stimulation packages and the rescue packages, financial packages necessary to keep the airlines in the region alive,” Muhammad Albakri said on a call with reporters.
4:00pm - Lahore, Pakistan — Buzdar says doctors in Multan, DG Khan recover from coronavirus
Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar announced that 12 doctors from Dera Ghazi Khan and 26 from Multan’s Nishtar Hospital affected by the coronavirus have recovered from the infection.
CM Punjab stated that the doctors' test reports had come in negative twice. Buzdar also announced that from April onwards doctors will receive double salaries.
3:50pm - Global coronavirus cases exceed 2.62 mln, death toll crosses 183,700
More than 2.62 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 183,761 have died, according to a Reuters tally. Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.
3:45pm - Athens, Greece — Greece extends lockdown measures by a week to May 4
Greece on Thursday extended its general coronavirus lockdown by a week to May 4, saying any relaxation would be staggered out over May and June.
Greek authorities imposed a blanket shutdown of public life from mid-March to stem coronavirus contagion, and the country has recorded a significantly lower outbreak of the COVID-19 respiratory disease than many other European nations.
Restrictions, which include movements by members of the public only with an officially approved permit, will be extended to May 4 from April 27, government spokesman Stelios Petsas told a news briefing.
“The objective of the confinement measures is not to remain in a glass bowl, stuck in our homes. The objective is to take our lives back and win back our way of life which was temporarily deprived of us by this cunning and invisible enemy,” Petsas said.
By Wednesday evening, Greece had reported 2,408 cases of COVID-19 and 121 deaths.
3:40pm - Quetta, Pakistan — Balochistan govt spokesperson asks religious scholars to reconsider decision on Taraweeh prayers
Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani urged the religious scholars to reconsider their decisions to hold Taraweeh congregations in the country.
Shahwani, tweeted, saying that the scholars should reconsider their decision as leader of Pakistan’s largest religious party Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman has also decided to pray at home.
3:31pm - Seoul, South Korea — S Korea to provide cash handouts to every household: Finance ministry
South Korea's ruling party and the government on Thursday agreed to provide cash handouts to every household, not just to families below the top 30 percentile of income as previously announced, the finance ministry said.
The ministry separately said the government will issue additional bonds to fund the cash handout
3:25pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Number of virus recoveries rise to 2,338
Another 15 recoveries from the novel coronavirus were reported in Sindh during the past 24 hours, taking the provincial tally to 730.
The total number of recovered patients in Pakistan has risen to 2,338 as a result.
3:15pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Imtiaz Superstore’s Clifton branch sealed: DC South
District Commissioner South has said authorities have sealed Imtiaz Superstore’s Clifton branch after the store was found in breach of government orders.
“Social distancing was not being observed at the store,” he said.
3:00pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Efforts underway bring back stranded Pakistanis in Gulf: FM Qureshi
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said efforts are being done to bring back stranded Pakistanis in the Gulf, reported Radio Pakistan.
In a statement on Thursday, the foreign minister said screening was being done at the airports and that quarantine facilities have also been expanded there.
Qureshi added that reopening the remaining airports has enhanced the country’s capacity to bring back six to seven thousand Pakistanis from abroad every week.
2:50pm — Madrid, Spain — Death toll from coronavirus rises to 22,157
The Spanish health ministry said on Thursday that 440 people died from the coronavirus in the previous 24 hours, which brought total fatalities to 22,157, reported Reuters.
The number of diagnosed cases rose to 213,024 from 208,389 the day before.
2:40pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Death toll from coronavirus rises to 228
The death toll from the novel coronavirus rose to 228 in Pakistan on Thursday after Sindh reported four new deaths.
So far the province has reported 73 deaths from the virus.
2:30pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh reports 298 new cases, nationwide tally rises to 10,811
Sindh on Thursday reported 298 cases of the virus to take the provincial tally to 3,671.
According to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, of the 298 cases, 202 were detected in Karachi and 96 in other districts. “There are 2,934 patients under treatment in Sindh at the moment,” Shah said.
The number of confirmed cases in the country now stands at 10,811.
2:20pm - Jakarta, Indonesia — Indonesia finds 357 new coronavirus cases, 11 new deaths
Indonesia on Thursday reported 357 new COVID-19 cases and 11 new deaths, taking the total number of infections and fatalities to 7,775 and 647, respectively, health ministry official Achmad Yurianto said.
