Islamabad:  Amid a steady decline in Covid-19 infections, Pakistan's coronavirus positivity ratio further fell to 0.78%, the total death toll reached to 28,777. 

Around 336 fresh coronavirus cases emerged while 10 people succumbed to the disease in last 24 hours amid 'Omicron' threat.

Pakistan’s government will step up COVID-19 vaccination efforts and is expanding the criteria for vaccine booster shots, amid fears of the Omicron variant.

According to the latest figures issued by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 336 persons were tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. 

The total number of cases has reached 1,287,161. 

As many as 1,246,464 patients have recovered from the disease.

Punjab

The number of patients swelled to 443,519 in the province with 13,041 causalities.

Sindh

The number of infections has surged to 476,830 in the province, while the death toll has reached 7,626.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The confirmed cases have surged to 180,383 in the province with 5,862 casualties.

Balochistan

There are 33,507 confirmed cases while 360 patients have died from the infection so far.

AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan

There are 34,579 coronavirus cases in the AJK while the death toll has reached 742. On the other hand, there are 10,413 cases in GB with 186 coronavirus deaths.

Islamabad

There are 107,930 cases in the capital city while 960 people have lost their lives.

Nairobi: In an unfortunate incident, at least 23 people were killed after a bus travelling to a wedding plunged into the Enziu River in the eastern Kitui town.

Twenty three people drowned when a bus travelling to a wedding in central Kenya was swept off a bridge into a flooded river.

Reportedly, 12 people had been rescued, including four children. It remains unclear how many passengers were aboard the bus.

Reports added that all the passengers, were choir members of Mwingi Catholic Church and had been travelling for their male colleague’s wedding when the accident occurred in Kitui County. 

Reports further added that the driver was trying to cross fast-flowing waters passing over the bridge but the force was too strong, sweeping the bus beneath the churning currents. 

“We have this terrible, terrible accident that happened here this morning,” Kitui governor Charity Ngilu told reporters on Saturday. 

“The bodies that have already been retrieved right now are over 23. We have more bodies in the bus,” she said, adding efforts to recover the corpses would resume on Sunday morning.  

This afternoon tragedy has struck Kitui County. A bus carrying Catholic faithfuls was swept away while attempting to cross a swollen river Enziu in Nguni, Mwingi. Rescue efforts are ongoing. So far there are 17 survivors and regrettably 21 bodies have been recovered. pic.twitter.com/1VqF5U6g3z

— Charity Ngilu (@mamangilu) December 4, 2021

Officials, however, have started an investigation into the incident.

Lahore: As per unofficial results, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate emerged victorious in the NA-133 by-election after securing 46,811 votes and trounced the Pakistan Peoples Party.   

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Shaista Pervaiz Malik won the NA-133 constituency—for the fourth time since 2008 although by a smaller margin as compared to when they won it in the 2018 elections.  

PML-N's Shaista Pervaiz Malik— the widow of late Pervez Malik, emerged victorious after retaining the seat in a constituency that has long been the party's stronghold.  

Unofficial, preliminary results showed Malik defeated PPP opponent Aslam Gill by a margin of 14,498 votes, according to the unofficial results, 

PML-N secured 46,811 votes, while PPP candidate remained runner up by securing 32,313 votes.

However, PPP's Gill, got 26,728 more votes now as compared to the 2018 polls, when he obtained only 5,585. 

According to forum 47, the results of 254 were calculated. Out of 440485 votes in the constituency, 80997 votes were casted. 

The voters turn-out remained 18.59%, including 50936 males and 30959 females, whereas, 898 votes were wasted. 

Following the victory, Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif and Vice-president Maryam Nawaz extended their congratulations on party’s victory in NA-133 by-elections

We bow our heads before Allah in all humility for this election win today. I dedicate this success to our friend & brother, late Pervez Malik who was a thorough gentleman, dedicated public servant & great companion of Nawaz Sharif. Grateful to NA133 for their unwavering trust!

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) December 5, 2021

اللّہ کا شکر 🙏🏼
شیروں کو مبارک 🐅 pic.twitter.com/TNfPZMK8GN

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) December 5, 2021

Eleven candidates were contesting in NA-133 election. However, a tough contest was already expected between PML-N and PPP.