Pakistan's coronavirus tally reached 276,287 with the detection of 1,063 new cases in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

Twenty-seven more people died overnight due to coronavirus-related complications, pushing the nationwide death toll to 5,892.

As many as 244,883 patients have recovered so far in the country, the ministry said.

With the detection of the 1,063 new cases, the total number of infections rose to 276,287, it said.

Sindh reported the maximum number of 119,394 cases, followed by 92,452 in Punjab, 33,724 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 14,963 in Islamabad, 11,654 in Balochistan, 2,055 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and 2,042 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The health authorities have conducted a total 1,931,102 tests in the country, including 21,256 in the last 24 hours.

Pakistan's coronavirus tally reached 276,287 with the detection of 1,063 new cases in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said on Wednesday. Twenty-seven more people died overnight due to coronavirus-related complications, pushing the nationwide death toll to 5,892.

Pakistan's coronavirus tally reached 276,287 with the detection of 1,063 new cases in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said on Wednesday. Twenty-seven more people died overnight due to coronavirus-related complications, pushing the nationwide death toll to 5,892. As many as 244,883 patients have recovered so far in the country, the ministry said. With the detection of the 1,063 new cases, the total number of infections rose to 276,287, it said. Sindh reported the maximum number of 119,394 cases, followed by 92,452 in Punjab, 33,724 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 14,963 in Islamabad, 11,654 in Balochistan, 2,055 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and 2,042 in Gilgit-Baltistan. The health authorities have conducted a total 1,931,102 tests in the country, including 21,256 in the last 24 hours.

Pakistan's coronavirus tally reaches 276,287 with 1,063 new infections

On July 27, China held an unprecedented four-party conference with Pakistan, Nepal & Afghanistan. WION's Palki Sharma tells you how the meeting was an attempt to corner India.

Gravitas: China's unprecedented meeting with India's neighbours

Islamabad is set to honour Kashmiri Separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani with Pakistan's highest civilian award. Pakistani lawmakers want to build a university in Geelani's name. WION's Palki Sharma tells you why the Pak govt should fix its priorities first.

Gravitas: Pakistan wants to honour this Kashmiri separatist | Syed Ali Shah Geelani

What is Pakistan planning on the first anniversary of India's Kashmir decision? WION has accessed exclusive details of Pakistan's information war campaign. On the 5th of August - the Imran Khan government is planning a series of events to protest India's Kashmir move.

Gravitas Exclusive: One year of India's Kashmir decision, Pakistan plans propaganda campaign

Business isn't as robust as usual for cattle traders in Pakistan as people who usually buy sacrificial animals ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha are going online, rather than to the dusty markets to make their purchases amid coronavirus concerns.

Sales of sacrificial cattle at Pakistan markets fall as worshippers go online

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday that the smart lockdown policy adopted by his government was proving successful in containing the spread of the novel coronavirus which has claimed 5,842 lives and infected 274,289 people in the country.

Talking to journalists, Khan said his government was under pressure to implement a strict lockdown, but he resisted it to create a balance between opportunities for livelihood and saving people from COVID-19.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-virus-deaths-drop-but-government-warns-of-eid-spike-316130">Pakistan virus deaths drop, but government warns of Eid spike</a>

"Pakistan is among those few countries where the coronavirus cases are decreasing," he said, adding that the infection rate was still going up in India.

Khan asked people to wear masks on Eid and during Muharram, cautioning that the COVID-19 cases would start rising again if the guidelines are not followed.

"If precautionary measures are not adopted during Eid-ul Azha and Muharram-ul Haram, the country will witness another spike of coronavirus cases...In case of increase in the cases, the government will have to impose lockdown again, which will negatively affect economy of the country," he said.

Khan said his government had announced a package for the construction industry and provided financial help to poor people during the pandemic.

Khan's remarks came as Pakistan's coronavirus tally reached 274,289 with the detection of 1,176 new cases in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said on Monday.

Twenty more people died overnight due to coronavirus-related complications in Pakistan, pushing the death toll to 5,842, it said.

Sindh reported the highest number of 118,311 cases, followed by 92,073 in Punjab, 33,397 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 14,884 in Islamabad, 11,601 in Balochistan, 2,034 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and 1,989 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The authorities have so far conducted 1,890,236 tests, including 22,056 in the last 24 hours, to detect coronavirus.

According to the ministry, the coronavirus situation in the country is improving with the increase in the number of recoveries and the decrease in new cases.

Of the total 274,289 cases, including the new 1,176 patients, 241,026 have recovered, which constitute 87.87 per cent, it said.

There are currently 27,421 active cases, the ministry said.

However, officials warned that the situation could again deteriorate if the people ignored COVID-19 guidelines during Eid, which will be observed on August 1, followed by Ashura a month later.

Special Advisor on Health, Dr Zafar Mirza, on Sunday asked people to follow the standard operating procedures (SoPs).

"We will certainly be facing challenges on Eidul Azha and Ashura, which may lead to another spike in the coronavirus outbreak," he said.

Planning minister Asad Umar, who also heads the National Command and Control Centre (NCOC), tweeted that action was being taken against those violating the rules.

He said over 500 illegal cattle markets have been shut across the country to ensure public health safety.&nbsp;

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday that the smart lockdown policy adopted by his government was proving successful in containing the spread of the novel coronavirus which has claimed 5,842 lives and infected 274,289 people in the country.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday that the smart lockdown policy adopted by his government was proving successful in containing the spread of the novel coronavirus which has claimed 5,842 lives and infected 274,289 people in the country. Talking to journalists, Khan said his government was under pressure to implement a strict lockdown, but he resisted it to create a balance between opportunities for livelihood and saving people from COVID-19. Also read | Pakistan virus deaths drop, but government warns of Eid spike "Pakistan is among those few countries where the coronavirus cases are decreasing," he said, adding that the infection rate was still going up in India. Khan asked people to wear masks on Eid and during Muharram, cautioning that the COVID-19 cases would start rising again if the guidelines are not followed. "If precautionary measures are not adopted during Eid-ul Azha and Muharram-ul Haram, the country will witness another spike of coronavirus cases...In case of increase in the cases, the government will have to impose lockdown again, which will negatively affect economy of the country," he said. Khan said his government had announced a package for the construction industry and provided financial help to poor people during the pandemic. Khan's remarks came as Pakistan's coronavirus tally reached 274,289 with the detection of 1,176 new cases in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said on Monday. Twenty more people died overnight due to coronavirus-related complications in Pakistan, pushing the death toll to 5,842, it said. Sindh reported the highest number of 118,311 cases, followed by 92,073 in Punjab, 33,397 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 14,884 in Islamabad, 11,601 in Balochistan, 2,034 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and 1,989 in Gilgit-Baltistan. The authorities have so far conducted 1,890,236 tests, including 22,056 in the last 24 hours, to detect coronavirus. According to the ministry, the coronavirus situation in the country is improving with the increase in the number of recoveries and the decrease in new cases. Of the total 274,289 cases, including the new 1,176 patients, 241,026 have recovered, which constitute 87.87 per cent, it said. There are currently 27,421 active cases, the ministry said. However, officials warned that the situation could again deteriorate if the people ignored COVID-19 guidelines during Eid, which will be observed on August 1, followed by Ashura a month later. Special Advisor on Health, Dr Zafar Mirza, on Sunday asked people to follow the standard operating procedures (SoPs). "We will certainly be facing challenges on Eidul Azha and Ashura, which may lead to another spike in the coronavirus outbreak," he said. Planning minister Asad Umar, who also heads the National Command and Control Centre (NCOC), tweeted that action was being taken against those violating the rules. He said over 500 illegal cattle markets have been shut across the country to ensure public health safety.

