Headlines 12pm: Coronavirus cases increase, SBP announces refinancing scheme

Here are the headlines from SAMAA TV’s 12pm bulletin.

• Forty-six more people across the country have lost their lives due the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours, taking the total death toll to 985. A total of 1,932 more cases were reported, taking the total number of those infected in Pakistan to 45,189. Sindh reported 17,000 cases, 16,000 people were infected in Punjab, 6,554 people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and more than 2,000 people in Balochistan contracted the deadly virus.
• Gujranwala PTI MPA Shaheen Raza passed away from COVID-19 on Wednesday. She was admitted at the Mayo Hospital in Lahore. Punjab CM Usman Buzdar has expressed condolences and grief over her death.
• Prime Minister Imran Khan will address the World Economic Forum today. He will discuss measures taken by the government to fight the global pandemic. The economic situation following lockdown, subsidies for the construction industry, performance of the Coronavirus National Command and Operation Centre and NDMA’s aid to provinces will also be discussed.
• Passenger train have resumed operations across the country after two months. Thirty trains have been scheduled from multiple cities. The first trains, the Pakistan Express, left Rawalpindi for Karachi and Lahore Wednesday morning. The first train from Karachi to Peshawar, the Awam Express, left at 10am. Seats can only be booked online and only 60% seats will be sold. Passengers have been asked to bring masks, sanitiser, soap and gloves with them.
• The Sindh government has reopened malls in the province over orders of the Supreme Court. SOPs have to be strictly followed. People over 50 and children will not be allowed. Food court, salons and play areas inside the malls will remain closed. Karachi All Tajir Ittehad Chairperson Atiq Mir has requested permission to keep markets open till midnight until Eid.
• Punjab has allowed malls and shopping plazas to be open from 9am to 5pm. Restaurants, food stalls and play rides will stay closed. Restaurants will be opened after Eid. The dates will be decided later. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have extended their smart lockdowns until May 31 and June 2 respectively.
• Across the world, the total number of fatalities from COVID-19 have increased to 324,000. America reported its highest death toll in the last 24 hours with 1,552 deaths.
• The State Bank of Pakistan has announced re-financing facilities for businesses affected by the coronavirus. Loans will also be given to provide salaries to employees. The bank had announced a refinancing scheme on April 10 according to which businessmen could acquire cheap loans.
• The cabinet will hold a session of its Economic Coordination Committee led by PM’s Advisor on Finance Hafeez Sheikh today. The PM’s Coronavirus Relief fund and preparation of smart phones in Pakistan will be discussed. Economic packages under the Economic Zones Act, 2012 is also on the agenda.
• The Punjab Flour Mills Association has ended their strike after negotiations with the government. Flour mills in KP and Balochistan have also organised strikes in support of Punjab.
• Traders in Karachi have started receiving extortion calls as businesses resume. Sardar Muhammad Khan says that he has been receiving death threats from people asking him to give them his land in SITE area. He complained that the police have refused to register a case.
• The weather in all provinces of the country has become hot and dry. In Karachi, the temperature is expected to rise above 39 degrees Celsius, while the real feel will be 42 degrees.
• The Old Trafford Cricket Stadium in England is ready to hold the Pakistan-England series with spectators. According to the authorities, 2,000 to 3,000 people can be called.
• Football activities have started resuming across the globe. Cristiano Ronaldo is back in the ground after being isolated for two weeks. He has started training for Juventus.

from Coronavirus – SAMAA https://ift.tt/2Zmd5tK