Karachi: Sindh's administration has announced a public holiday in the megacity on Friday (October 1) amid the in view of extreme weather emergency caused by a tropical cyclone Gulab in the Arabian Sea.

Releasing an official notification on Thursday, Commissioner Karachi said that all provincial offices and businesses in Karachi would remain closed today.

The notification also advices general public to take precautions and remain indoors for safety.

In addition, Karachi University has canceled all examinations scheduled for today.  As per Controller Examinations, Dr. Zafar, the new dates for the examinations will be announced later.

محکمہ تعلیم نے تیز بارشون کے پیش نظر کل سندھ بھر میں تعطیل کا اعلان کر دیا

کل تمام سرکاری و پرائیویٹ اسکول اور کالجز بند رہیں گے ،وزیر تعلیم سندھ سردار شاہ@MuradAliShahPPP
@sardarshah1

— Minister Education & Literacy Dept. Govt of Sindh (@MinisterEduGoS) September 30, 2021

However, the holiday will not apply to hospitals, local bodies and compulsory service agencies. 

Meanwhile, the meteorological department has forecast moderate to heavy rains and possibly isolated heavy rains between Friday and Saturday under the influence of deep pressure in the Arabian Sea, which turned into a tropical cyclone today.

A low air pressure system could turn into a hurricane, added the Meteorological Department forecast note.

Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert in the Northeast Arabian Sea
Torrential Rains and Squally Winds along Sindh-Makran Coast
Alert-IV#CycloneGulab #Karachi.#CycloneShaheen#Sindh pic.twitter.com/rnDAv7FVgT

— Pak Met Department محکمہ موسمیات (@pmdgov) October 1, 2021

The Met department, on Sunday, also warned fishermen not to go out to sea until October 3.

Following the situation, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has assigned the duties of overseeing relief and rescue operations to the ministers. 

Keeping in view the situation resulting from expected tropical cyclone & the rainfall, it has been decided that Friday the 1st of October will be a public holiday. All offices, educational institutions & businesses except essential services shall remain remain closed in Karachi

— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) September 30, 2021

Islamabad: Pakistan is presently experiencing the fourth wave of coronavirus which is said to be deadlier and more contagious than the previous three COVID waves. Today, the daily positivity rate in-country is at 2.60%.

According to National Command and Operations Center (NCOC), around 1,212 cases of coronavirus were reported while 39 people succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the total death toll to 27,986.

The total number of cases has reached 1,253,868.

As many as 1,181,054 patients have recovered from the disease with 3,079 critical cases.

Punjab 

The number of patients swelled to 434,139 in the province with 12,724 causalities.

Sindh

The number of infections has surged to 461,258 in the province, while the death toll has reached 7,451.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The confirmed cases have surged to 175,012 in the province with 5,608 casualties.

Balochistan

There are 33,004 confirmed cases while 349 patients have died from the infection so far.

AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan

There are 34,278 coronavirus cases in the AJK while the death toll has reached 738. On the other hand, there are 10,338 cases in GB with 186 coronavirus deaths.

Islamabad

There are 105,839 cases in the capital city while 930 people have lost their lives.

Islamabad: Pakistan has reported its lowest daily coronavirus death toll in almost three months, with 19 people losing their lives to the virus in the last 24 hours. 

Amid a steady decline in Covid-19 infections, Pakistan's coronavirus positivity ratio further fell to 1.88% with 767 new cases.

Pakistan is presently experiencing the fourth wave of coronavirus which is said to be deadlier and more contagious than the previous three COVID waves.

The total number of cases has reached 1,257,955.

As many as 1,187,308 patients have recovered from the disease with 2,540 critical cases.

Punjab

The number of patients swelled to 435,882 in the province with 12,780 causalities.

Sindh

The number of infections has surged to 462,466 in the province, while the death toll has reached 7,484. 

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The confirmed cases have surged to 175,735 in the province with 5,636 casualties.

Balochistan

There are 33,072 confirmed cases while 350 patients have died from the infection so far.

AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan

There are 34,339 coronavirus cases in the AJK while the death toll has reached 739. On the other hand, there are 10,348 cases in GB with 186 coronavirus deaths.

Islamabad

There are 106,113 cases in the capital city while 931 people have lost their lives.