Imran Khan lauds 'smart lockdown' as coronavirus cases in Pakistan continue to decline

Pakistan engineered another wicked plot to defame India. A delegation of foreign journalists were taken for a staged visit to the Line of Control.

Gravitas: Pakistan's staged tour of the Line of Control

A report by Australian Journalist Anthony Klan says that China and Pakistan have a secret agreement to conduct tests on biological agents. Allegedly, several research projects involve testing pathogens similar to the anthrax. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you more.

Gravitas: China-Pakistan 'secret deal' to build bioweapons

Pakistani nationals remain at the leadership levels in terror groups such as al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant - Khorasan and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, and many of them are yet to be blacklisted, according to a UN report.

The 26th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning ISIL, al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities said that in April and May, the Afghan special forces conducted a series of countrywide operations and arrested the head of the ISIL-K Aslam Farooqi (also known as Abdullah Orokzai) and his predecessor Zia ul-Haq (also known as Abu Omar Khorasani) and others.

Farooqi, who hails from Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is the mastermind behind the deadly terror attack on a prominent gurudwara in Kabul in March that killed 25 Sikhs.

He is not blacklisted by the UN Security Council's 1267 al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee. Similarly, Haq is also a Pakistani national and has not been blacklisted yet.

Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) operates under the Taliban umbrella from Afghanistan's Nimruz, Helmand and Kandahar provinces and its current leader is Pakistan-born Osama Mahmood, who is also "not listed" under the UNSC sanctions.&nbsp; 
Mahmood succeeded Asim Umar.

The report said that the group reportedly has between 150 and 200 members from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Pakistan and "is reportedly planning retaliation operations in the region to avenge the death of its former leader."

The Sanctions Monitoring Team report said that the "large terrorist group present in Afghanistan" Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is led by Amir Noor Wali Mehsud.

Pakistan-born Mehsud was designated a global terrorist by the UNSC sanctions committee only this month, more than two years after he was named the TTP leader, following the death of former TTP head Maulana Fazlullah.

Mehsud is supported by his deputy Qari Amjad and TTP spokesperson Mohammad Khorasani, both not listed under the UNSC sanctions.

This demonstrates that the Pakistani nationals operate at leadership levels in the terror organisations and point to the terror groups' Pakistani links.

The report said that al-Qaida is covertly active in 12 Afghan provinces and its leader Aiman al-Zawahiri remains based in the country.

The monitoring team estimates the total number of al-Qaida fighters in Afghanistan at between 400 and 600.

The leadership maintains a close contact with the Haqqani Network. In February 2020, al-Zawahiri met with Yahya Haqqani, "the primary Haqqani Network contact with al-Qaida since mid-2009, to discuss the ongoing cooperation."&nbsp;

Pakistani nationals remain at the leadership levels in terror groups such as al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant - Khorasan and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, and many of them are yet to be blacklisted, according to a UN report.

Pakistani nationals remain at the leadership levels in terror groups such as al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant - Khorasan and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, and many of them are yet to be blacklisted, according to a UN report. The 26th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning ISIL, al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities said that in April and May, the Afghan special forces conducted a series of countrywide operations and arrested the head of the ISIL-K Aslam Farooqi (also known as Abdullah Orokzai) and his predecessor Zia ul-Haq (also known as Abu Omar Khorasani) and others. Farooqi, who hails from Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is the mastermind behind the deadly terror attack on a prominent gurudwara in Kabul in March that killed 25 Sikhs. He is not blacklisted by the UN Security Council's 1267 al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee. Similarly, Haq is also a Pakistani national and has not been blacklisted yet. Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) operates under the Taliban umbrella from Afghanistan's Nimruz, Helmand and Kandahar provinces and its current leader is Pakistan-born Osama Mahmood, who is also "not listed" under the UNSC sanctions. Mahmood succeeded Asim Umar. The report said that the group reportedly has between 150 and 200 members from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Pakistan and "is reportedly planning retaliation operations in the region to avenge the death of its former leader." The Sanctions Monitoring Team report said that the "large terrorist group present in Afghanistan" Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is led by Amir Noor Wali Mehsud. Pakistan-born Mehsud was designated a global terrorist by the UNSC sanctions committee only this month, more than two years after he was named the TTP leader, following the death of former TTP head Maulana Fazlullah. Mehsud is supported by his deputy Qari Amjad and TTP spokesperson Mohammad Khorasani, both not listed under the UNSC sanctions. This demonstrates that the Pakistani nationals operate at leadership levels in the terror organisations and point to the terror groups' Pakistani links. The report said that al-Qaida is covertly active in 12 Afghan provinces and its leader Aiman al-Zawahiri remains based in the country. The monitoring team estimates the total number of al-Qaida fighters in Afghanistan at between 400 and 600. The leadership maintains a close contact with the Haqqani Network. In February 2020, al-Zawahiri met with Yahya Haqqani, "the primary Haqqani Network contact with al-Qaida since mid-2009, to discuss the ongoing cooperation."

Pakistanis head terror groups ISIL-K, AQIS, TTP; not yet blacklisted: UN report

Pakistan's Punjab government has banned over 100 textbooks taught at schools after finding in them "blasphemous and objectionable content" such as not showing Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as part of the country.

Some books had not even printed the correct date of the birth of Pakistan's founder 'Quaid-e-Azam' Muhammad Ali Jinnah and national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal, and some had the content against the two-nation theory, Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB) Managing Director Rai Manzoor Nasir said.

Nasir said that some 10,000 books taught at public and private schools have been reviewed by 30 committees.