The number of patients who have recovered from the novel coronavirus was 960, Yurianto said, adding that more than 48,600 people have been tested.
2:15pm - Multan, Pakistan – Govt should work with opposition to make a national action plan: JI chief
Ameer JI Sirj-ul-Haq has urged the government to work with the opposition to come up with a national action plan to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
“The government did not take the same steps as China to halt the spread of the virus,” he said. “The prime minister should work on bringing his entire leadership on the same page.”
He added that the government has not worked on giving any relief to the labourers and daily wage earners.
2:10pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — PPP leader warns of spike in cases due resumption of congregations
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Nafisa Shah has warned the government that the resumption of congregations may lead to a spike in coronavirus cases in the country.
The PPP leader also expressed reservations regarding the president’s 20 point policy regarding congregations in the mosques. She also asked the federal government to formulate a unified policy regarding it.
2:05pm - Javad Zarif asks US President Donald Trump to focus on infections in US military
Watch: Coronavirus decreases pollution levels in New Delhi
2:00pm - Larkana, Pakistan — Five more neighbourhoods sealed: DC
Deputy Commissioner of Larkana Nauman Siddiqi has announced that five more neighbourhoods in Larkana have been sealed after new cases were reported in them.
1:53pm - Dubai, UAE — UAE considers reopening malls after virus shutdown
The United Arab Emirates said on Thursday it is looking into reopening its massive shopping malls, a month after they were closed as part of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The restrictions have hit businesses hard, particularly retailers who had expected to cater to a rush of Ramadan shoppers.
Health ministry and crisis authorities have requested a study into "the possibility of reopening commercial centres with their private sector partners while taking into consideration health requirements", the official WAM news agency reported.
Officials in the emirate of Dubai, whose vast shopping centres serve as its economic lifeline, said they were considering reopening malls "with necessary measures and precautions", according to local reports.
1:50pm - Brussels, Belgium — Eurozone economy suffers 'unprecedented' collapse: survey
The eurozone economy suffered an "unprecedented" collapse according to the latest PMI index put out Thursday by analysis firm IHS Markit.
"The eurozone economy suffered the steepest falls in business activity and employment ever recorded during April as a result of measures taken to contain the coronavirus outbreak," it said.
The company's purchasing managers index (PMI) dived to a record low of 13.5 in April, from the previous all-time low of 29.7 in March, confirming the private sector gloom savaging the 19-nation eurozone.
Any reading below 50 signals a contraction.
1:48pm - Beijing, China — China to give WHO $30 million more after US freezes funds: official
China announced Thursday it will donate another $30 million to the World Health Organisation to help the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
His comments come around a week after the United States — also the WHO's biggest contributor — said it would halt payments to the UN body after accusing it of "mismanaging" the COVID-19 crisis.
Read more here.
1:45am - Peshawar, Pakistan — YDA claims doctors, medical staff being deprived of PPEs
President of Young Doctors Association Rizwan Kundi has claimed that some doctors and medical staff in the province have been deprived of PPEs.
Kundi claimed that the doctors in the wards are not being provided with the protective equipment, adding that only doctors and medical staff in the isolation wards are being provided with the safety equipment.
1:35pm - Karachi, Pakistan — 237 GB students quarantined in Karachi test negative for virus
Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab announced that 237 people from Gilgit Baltistan quarantined in Karachi’s Shah Faisal Town college have tested negative for the virus.
Wahab added that the people will be sent to GB with their negative lab reports. The GB students were put in a temporary quarantine centre set up at a college in the area.
1:33pm - Manila, Philippines — Philippines nears 7,000 coronavirus cases, reports 16 new deaths
The Philippines’ health ministry on Thursday reported 16 new coronavirus deaths and 271 confirmed infections, ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision whether to lift or extend quarantine measures on the country’s main island.
In a bulletin, the health ministry said total deaths have increased to 462 while infections have risen to 6,981. But 29 more patients have recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 722.
1:30pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — NDMA actively working to increase testing labs in country
1:27pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — Adviser to PM for commerce and investment shares notification of approval of export of textile masks
1:20pm - Quetta, Pakistan — Balochistan govt starts testing in wards, streets of Quetta
Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal announced that the provincial government has started carrying out tests in wards and streets of Quetta.
The CM shared that the data is collected online and the testing will be carried out for a week or more.
