Islamabad: Minister for Health Abdul Qadir Patel has urged citizens to follow Standard Operating Procedures against COVID-19 as 818 new cases were reported in the country over the last twenty-four hours.

In a video message regarding the current corona situation, he said the government is taking effective measures to control the spread of coronavirus in the country.

The Minister said National Command and Control Centre meets on daily basis to closely monitor the cases of coronavirus.

Meanwhile, four people died due to corona infection in the country during last twenty-four hours.

According to National Institute of Health, over 18,300 tests were conducted during this period and the positivity ratio was 4.47 percent.

Cairo: An elderly man has been killed after falling from the balcony of his room on the ninth floor of a hotel in the Cleopatra area on the Alexandria Corniche, Egypt.  

As per reports, hotel workers found the body of the deceased lying on the street in the early hours of Friday. 

The police, however, were informed and the deceased was taken to the Kom El Dikka morgue. 

Reports quoting sources said that the security forces are intensifying their efforts to uncover the circumstances of the incident— to find out whether there is a criminal suspicion or not.

Rawalpindi: Three terrorists have been killed after security forces conducted an operation in North Wazirstan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, army’s media wing reported Saturday. 

According to Inter-Service Public Relations, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Ghulam Khan Kalle area on the reported presence of terrorists.

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from their possession, said ISPR. 

The military’s press wing said the killed terrorists remained actively involved in activities against security forces.

Islamabad: Pakistan has reported four deaths and 818 new COVID-19 infections in past 24 hours as the novel virus continues to rage across the country.  

As per the latest stats, the new infections—detected after diagnostic testing on 18,305 samples—took Pakistan’s COVID-19 positivity rate to 4.47%. 

COVID-19 Statistics 02 July 2022
Total Tests in Last 24 Hours: 18,305
Positive Cases: 818
Positivity %: 4.47%
Deaths: 04
Patients on Critical Care: 126

— NIH Pakistan (@NIH_Pakistan) July 2, 2022

This was the first time in nearly four months that the infections moved past 800.

According to National Institute of Health (NIH), condition of 126 COVID patients is critical and they are being treated in intensive care units (ICU). 

Authorities, however, have started imposing restrictions in a bid to curb the infection rate — making ‘wearing masks’ mandatory for passengers travelling on public transport, including busses and trains.

The overall tally of the infected people climbed to 1536479 across Pakistan after adding the fresh cases.

Experts say Pakistan may potentially witness another COVID-19 wave as the country continues to see an uptick in new cases, pushing the positivity rate further up.  

Tehran: Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Nadeem Raza who is on official visit to Iran, called on President of Iran Sayyid Ebrahim Raisol-Sadati.

Matters of bilateral strategic interest and regional security environment including strengthening of bilateral security and defence cooperation between the two countries were brought into discussion.

Both sides displayed desire to initiate meaningful and long-lasting security and defence cooperation between the two countries.

Chairman JCSC also held separate meetings with Defence Minister Brigadier General Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani, Chief of General Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Commander-in-Chief Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Major General Hossein Salami, Commander of Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Shahram Irani and Commander of Air Force Brigadier General Hamid Vahedi.

The dignitaries discussed measures to enhance the level and scope of military engagements between both countries and pledged to continue to forge deeper ties. Both sides highlighted that common borders should be "Borders of Peace and Friendship".

The Iranian military leadership lauded the professionalism of Pakistan Armed Forces and acknowledged their sacrifices in fight against terrorism.

Earlier, upon arrival at General Staff Headquarters a smartly turned-out contingent presented 'Guard of Honour' to the Chairman Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.

Lahore: Minister for Railways and Aviation Khawaja Saad Rafiq Saturday called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and apprised him over the reforms process in railways and aviation sectors.

During the meeting, the political situation in the country was discussed.

The prime minister was further apprised that implementation of COVID-19 related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were being ensured during travelling in railways and airlines and especially on the occasion of Eid.

Earlier in tha day, Pakistan Railways has announced to run three special trains on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha on multiple routes to facilitate passengers. 

The spokesperson of Pakistan railways said that the first Eid special train will leave from Quetta to Peshawar on Friday at 10 am. 

The second special train will leave Karachi for Lahore on Friday, while the third Eid special train from Lahore to Karachi on July 13. 

Lahore: In a bid to facilitate the passengers, Pakistan Railways has announced to run three special trains on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha on multiple routes. 

The spokesperson of Pakistan railways said that the first Eid special train will leave from Quetta to Peshawar on Friday at 10 am. 

The second special train will leave Karachi for Lahore on Friday, while the third Eid special train from Lahore to Karachi on July 13. 

Rescuers in India's northeast have recovered 20 dead bodies from the site of a landslide that buried a railway construction camp, the army said, after a second day of search efforts.

As per details, security forces and disaster relief teams are still racing to rescue dozens more feared trapped under debris.

Reportedly, most of the victims were reserve soldiers from the Territorial Army who had been working on the railway project.

Experts say climate change is increasing the number of extreme weather events around the world, with damming, deforestation and development projects in India exacerbating the human toll.

This month, unprecedented rains lashed India’s northeastern states and neighbouring Bangladesh, killing more than 150 people.

Millions have been displaced by the catastrophic floods in recent weeks, and in some low-lying areas, houses have been submerged.

Army helicopters were on standby and assisting in rescue operations at the site of the landslide, a statement from the Indian army said.