"Over 100 of them including those published by Oxford, Cambridge, Link International Pakistan, Paragon Books, have been found containing objectionable content, therefore, they are banned on the recommendation of these committees.

"The banned books had blasphemous and anti-Pakistan content and missing of (Pakistan-occupied) Kashmir from the Pakistani map," he said.

The board has issued an order to confiscate these books from the market.

"The government will not tolerate this objectionable content to be taught to Pakistani children. We will conduct a complete inspection of other textbooks within the next six months," he said.

Last month, the Punjab provincial government, in light of the Punjab Assembly resolution, banned two books by British-American author Lesley Hazleton for allegedly containing blasphemous content.

Pakistan's Punjab government has banned over 100 textbooks taught at schools after finding in them "blasphemous and objectionable content" such as not showing Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as part of the country.

Pakistan's Punjab government has banned over 100 textbooks taught at schools after finding in them "blasphemous and objectionable content" such as not showing Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as part of the country. Some books had not even printed the correct date of the birth of Pakistan's founder 'Quaid-e-Azam' Muhammad Ali Jinnah and national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal, and some had the content against the two-nation theory, Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB) Managing Director Rai Manzoor Nasir said. Nasir said that some 10,000 books taught at public and private schools have been reviewed by 30 committees. "Over 100 of them including those published by Oxford, Cambridge, Link International Pakistan, Paragon Books, have been found containing objectionable content, therefore, they are banned on the recommendation of these committees. "The banned books had blasphemous and anti-Pakistan content and missing of (Pakistan-occupied) Kashmir from the Pakistani map," he said. The board has issued an order to confiscate these books from the market. "The government will not tolerate this objectionable content to be taught to Pakistani children. We will conduct a complete inspection of other textbooks within the next six months," he said. Last month, the Punjab provincial government, in light of the Punjab Assembly resolution, banned two books by British-American author Lesley Hazleton for allegedly containing blasphemous content.

Pak bans over 100 textbooks over 'objectionable content', not showing PoK part of country

The Pakistan government on Friday defended the ordinance promulgated to enable Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav to file a review petition against his death sentence as a move to stop India from going to the UN against Islamabad.

Law Minister Farogh Naseem's remarks in Parliament came a day after the Opposition criticised the government for "facilitating" Jadhav through a special law.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kulbhushan-jadhav-case-now-pakistan-seeks-lawyer-icj-says-judgement-final-315186">Kulbhushan Jadhav case: Now, Pakistan seeks lawyer; ICJ says judgement final</a>

The Opposition parties staged a walkout from Parliament to protest against the ordinance promulgated by the government in view of the International Court of Justice's ruling in the case of Jadhav.

Jadhav, the 50-year-old retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April 2017. India approached the ICJ against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav and challenging the death sentence.

The Hague-based ICJ ruled in July 2019 that Pakistan must undertake an "effective review and reconsideration" of the conviction and sentence of Jadhav and also to grant consular access to India without further delay.

Pakistan enacted the ordinance on May 20.

Law Minister Naseem told Parliament that the ordinance was promulgated to implement the judgment of the ICJ.

Jadhav's sentence "had not been forgiven" through the ordinance which, he said, has effectively stopped India from going to the UN Security Council against Pakistan.

"India has already made preparations (to go to the UNSC) if we do not do this. India wanted that Pakistan not follow the ICJ judgement so that they could approach the UNSC for bringing all kinds of resolutions, sanctions and declare Pakistan a rogue state,"&nbsp;Naseem said.

He said it was obligatory for Pakistan to follow the ICJ verdict as it was part of the international community.

"If we had not promulgated this ordinance, then India could use Article 94 of UNSC and Article 60 of ICJ statute. Pakistan has done this responsibly," he said.

Naseem said that he wanted to clarify the circumstances under which the law was brought so that the Opposition could understand it.

"We have not forgiven any sentence or stopped proceedings (against Jadhav). We have to follow the ICJ's decision as a responsible state,"&nbsp;he said, adding that the law was futuristic so that if a similar situation arose, the affected party should go to a court in Pakistan rather than to the ICJ.

The Pakistan government, in a unilateral move, filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court on Wednesday, seeking appointment of a "legal representative" for Jadhav.

However, the main parties, including the government of India, were not consulted ahead of the filing of the application by the Ministry of Law and Justice under the ordinance.

In New Delhi, External affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Thursday said Pakistan has once again exposed its "farcical" approach by denying available legal remedies to Jadhav against his death sentence which is also in contravention of the ICJ verdict.

He asserted that India will explore further options in the case.

Srivastava said Pakistan has blocked all the avenues for an effective remedy available to India in the case, while noting that New Delhi has so far requested consular access to Jadhav for 12 times over the past one year.

"The whole exercise of not providing documents related to the case even after repeated requests, not providing an unimpeded consular access and some reported unilateral action of approaching the High Court on part of Pakistan again exposes the farcical nature of Pakistan's approach," he said.

The MEA spokesperson said Pakistan is not only in violation of the judgment of ICJ, but also of its own Ordinance.

"Pakistan has completely failed to provide the remedy as directed by the ICJ and India reserves its position in the matter, including its rights to avail of further remedies," Srivastava added.

Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui, however, claimed that the "necessary steps"&nbsp;have been taken to implement the verdict of the ICJ.

Pakistan last week provided second consular access to Jadhav, but the Indian government said the access was "neither meaningful nor credible" and the death row prisoner appeared visibly under stress. 
&nbsp;

The Pakistan government on Friday defended the ordinance promulgated to enable Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav to file a review petition against his death sentence as a move to stop India from going to the UN against Islamabad.