1:15pm - Peshawar, Pakistan — KP health minister says provincial testing capacity increasing ‘rapidly’
1:09pm - Moscow, Russia — Russia's new coronavirus cases fall for third day running as total passes 62,000
Russia recorded 4,774 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, a fall in the number of daily new cases for the third day running, bringing its nationwide tally to 62,773, the Russian coronavirus crisis response centre said on Thursday.
Forty-two people with the virus died in the last 24 hours, pushing the death toll to 555, it said.
1:05pm - Karachi, Pakistan — Court approves judicial remand of traders, rejects bail plea
A judicial magistrate in Karachi’s District South sent six traders arrested by the police on a 14-day remand for defying the lockdown measures in the city and opening up their businesses.
The court also dismissed the bail plea filed by the lawyers of business leaders Hammad Poonawala, Muhammad Ahsan, Muhammad Khalil, Javed Abdul Shakoor, Malik Aqeel and Faisal Hasanzai.
The magistrate had earlier reserved the decision on the bail plea and police’s request for judicial remand.
12:59pm - Singapore — Singapore confirms 1,037 new COVID-19 cases
Singapore’s health ministry said it had preliminarily confirmed 1,037 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, taking the Southeast Asian city-state’s total infections to 11,178.
The health ministry said the vast majority of the new cases were migrant workers residing in dormitories, many of which are under government-ordered quarantine due to mass outbreaks.
12:55 - Karachi, Pakistan — Police relax snap checking points in metropolis
Police in Karachi have relaxed the snap checking points in the city to ease the flow of traffic in the metropolis, said police officials on Thursday. The points have also been relaxed or removed after the lockdown measures were eased in the country.
12:50pm - New Delhi, India — South Asia coronavirus cases top 37,000, headache for govts eyeing lockdown end
South Asia's coronavirus infections have crossed 37,000, with more than half in India, official data showed on Thursday, complicating the task of governments looking to scale back lockdowns that have destroyed the livelihoods of millions.
Authorities in India sought this week to ease a stringent 40-day lockdown of the population of 1.3 billion by allowing farm and industrial activity in the least-affected rural areas.
But more than 1,400 new cases reported on Wednesday, for one of India's biggest single-day jumps in recent weeks, carried its tally to 21,392 infections.
In Pakistan, which has roughly half as many cases as India, Prime Minister Imran Khan tested negative for the virus, the information and broadcasting minister said.
But concern is growing over Pakistan's move, in response to appeals from religious groups, to allow mosque gatherings during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, despite experts' warnings that they could fuel uncontrollable spread of the virus.
Until now, South Asia, home to a fifth of the world's population, has suffered fewer infections in the pandemic than rich nations such as Britain, Spain and the United States.
But that could be the result of lower rates of testing that health experts believe may allow the virus to lurk undetected.
12:45pm - Karachi, Pakistan — SHC questions Sindh govt on asking industries to issue wages to employees
The Sindh High Court on Thursday heard questioned the provincial government under which law did it ask the textile industry to issue wages to their employees and barred.
The court was hearing a petition filed by 12 major textile industries against the provincial government's decision to bar them from firing employees and asking them to pay wages to them.
During the hearing, the lawyer for the petitioners told the court that they cannot pay their employees as the export and import of textile industry has been closed due to the lockdown. He added that the industries have been shut down and they cannot pay their employees.
The court after hearing the arguments asked the provincial government to submit its reply by April 30th in the case.
12:35pm - Berlin, Germany — Merkel says Germany still at the start of the coronavirus pandemic
Germany is still at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and will have to live with it for a long time, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday.
“We are not living in the final phase of the pandemic, but still at the beginning,” she told the Bundestag lower house of parliament.
“We have won time,” Merkel said, adding that this had been used well to bolster Germany’s healthcare system.
12:20pm - Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho discusses impact of coronavirus on Immunization services
12:15pm - Karachi, Pakistan — SHC issues notices to chief secretary, home dept in plea challenging ban on pillion riding for journalists
Sindh High Court has issued notices to Sindh chief secretary and home department in a petition challenging the ban on pillion riding for journalists.
SHC has asked the provincial government to submit its reply to the court by April 30.
During the hearing today, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar remarked that the court can ask the government what they can do to provide relief to journalists.
A petitioner had contended that journalists had been severely affected by the pillion riding ban in the metropolis. The petitioner had said the notification had stated that the ban will apply on journalists, women and children.
12:00pm - Peshawar, Pakistan — 124 people arrested for violating lockdown, section 144
District authority in Peshawar announced that it has arrested 124 people for violating the lockdown and section 144 imposed in the district.
