ISLAMABAD, Sep 5 (APP): The health officials on Tuesday said that 95 new coronavirus cases were reported during the last week across the country.

As per the data shared by the National Institute of Health (NIH), the case positivity ratio was 1.15 per cent while one patient was in critical condition.

One death was reported from the coronavirus last week in Lahore while 8,285 Covid-19 tests were conducted.

Meanwhile, the official of the Ministry for National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination said that the government had strengthened the role of Border and Health Services in Pakistan to deal with any sub-variant of Covid-19.

He said there was a surveillance system at all entry points of the country including airports.

There will be rapid tests and screening of passengers at all airports. He added 90 per cent of the country’s population already got the Covid-19 vaccine.

ISLAMABAD, Sep 5 (APP): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Tuesday notified the names of 20 elected members for women’s reserved seats in the local government elections held on August 23, 2023, encompassing the district council seats in six Balochistan’s districts.

The notification includes the following districts: Pishin, Nushki, Dera Bugti, Kacchi, Kalat, and Panjgur. The returned candidate for the District Council in Pishin includes Bibi Hajira, daughter of Ihsan Ullah, representing JUI-P. Bibi Guldasta, daughter of Syed Abdul Kabeer from PKMAP, and Bibi Sajida, daughter of Rozi Khan from JUI-P, have also been notified.
Additionally, Bibi Salma, daughter of Noor Uddin, Bibi Rubina Tareen, and Bibi Pari Gul, daughter of Jahangir Shah, all from JUI-P, have been officially announced as returned candidates.

Women received official notifications as the returned candidates for reserved seats from district council Nushki.

This includes Bibi Samina, representing JUI-F and daughter of Muhammad Yousaf, along with Hanain Mengal, daughter of Muhammad Rahim, representing BNP, for the Nushki District Council.

In the case of the Dera Bugti District Council, the female candidates who have been officially notified are Shehzadi, an Independent candidate and daughter of Sher Dil, as well as Bakhto Bibi and Salehat, both from BAP and daughters of Dhalak Khan and Raja respectively.

Similarly, for the Kachhi District Council, the women set to represent include Zeenat Bibi, an independent candidate and daughter of Ghulam Rasool, as well as Lal Bakht, daughter of Muhammad Alim.

The reserved seats for women on the Kalat District Council have been secured by the following candidates: Ganj Khatoon, an Independent candidate and daughter of Lal Muhammad, along with Taj Bakht, also an Independent candidate, representing the first half of the term. Bibi Raheema, affiliated with PPP and daughter of Safar Khan, will represent during the second half of the term.

Arfana has been officially designated to represent the reserved women’s seat in the Panjgur District Council. She is the daughter of Fahad, and she represents BNP(A).

Furthermore, in the same District Council of Panjgur, Saeeda, daughter of Ali Jan, from JUI-P, has also received official notification for representation.

Interestingly, two women have been appointed to women’s reserved seats, each serving for half of the term.
In the first half term, Nasreen, daughter of Muhammad Tayyab, affiliated with BNP-A, will serve, while in the second half term, Mehwish Akeel, daughter of Talal Afzal, also from BNP-A, will take up the role.

ISLAMABAD, Sep 5 (APP): Caretaker Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Dr Umar Saif on Tuesday said addressing the issues faced by mobile manufacturers and the IT sector was the topmost priority of the government.

“Forthcoming months would witness substantial progress in the IT and Telecom sector” the minister, in a statement on the officially X (formerly twitter handle), said.

Dr Umar Saif expressed the government’s resolve to encourage and promote the manufacturing of affordable and high-quality mobile phones in Pakistan.

He said local manufacturing would help reduce reliance on mobile phone imports, curbing the outflow of foreign exchange.

He said this initiative had the potential to generate employment opportunities at the local level while also propelling Pakistan’s high-tech industry forward.

The minister said supporting local manufacturing aligned with the government’s vision of self-reliance and economic growth.