The Pakistan government on Friday defended the ordinance promulgated to enable Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav to file a review petition against his death sentence as a move to stop India from going to the UN against Islamabad. Law Minister Farogh Naseem's remarks in Parliament came a day after the Opposition criticised the government for "facilitating" Jadhav through a special law. Also read | Kulbhushan Jadhav case: Now, Pakistan seeks lawyer; ICJ says judgement final The Opposition parties staged a walkout from Parliament to protest against the ordinance promulgated by the government in view of the International Court of Justice's ruling in the case of Jadhav. Jadhav, the 50-year-old retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April 2017. India approached the ICJ against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav and challenging the death sentence. The Hague-based ICJ ruled in July 2019 that Pakistan must undertake an "effective review and reconsideration" of the conviction and sentence of Jadhav and also to grant consular access to India without further delay. Pakistan enacted the ordinance on May 20. Law Minister Naseem told Parliament that the ordinance was promulgated to implement the judgment of the ICJ. Jadhav's sentence "had not been forgiven" through the ordinance which, he said, has effectively stopped India from going to the UN Security Council against Pakistan. "India has already made preparations (to go to the UNSC) if we do not do this. India wanted that Pakistan not follow the ICJ judgement so that they could approach the UNSC for bringing all kinds of resolutions, sanctions and declare Pakistan a rogue state," Naseem said. He said it was obligatory for Pakistan to follow the ICJ verdict as it was part of the international community. "If we had not promulgated this ordinance, then India could use Article 94 of UNSC and Article 60 of ICJ statute. Pakistan has done this responsibly," he said. Naseem said that he wanted to clarify the circumstances under which the law was brought so that the Opposition could understand it. "We have not forgiven any sentence or stopped proceedings (against Jadhav). We have to follow the ICJ's decision as a responsible state," he said, adding that the law was futuristic so that if a similar situation arose, the affected party should go to a court in Pakistan rather than to the ICJ. The Pakistan government, in a unilateral move, filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court on Wednesday, seeking appointment of a "legal representative" for Jadhav. However, the main parties, including the government of India, were not consulted ahead of the filing of the application by the Ministry of Law and Justice under the ordinance. In New Delhi, External affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Thursday said Pakistan has once again exposed its "farcical" approach by denying available legal remedies to Jadhav against his death sentence which is also in contravention of the ICJ verdict. He asserted that India will explore further options in the case. Srivastava said Pakistan has blocked all the avenues for an effective remedy available to India in the case, while noting that New Delhi has so far requested consular access to Jadhav for 12 times over the past one year. "The whole exercise of not providing documents related to the case even after repeated requests, not providing an unimpeded consular access and some reported unilateral action of approaching the High Court on part of Pakistan again exposes the farcical nature of Pakistan's approach," he said. The MEA spokesperson said Pakistan is not only in violation of the judgment of ICJ, but also of its own Ordinance. "Pakistan has completely failed to provide the remedy as directed by the ICJ and India reserves its position in the matter, including its rights to avail of further remedies," Srivastava added. Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui, however, claimed that the "necessary steps" have been taken to implement the verdict of the ICJ. Pakistan last week provided second consular access to Jadhav, but the Indian government said the access was "neither meaningful nor credible" and the death row prisoner appeared visibly under stress.

Pakistan defends Kulbhushan Jadhav's review petition, says decision taken to prevent India approach UN

Pak defends Kulbhushan Jadhav's review petition, says decision taken to prevent India approach UN

Pakistan government have brought in an ordinance in view of the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) ruling in the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav. Watch this video to know more.

Pakistan brings an ordinance in view of ICJ ruling on Kulbhushan Jadhav

Pakistan has blocked all legal remedies to Indian death row convict Kulbhushan Jadhav. India said that it has requested Pakistan 12 times for consular access to Jadhav and so far Islamabad Islamabad has not once provided the access. Watch report.

Kulbhushan Jadhav's case: India requested Pakistan 12 times for consular access

Pakistan reported 1,209 new coronavirus cases on Friday, taking the nation-wide tally of infections to 270,400.

In the last 24 hours, 54 virus-related deaths have been reported, the Ministry of National Health Services said.

A total of 5,763 people have died of COVID-19 in Pakistan, it said.

Out of the total cases, 115,883 are from Sindh, followed by 91,423 cases in Punjab, 32,898 cases in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 14,766 cases in Islamabad, 11,523 cases in Balochistan, 1,989 cases in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and 1,918 cases in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The number of people who have recovered from the disease is now 219,783.

Another 1,316 patients are in critical condition.

The ministry said 1,821,296 tests have been performed since the virus outbreak, including 22,006 tests in the last 24 hours.

Pakistan reported 1,209 new coronavirus cases on Friday, taking the nation-wide tally of infections to 270,400. In the last 24 hours, 54 virus-related deaths have been reported, the Ministry of National Health Services said.

Pakistan reported 1,209 new coronavirus cases on Friday, taking the nation-wide tally of infections to 270,400. In the last 24 hours, 54 virus-related deaths have been reported, the Ministry of National Health Services said. A total of 5,763 people have died of COVID-19 in Pakistan, it said. Out of the total cases, 115,883 are from Sindh, followed by 91,423 cases in Punjab, 32,898 cases in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 14,766 cases in Islamabad, 11,523 cases in Balochistan, 1,989 cases in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and 1,918 cases in Gilgit-Baltistan. The number of people who have recovered from the disease is now 219,783. Another 1,316 patients are in critical condition. The ministry said 1,821,296 tests have been performed since the virus outbreak, including 22,006 tests in the last 24 hours.

Pakistan's COVID-19 tally crosses 2, 70,000 with 1,209 fresh cases

Pakistan tax officials will look the other way if tax evaders invest their illicit wealth in housing projected initiated by Imran Khan government.&nbsp;

According to the Federal Board of Revenue, if people with black money invest in constuction projects like the Pakistan government's Naya Pakistan Housing Program by December 31, they will be forgiven by tax authorities.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-200-year-old-gurdwara-handed-back-to-sikhs-in-balochistan-315460">Pakistan: 200-year-old Gurdwara handed back to Sikhs in Balochistan</a>

"There is all this money with developers who have been doing tax evasion and small scale projects," Zaigham Rizvi, member of Naya Pakistan Housing Program taskforce, in an interview said, reports Bloomberg.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-nuclear-strategy-focus-shifts-from-pakistan-to-china-report-315192">India's nuclear strategy focus shifts from Pakistan to China: Report</a>

"I support the decision to bring funds from the dark economy into the tangible economy. Construction will generate some sort of tax directly or indirectly if that money is put through the value added system."

Last financial year, Pakistan economy shrank for the first time in seven decades and situation worsened with the arrival of the pandemic.&nbsp;

The Pakistani PM is trying to bring into the system the illegal money that has a value as high as about 56 per cent of the nation's economy.&nbsp;

This is not the first time Pakistan administration has tried to lure the tax cheats and have been brought such schemes at least once by four earlier governments, however, none of them was able to bring back any major sum of black money into the system.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Pakistan tax officials will look the other way if tax evaders invest their illicit wealth in housing projected initiated by Imran Khan government. According to the Federal Board of Revenue, if people with black money invest in constuction projects like the Pakistan government's Naya Pakistan Housing Program by December 31, they will be forgiven by tax authorities.