11:55am - Sydney, Australia – Journalist Atiq-ul-Hassan appeals to govt of Pakistan to help students stranded in Australia
Journalist Atiq-ul-Hassan has appealed to the government of Pakistan to help stranded Pakistani students in Australia.
“Because of the lockdown in Australia, students have been let go from their jobs. Many of these students want to return home,” he said in a video message.
He added, the government of Pakistan should arrange flights for them as the Australian government has refused to help them.
“The Pakistani consulate is also not giving any information,” he claimed.
11:50am - Karachi Pakistan — Temporary quarantine centre set up in Karachi college
A temporary quarantine centre has been set up in a college in Karachi’s Shah Faisal area for students from Gilgit Baltistan, announced SSP Faisal Abdullah.
The SSP stated that 261 students from GB have been quarantined their after they were suspected of coronavirus.
The SSP stated that students were quarantined for the tests and their results would come in today. He added that if the tests come out as positive than all students will be sent to a quarantine centre, adding that if the results are negative then the college will be emptied and the students will be released.
11:45am - London, UK — British PM Johnson sure to be back at work soon, says minister
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is recovering well from grave COVID-19 complications and will be back at work soon, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said on Thursday.
“He is also right now, as he is fully recovering, doing what we are asking people across the country to do, he is taking the advice of the medical experts and the doctors and doing as the doctors outlined him to do,” Lewis told Sky.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him back in full swing and in full grip of the reins as prime minister of the country. I’m sure he will be very soon, I am sure he will be very keen to get back but I think he is also doing the right thing.”
11:30pm - Quetta, Pakistan — BHC asks district courts to hear necessary cases till May 5
The Balochistan High Court ordered district judges to suspend criminal and civil cases till May 5 and only hear necessary cases.
The BHC also ordered the district and sessions judge to develop a mechanism to hear important cases and involve as few officers as it can.
11:18am - People — and their rights — must be front and centre: UN chief
11:15am - Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh govt sets up COVID-19 lab at research centre in Karachi University: Murtaza Wahab
11:10am - Karachi, Pakistan — Police present traders in front of judicial magistrate for violating lockdown
The authorities presented arrested business community leaders to the judicial magistrate for Karachi’s South district on Thursday.
The arrested leaders include Hammad Poonawala, Muhammad Ahsan, Muhammad Khalil, Javed Abdul Shakoor, Malik Aqeel and Faisal Hasan Zai.
The authorities have charged the accused of violating the lockdown and creating unrest. The police have requested the court to send the accused on judicial remand.
10:55am - Beijing China — PAF cargo plane departs from Beijing with 'items' for NDMA: Pakistani envoy to China
10:55am - Berlin, Germany — Germany's confirmed cases rise by 2,352 to 148,046
Germany’s confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 2,352 to 148,046, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Thursday, marking a third consecutive day of new infections accelerating.
The reported death toll rose by 215 to 5,094, the tally showed.
10:50am - Bangkok, Thailand — Thailand reports 13 new coronavirus cases, one new death
Thailand reported 13 new coronavirus cases on Thursday and one more death, a 78-year-old woman who had other health complications.
Of the new cases, five were linked to previous cases and five had no known links.
Three other new cases were reported from the southern island of Phuket where the authorities are aggressively testing the population because the infection rate there is severe, said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman for the government’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration.
Since the outbreak escalated in January, Thailand has reported a total of 2,839 cases and 50 fatalities, while 2,430 patients have recovered and gone home.
10:45am - US CDC reports 802,583 coronavirus cases, 44,575 deaths
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday reported 802,583 cases of the novel coronavirus, an increase of 26,490 from its previous count, and said the number of deaths had risen by 2,817 to 44,575.
The CDC reported its tally of cases of the respiratory illness known as COVID-19, caused by a new coronavirus, as of April 21, compared with its count a day earlier.
The CDC figures do not necessarily reflect cases reported by individual states.
10:35am — Islamabad, Pakistan — Pray at home during Ramazan, appeals SAPM Awan
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan on Thursday appealed to the general public to pray the taraweeh prayers during Ramazan at home as a precautionary measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus.
"A blessed month is beginning and the people should pray at home during the month to guard against the spread of the virus," she said.
10:15am — Karachi, Pakistan — Small businesses have not resumed operations in other provinces: Sindh minister Ghani
Sindh Mini
