Islamabad: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has demanded a do-more for the eradication of corruption in Pakistan.

IMF has pointed out government mismanagement in Pakistan and that harassment for political purposes in corruption cases should be ended. The measures should be taken to make the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) more independent in the light of the Supreme Court's decision.

In the report of the IMF, it has been stated that NAB should be made more effective for accountability. The investigative system should be improved to eliminate corruption in Pakistan, and an action plan should be prepared to eliminate corruption by June 2025.

The IMF demanded in the report that a review report be prepared in the light of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and the weak legal capacity of government institutions in anti-corruption cases should be improved.

The International Monetary Fund has also asked that information on the assets of all public officials should be made easy to access. The assets of public officials should be prevented from increasing illegally, and that the statements of assets and income of officials should be made public.

The IMF added that legislation should be passed to make the assets of government officials and members of parliament public by February. Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) should be digitised to make public the assets of all government officials.

The International Monetary Fund also said in the report that NAB is not provided with accurate data to investigate corruption and ensure transparency in state institutions of Pakistan.

Islamabad: The cases of diphtheria and the casualties of children caused by it are increasing extraordinarily in Karachi.

Health department officials said that more than 100 children have died of diphtheria in Karachi so far and the disease can be prevented by vaccination.

Officials stated that last year, Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital received 140 cases of diphtheria, out of which 52 children died.

According to the officials, all cases of diphtheria in Karachi are being sent to the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital, while more than 12 children are currently being treated at the Hospital.

In this regard, infectious disease experts said that there is no anti-toxin in the treatment medicine of diphtheria in Karachi and Sindh. An anti-toxin worth Rs0.2 to 0.25 million is used for the treatment of a child infected with diphtheria.

According to experts, the only treatment for the prevention of diphtheria is complete vaccination and treatment of the disease by giving antitoxin.

Kurram: 11 people were killed in the firing of two groups in district Kurram of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javedullah Mehsud, the incident of firing took place in the area of ​​Kunj Ali Zai, where the firing between two groups killed 11 and injured six people.

After receiving the information about the incident, the police and security forces reached the area and shifted the injured to the hospital while the incident was investigated.

It is pertinent to note that dozens of people have been killed and injured as a result of tribal clashes in Kurram many times before.