Pakistan tax officials will look the other way if tax evaders invest their illicit wealth in housing projected initiated by Imran Khan government. According to the Federal Board of Revenue, if people with black money invest in constuction projects like the Pakistan government's Naya Pakistan Housing Program by December 31, they will be forgiven by tax authorities. Also read | Pakistan: 200-year-old Gurdwara handed back to Sikhs in Balochistan "There is all this money with developers who have been doing tax evasion and small scale projects," Zaigham Rizvi, member of Naya Pakistan Housing Program taskforce, in an interview said, reports Bloomberg. Also read | India's nuclear strategy focus shifts from Pakistan to China: Report "I support the decision to bring funds from the dark economy into the tangible economy. Construction will generate some sort of tax directly or indirectly if that money is put through the value added system." Last financial year, Pakistan economy shrank for the first time in seven decades and situation worsened with the arrival of the pandemic. The Pakistani PM is trying to bring into the system the illegal money that has a value as high as about 56 per cent of the nation's economy. This is not the first time Pakistan administration has tried to lure the tax cheats and have been brought such schemes at least once by four earlier governments, however, none of them was able to bring back any major sum of black money into the system.

Pakistan to forgive tax cheaters if black money is invested in housing projects

In an exclusive reply to WION on the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has said that the decision taken by the court is binding and final. Watch report.

WION ExclusiveL: 'ICJ judgement is binding and final' on Kulbhushan Jadhav case

At least 6 aides to Pak PM Imran Khan have revealed that they possess dual nationalities. One of them has forged the price of a car in his declaration of assets.

Gravitas: Pakistan's corrupt coterie exposed

In February 2020, a British Parliamentary group visited the PoK to review the human rights situation on the ground. It has been reported that the group received money 30,000 British Pounds (30 lakh rupees) from the Pakistan government for this trip. WION in an exclusive interview spoke to Former Indian Envoy to UK Ruchi Ghanashyam.

Pak paid 30,000 pounds to British parliamentary group to visit PoK , Former Indian Envoy to UK speaks to WION

For over 11 years relatives of people who disappeared in the murk of a separatist insurgency in southwestern Pakistan have gathered outside the Press Club of Quetta wanting to know who took their fathers, husbands and sons.

The daily sit-in protest in the provincial capital of Balochistan began on June 28, 2009 after a doctor, Deen Muhammad, was abducted by "unknown men".

Relatives suspect Muhammad, like many other missing ethnic Balochs, was snatched by Pakistani security forces hunting separatists, who for decades have waged a campaign for greater autonomy or independence.

Sometimes less than a dozen join the daily protest, other days many more, but Muhammad`s two daughters have been among the regulars since they were eight and ten years old.

"Our little hands were holding pictures of our father back then; now we have grown up and we still have no clue if he is alive," Sammi Baloch, now 21, told Reuters by telephone from Quetta.

Even when the weather is too extreme in Quetta to hold protest, a sit-in is observed by&nbsp; 
Balochs in front of the press club in Karachi, Pakistan`s largest city and a melting pot for different ethnic groups.

The insurgency in Balochistan, a sparsely populated, mountainous, desert region bordering Afghanistan and Iran has sometimes waned and sometimes intensified over the years.

But for all the durability of the Baloch struggle, the conflict has seldom drawn international attention. It grabbed headlines however, in late June when a group of young Baloch militants launched an attack on the Pakistan Stock Exchange in Karachi.

On Tuesday, three soldiers were killed and eight wounded in an area known for attacks by Baloch fighters. But beyond giving the grinding casualty toll, the veil of secrecy over the conflict is seldom lifted, and foreign journalists are often discouraged from visiting Balochistan.

Multiple calls, texts and emails to Pakistan`s human rights ministry, the military and Balochistan`s provincial government, seeking comment for this story went unanswered.

The military did issue a statement last year sympathising with families of missing Balochs, while saying that some may have joined militant groups and "not every person missing is attributable to the state."

Pakistan has repeatedly blamed India for fanning militancy in Balochistan, a charge New Delhi has consistently denied.

MORE MISSING

Last month, the Balochistan National Party (BNP) quit Prime Minister Imran Khan`s parliamentary bloc, frustrated by unfulfilled promises to address Baloch grievances including the festering issue of the disappeared.

When he led the BNP into an alliance with Khan`s coalition two years ago, Akhtar Mengal gave the government a list of 5,128 missing persons.

Since then over 450 of the people on the list have been found or returned to their families, but during the same period Mengal says another 1,800 were reported to have disappeared.

"If you cannot recover people, at least stop disappearing more people," said Mengal.

Another Baloch party - set up in the months prior to the 2018 elections with backing from the military establishment, according political analysts - is in a coalition with Prime Minister Khan`s party at both federal and provincial level.

Balochistan Awami Party Senator Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar told Reuters the numbers of missing are "exaggerated".

But, Mama Qadeer, who heads a group called Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, keeps his own count.

"In last six months, the number of Baloch missing persons has risen," he told Reuters by telephone. His son disappeared a decade ago.

In February last year, Qadeer`s group handed a list of 500 missing to provincial officials. Since then nearly 300 have been returned to their homes, but 87 others disappeared in the first half of this year, according to the group.

CHINA RAISES STAKES

A federal commission set up nine years ago listed 6,506 cases of enforced disappearances nationwide by the end of 2019. Most came from the northwestern province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Only 472 were registered from Balochistan. Advocacy groups say Balochistan`s number is far higher, pointing to difficulty in having cases accepted by the commission.

"There`s hardly a home in Balochistan that hasn`t had a relative or loved one picked up," Mohammad Ali Talpur, an aged activist who once fought alongside Baloch insurgents in the 1970s, told Reuters.

The conflict has a long, complex history, but since that time the stakes have risen as Balochistan`s wealth of copper, gold, gas and coal deposits caught China`s eye.

The prospects of Pakistan`s most reliable ally pouring in money excited successive governments, while fuelling Baloch resentment over how little would come their way.

Separatist militants have frequently targeted Chinese construction in Gwadar, a port on the Balochistan coast, near the entrance to the strategically-important Gulf.

And in 2018, the Balochistan Liberation Army launched an assault on the Chinese consulate in the southern port city of Karachi, killing four Pakistani police and civilians.

It was the most high profile attack by the group until June 29 this year, when its fighters attacked the stock exchange, again killing four people.

The attack came a day after hundreds of relatives of missing Balochs gathered in Quetta to mark the four thousandth day of their protest since the disappearance of Dr Muhammad.

For over 11 years relatives of people who disappeared in the murk of a separatist insurgency in southwestern Pakistan have gathered outside the Press Club of Quetta wanting to know who took their fathers, husbands and sons.

For over 11 years relatives of people who disappeared in the murk of a separatist insurgency in southwestern Pakistan have gathered outside the Press Club of Quetta wanting to know who took their fathers, husbands and sons. The daily sit-in protest in the provincial capital of Balochistan began on June 28, 2009 after a doctor, Deen Muhammad, was abducted by "unknown men". Relatives suspect Muhammad, like many other missing ethnic Balochs, was snatched by Pakistani security forces hunting separatists, who for decades have waged a campaign for greater autonomy or independence. Sometimes less than a dozen join the daily protest, other days many more, but Muhammad`s two daughters have been among the regulars since they were eight and ten years old. "Our little hands were holding pictures of our father back then; now we have grown up and we still have no clue if he is alive," Sammi Baloch, now 21, told Reuters by telephone from Quetta. Even when the weather is too extreme in Quetta to hold protest, a sit-in is observed by Balochs in front of the press club in Karachi, Pakistan`s largest city and a melting pot for different ethnic groups. The insurgency in Balochistan, a sparsely populated, mountainous, desert region bordering Afghanistan and Iran has sometimes waned and sometimes intensified over the years. But for all the durability of the Baloch struggle, the conflict has seldom drawn international attention. It grabbed headlines however, in late June when a group of young Baloch militants launched an attack on the Pakistan Stock Exchange in Karachi. On Tuesday, three soldiers were killed and eight wounded in an area known for attacks by Baloch fighters. But beyond giving the grinding casualty toll, the veil of secrecy over the conflict is seldom lifted, and foreign journalists are often discouraged from visiting Balochistan. Multiple calls, texts and emails to Pakistan`s human rights ministry, the military and Balochistan`s provincial government, seeking comment for this story went unanswered. The military did issue a statement last year sympathising with families of missing Balochs, while saying that some may have joined militant groups and "not every person missing is attributable to the state." Pakistan has repeatedly blamed India for fanning militancy in Balochistan, a charge New Delhi has consistently denied. MORE MISSING Last month, the Balochistan National Party (BNP) quit Prime Minister Imran Khan`s parliamentary bloc, frustrated by unfulfilled promises to address Baloch grievances including the festering issue of the disappeared. When he led the BNP into an alliance with Khan`s coalition two years ago, Akhtar Mengal gave the government a list of 5,128 missing persons. Since then over 450 of the people on the list have been found or returned to their families, but during the same period Mengal says another 1,800 were reported to have disappeared. "If you cannot recover people, at least stop disappearing more people," said Mengal. Another Baloch party - set up in the months prior to the 2018 elections with backing from the military establishment, according political analysts - is in a coalition with Prime Minister Khan`s party at both federal and provincial level. Balochistan Awami Party Senator Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar told Reuters the numbers of missing are "exaggerated". But, Mama Qadeer, who heads a group called Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, keeps his own count. "In last six months, the number of Baloch missing persons has risen," he told Reuters by telephone. His son disappeared a decade ago. In February last year, Qadeer`s group handed a list of 500 missing to provincial officials. Since then nearly 300 have been returned to their homes, but 87 others disappeared in the first half of this year, according to the group. CHINA RAISES STAKES A federal commission set up nine years ago listed 6,506 cases of enforced disappearances nationwide by the end of 2019. Most came from the northwestern province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Only 472 were registered from Balochistan. Advocacy groups say Balochistan`s number is far higher, pointing to difficulty in having cases accepted by the commission. "There`s hardly a home in Balochistan that hasn`t had a relative or loved one picked up," Mohammad Ali Talpur, an aged activist who once fought alongside Baloch insurgents in the 1970s, told Reuters. The conflict has a long, complex history, but since that time the stakes have risen as Balochistan`s wealth of copper, gold, gas and coal deposits caught China`s eye. The prospects of Pakistan`s most reliable ally pouring in money excited successive governments, while fuelling Baloch resentment over how little would come their way. Separatist militants have frequently targeted Chinese construction in Gwadar, a port on the Balochistan coast, near the entrance to the strategically-important Gulf. And in 2018, the Balochistan Liberation Army launched an assault on the Chinese consulate in the southern port city of Karachi, killing four Pakistani police and civilians. It was the most high profile attack by the group until June 29 this year, when its fighters attacked the stock exchange, again killing four people. The attack came a day after hundreds of relatives of missing Balochs gathered in Quetta to mark the four thousandth day of their protest since the disappearance of Dr Muhammad.

Baloch families seek answers from Pakistan as more disappear amid insurgency

Four persons have been arrested in Pakistan’s northwest Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province for vandalising a rare statue of Gautam Buddha discovered during excavation at an agriculture farm, police said on Saturday.

The statue that was discovered in tehsil Takhtbai of Mardan district was destroyed on the orders of a local Maulvi (prayer leader), local residents said.

Four suspects have been arrested and an FIR under the antiquity act has been filed, police said.

The arrests were made after a video showing people damaging the statue with hammers went viral on social media.

Director of Archaeology Department Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Abdul Samad Khan expressed anguish over the incident and assured that proper action would be taken against the culprits involved in damaging the rare statue.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s old name is Ghandhara and the region is a highly revered place for the followers of Buddhism.

In 2017, two rare and ancient Buddha statues were unearthed at an archeological site in Bhamala in Hariput district. The largest ever statue found at the site depicts the death of Buddha and the second statue was a Buddha with a double halo.

The statue depicting the death scenario was the oldest of its kind in the world. It was also verified by the American laboratory which identified it as older than third century BC.

Peshawar Museum is also known for displaying one of the world’s largest collection of architectural pieces on Buddha.

A couple of years ago, the museum’s tallest statue of Buddha in schist stone was transported to Switzerland for display there for 100 days at an international exhibition.

&nbsp;

Four persons have been arrested in Pakistan’s northwest Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province for vandalising a rare statue of Gautam Buddha discovered during excavation at an agriculture farm, police said on Saturday.

Four persons have been arrested in Pakistan’s northwest Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province for vandalising a rare statue of Gautam Buddha discovered during excavation at an agriculture farm, police said on Saturday. The statue that was discovered in tehsil Takhtbai of Mardan district was destroyed on the orders of a local Maulvi (prayer leader), local residents said. Four suspects have been arrested and an FIR under the antiquity act has been filed, police said. The arrests were made after a video showing people damaging the statue with hammers went viral on social media. Director of Archaeology Department Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Abdul Samad Khan expressed anguish over the incident and assured that proper action would be taken against the culprits involved in damaging the rare statue. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s old name is Ghandhara and the region is a highly revered place for the followers of Buddhism. In 2017, two rare and ancient Buddha statues were unearthed at an archeological site in Bhamala in Hariput district. The largest ever statue found at the site depicts the death of Buddha and the second statue was a Buddha with a double halo. The statue depicting the death scenario was the oldest of its kind in the world. It was also verified by the American laboratory which identified it as older than third century BC. Peshawar Museum is also known for displaying one of the world’s largest collection of architectural pieces on Buddha. A couple of years ago, the museum’s tallest statue of Buddha in schist stone was transported to Switzerland for display there for 100 days at an international exhibition.

Four persons arrested for vandalising rare Buddha statue in Pakistan

It has bee revealed that Pakistan paid around 30 Lakh rupees or 33,000 Pounds to British Parliamentary Group to visit PoK to review human rights situation in February month earlier this year.

Pakistan paid British Parliamentary Group to visit PoK to review human rights situation

Ancient Buddha statue destroyed by construction workers in Pakistan. Construction workers destroyed statue for being 'unislamic'. This incident took place in Pakistan's Takht Bahi area.

Ancient Buddha statue destroyed by construction workers in Pakistan

Pakistan on July 17 has offered third consular access to India for Kulbhushan Jadhav. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that a note verbale has been sent meeting India's demand to not have security personnel during the meeting. India is yet to respond to Pakistan's offer. Watch report.

What is the way forward for Kulbhushan Jadhav?

Pakistan offers third consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav

In the latest coming in India has launched a protest against Pakistan for neither meaningful nor credible consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav. Watch report.

India: No uninterrupted access to Kulbhushan Jadhav

A 21-year-old man from Maharashtra has been apprehended by the Border Security Force (BSF) in Gujarat's Rann of Kutch while he was trying to sneak into Pakistan on foot, officials said on Friday.

Police said that as per the preliminary probe, the man, identified as Zeeshan Siddique, was on his way to meet a woman in Pakistan whom he had befriended on a social media platform.

"Siddique was held by the BSF on Thursday night and later handed over to the local police. He is from Osmanabad town in Maharashtra," Kutch-East Superintendent of Police, Parikshita Rathod, said.

"Police had issued an alert after a motorcycle with Maharashtra registration number was found abandoned near Dholavira village in the Rann of Kutch on Thursday evening. The BSF later nabbed the man when he was found walking towards the border in a bid to enter Pakistan," Rathod added.

According to police sources, Siddique is an engineering student and may have reached Gujarat from Osmanabad on his motorcycle.

After his motorcycle got stuck in the sand, he started walking towards Pakistan in a bid to meet his social media friend living in that country, they said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

A 21-year-old man from Maharashtra has been apprehended by the Border Security Force (BSF) in Gujarat's Rann of Kutch while he was trying to sneak into Pakistan on foot, officials said on Friday.

A 21-year-old man from Maharashtra has been apprehended by the Border Security Force (BSF) in Gujarat's Rann of Kutch while he was trying to sneak into Pakistan on foot, officials said on Friday. Police said that as per the preliminary probe, the man, identified as Zeeshan Siddique, was on his way to meet a woman in Pakistan whom he had befriended on a social media platform. "Siddique was held by the BSF on Thursday night and later handed over to the local police. He is from Osmanabad town in Maharashtra," Kutch-East Superintendent of Police, Parikshita Rathod, said. "Police had issued an alert after a motorcycle with Maharashtra registration number was found abandoned near Dholavira village in the Rann of Kutch on Thursday evening. The BSF later nabbed the man when he was found walking towards the border in a bid to enter Pakistan," Rathod added. According to police sources, Siddique is an engineering student and may have reached Gujarat from Osmanabad on his motorcycle. After his motorcycle got stuck in the sand, he started walking towards Pakistan in a bid to meet his social media friend living in that country, they said.

Maharashtra man held in Gujarat for bid to sneak into Pakistan on foot

Pakistan's coronavirus cases on Friday reached 259,999 after 2,085 more people tested positive for the COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, the health ministry reported.

According to the Ministry of National Health Services, another 49 patients died in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 5,475.

The ministry also said that 183,737 patients so far recovered from the disease. However, 1,895 persons were still in critical condition.

Out of the total 259,999 cases, 110,068 are in Sindh, 89,023 in Punjab, 31,486 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 14,454 in Islamabad, 11,385 in Balochistan, 1,808 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and 1,775 Gilgit-Baltistan.

A total of 1,676,090 coronavirus tests were done, including 23,907 in the last 24 hours. 
Meanwhile, the National Institute of Health (NIH) conducted a study titled "Sero-Epidemio-logical Survey for COVID-19" in Islamabad between June 1 and June 25.

The study said that around 300,000 persons were infected, showing that the capital city was going towards "herd immunity". Most of the infected individuals were asymptomatic, Dawn newspaper reported.

The NIH executive director, Major General Prof Dr Aamer Ikram, said that during the study equal representation from the rural and urban areas was ensured.

According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Islamabad Capital Territory is divided into 44 administrative units: 12 of them urban and 32 rural. As per the national census of 2017-18, the population of the city is 2,006,572.

Dr Ikram said that after applying the standard techniques sample size required was found to be 4,328 for the survey.

"A structured, pre-tested questionnaire was used to gather data relating to demography, clinical issues and exposure and risk factors from the community. Blood samples were collected from participants who were tested for immunoglobulins against COVID-19...Throat or nasopharyngeal swabs were also collected from those having symptoms or a contact history with a positive case for PCR testing. All samples were tested at the virology lab of NIH," he said.

A preliminary analysis showed a prevalence of 14.5 per 100 population for COVID-19, he said.

"As for area-wise distribution of the disease, rural union councils were more affected. Out of all the union councils, Chattar was found to be the most affected, followed by the union councils of Muhrian and Tarlai Khurd.

"Considering the ages, the most affected group comprised people between 41 and 50 years, followed by the 31-40 years group and 51-60 years group. PCR positivity rate was found to be 17 per cent," he said.&nbsp;

Pakistan's coronavirus cases on Friday reached 259,999 after 2,085 more people tested positive for the COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, the health ministry reported.

Pakistan's coronavirus cases on Friday reached 259,999 after 2,085 more people tested positive for the COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, the health ministry reported. According to the Ministry of National Health Services, another 49 patients died in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 5,475. The ministry also said that 183,737 patients so far recovered from the disease. However, 1,895 persons were still in critical condition. Out of the total 259,999 cases, 110,068 are in Sindh, 89,023 in Punjab, 31,486 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 14,454 in Islamabad, 11,385 in Balochistan, 1,808 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and 1,775 Gilgit-Baltistan. A total of 1,676,090 coronavirus tests were done, including 23,907 in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, the National Institute of Health (NIH) conducted a study titled "Sero-Epidemio-logical Survey for COVID-19" in Islamabad between June 1 and June 25. The study said that around 300,000 persons were infected, showing that the capital city was going towards "herd immunity". Most of the infected individuals were asymptomatic, Dawn newspaper reported. The NIH executive director, Major General Prof Dr Aamer Ikram, said that during the study equal representation from the rural and urban areas was ensured. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Islamabad Capital Territory is divided into 44 administrative units: 12 of them urban and 32 rural. As per the national census of 2017-18, the population of the city is 2,006,572. Dr Ikram said that after applying the standard techniques sample size required was found to be 4,328 for the survey. "A structured, pre-tested questionnaire was used to gather data relating to demography, clinical issues and exposure and risk factors from the community. Blood samples were collected from participants who were tested for immunoglobulins against COVID-19...Throat or nasopharyngeal swabs were also collected from those having symptoms or a contact history with a positive case for PCR testing. All samples were tested at the virology lab of NIH," he said. A preliminary analysis showed a prevalence of 14.5 per 100 population for COVID-19, he said. "As for area-wise distribution of the disease, rural union councils were more affected. Out of all the union councils, Chattar was found to be the most affected, followed by the union councils of Muhrian and Tarlai Khurd. "Considering the ages, the most affected group comprised people between 41 and 50 years, followed by the 31-40 years group and 51-60 years group. PCR positivity rate was found to be 17 per cent," he said.

Pakistan's coronavirus cases reach 259,999

In this segment of WION, We show you the true face of Imran Khan's 'Naya Pakistan'. Watch this video to know more.

Fineprint: The true face of Imran Khan's 'Naya Pakistan'

When it comes to barbarity, women often find themselves on the receiving end in Pakistan.&nbsp;

The coronavirus lockdown has made the sufferings rise that women experience in this country.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-records-2145-new-cases-total-tally-reaches-257914-313688">Pakistan's records 2,145 new cases; total tally reaches 257,914</a>

"Many families realise too late that a divorced daughter is better than a dead daughter," Khadija Siddiqi, a victim of gender-based violence, said, reported DW.

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-2-stories-that-expose-patriarchy-in-pakistan-312420#:~:text=Your%20video%20will%20be%20available,Zahra%20Shah%20%26%20Sadaf%20Zahra%20Naqvi./embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-gets-consular-access-for-kulbhushan-jadhav-in-pakistan-313675#:~:text=India%20has%20got%20consular%20access,and%20wife%20to%20meet%20him.">India gets consular access for Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan</a>

Siddiqi, a lawyer herself, says that domestic violence has increased greatly during the coronavirus pandemic as the women were forced to compromise even more due to financial difficulties.&nbsp;

Right organisations believe women who are involved in the informal sector suffered the most because of domestic violence as many became unemployed which forced them to stay longer in their small homes, thereby facing the wrath of abusive family members.&nbsp;

"Recently, a woman was beaten up by her husband because she needed money for sanitary napkins. Before COVID-19, she could go out to purchase second-hand clothes to use them as pads but now she can't leave home," Arya Indirias Patras, a researcher on gender studies, said.&nbsp;

There was a 25 per cent rise in domestic violence incidents in Pakistan during the lockdown across the eastern Punjab province, with officials registering 3,217 cases between March and May, as per government figures.&nbsp;

Pakistan ranks sixth in the list of world's most dangerous nations for women.

Various media reports said over 51,241 cases of violence against women were registered between January 2011 and June 2017. Despite a high number of such incidents, the conviction rates remain low as only 2.5 per cent of cases end up in conviction.&nbsp;

Government measures to tackle these incidents generally fail and by and large only rights organisations are able to provide the necessary help to the victims.&nbsp;

Sabahat Riaz, a rights lawyer for women working at the Dastak shelter, said the helpline number calls have nearly doubled since the start of the pandemic, adding that earlier calls were basically from young women, but now even elderly complain of violence.&nbsp;

She also said government-run organisations are not adequately trained to deal with such cases and police discourage victims to register cases.&nbsp;

"Police officials are generally not gender-sensitized. They also view domestic abuse as a private dispute and discourage victims to report," she said.

Not just the adult women, even children experienced domestic violence during the coronavirus crisis.&nbsp;

"There is a hierarchy of violence in frustrated families. The in-laws and husband are violent with the wife, who takes out her anger on children," Ruhi Ghani, a psychologist, said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

When it comes to barbarity, women often find themselves on the receiving end in Pakistan. The coronavirus lockdown has made the sufferings rise that women experience in this country.

When it comes to barbarity, women often find themselves on the receiving end in Pakistan. The coronavirus lockdown has made the sufferings rise that women experience in this country. Also read | Pakistan's records 2,145 new cases; total tally reaches 257,914 "Many families realise too late that a divorced daughter is better than a dead daughter," Khadija Siddiqi, a victim of gender-based violence, said, reported DW. Watch | Also read | India gets consular access for Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan Siddiqi, a lawyer herself, says that domestic violence has increased greatly during the coronavirus pandemic as the women were forced to compromise even more due to financial difficulties. Right organisations believe women who are involved in the informal sector suffered the most because of domestic violence as many became unemployed which forced them to stay longer in their small homes, thereby facing the wrath of abusive family members. "Recently, a woman was beaten up by her husband because she needed money for sanitary napkins. Before COVID-19, she could go out to purchase second-hand clothes to use them as pads but now she can't leave home," Arya Indirias Patras, a researcher on gender studies, said. There was a 25 per cent rise in domestic violence incidents in Pakistan during the lockdown across the eastern Punjab province, with officials registering 3,217 cases between March and May, as per government figures. Pakistan ranks sixth in the list of world's most dangerous nations for women. Various media reports said over 51,241 cases of violence against women were registered between January 2011 and June 2017. Despite a high number of such incidents, the conviction rates remain low as only 2.5 per cent of cases end up in conviction. Government measures to tackle these incidents generally fail and by and large only rights organisations are able to provide the necessary help to the victims. Sabahat Riaz, a rights lawyer for women working at the Dastak shelter, said the helpline number calls have nearly doubled since the start of the pandemic, adding that earlier calls were basically from young women, but now even elderly complain of violence. She also said government-run organisations are not adequately trained to deal with such cases and police discourage victims to register cases. "Police officials are generally not gender-sensitized. They also view domestic abuse as a private dispute and discourage victims to report," she said. Not just the adult women, even children experienced domestic violence during the coronavirus crisis. "There is a hierarchy of violence in frustrated families. The in-laws and husband are violent with the wife, who takes out her anger on children," Ruhi Ghani, a psychologist, said.

Domestic violence: Coronavirus, not the only battle being fought by women in Pakistan

A plea filed in the Lahore High Court seeks an immediate ban on TikTok for promoting 'pornography'. Can the Pakistan govt afford to ban this Chinese app?

Gravitas: Can Pakistan afford to ban TikTok?

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