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Tag: Karachi

  • 3,265 dead bodies brought to Karachi graveyards in seven weeks

    3,265 dead bodies brought to Karachi graveyards in seven weeks

    At least 3,265 dead bodies were brought to graveyards of Karachi within the past 49 days — between February 20 and April 9 –, reports quoted a top administrative official as saying.

    According to reports, the development comes after reports were published regarding spikes of deaths in Karachi’s different hospitals. However, there is no official confirmation from the authorities if the fatalities are connected to COVID-19.

    As per data obtained from government hospitals in Karachi, 10,791 patients were brought to emergencies during the first three months of 2020. Total 121 were dead when they arrived, which makes the fatality rate 1.12%.

    Within the past 15 days, 109 patients have been brought in dead and 90 others were brought in a very critical condition and died mysteriously in a very short time at JPMC.

    While private hospitals are reluctant to share any details in this regard, they have confirmed that the number of pneumonia-like symptoms in patients has been climbing. Indus Hospital sources also admitted that the number of patients in critical condition had soared sharply.

    However, published reports, statistics and tests conducted in hospitals does not authenticate that the deaths were linked to the novel virus.

  • Surge in number of dead on arrival, near-death patients at Karachi hospitals amid COVID-19

    As the country, especially Punjab and Sindh, remains in the grip of the coronavirus pandemic, it has emerged that the number of deaths at Karachi hospitals has recorded a significant increase with a large number of patients being brought in dead or in a near-death condition.

    According to The News, over 300 such patients were brought to both public and private sector hospitals within the past two weeks. All of them were either declared dead on arrival (DOA), or showed COVID-19 symptoms.

    The report in the English daily quoted a doctor on emergency duty at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) as saying that a 35-year-old woman was brought in dead. An X-ray revealed that she was suffering from some respiratory disease as a large patch could be seen on her lungs.

    He said the report was sent to a senior pulmonologist treating coronavirus patients, who said that it was most likely a case of COVID-19.

    Doctors also told the media outlet that only a few such cases could be examined in this regard as a majority of deceased patients could not undergo any tests or an autopsy.

    A critical care specialist at JPMC said that the number of patients, who either died on arrival or within a few hours, rose every day for the past few weeks. The patients were mostly 45 to 60 years old.

    Within the past 15 days, 109 patients have been brought in dead and 90 others were brought in a very critical condition and died mysteriously in a very short time at JPMC.

    While private hospitals are reluctant to share any details in this regard, they have confirmed that the number of pneumonia-like symptoms in patients has been climbing. Indus Hospital sources also admitted that the number of patients in critical condition had soared sharply.

    Sindh Health Department officials, on the other hand, refused to comment on the report.

  • VIDEO: Woman SHO assaulted as clash with worshippers erupts outside Karachi mosque

    At least one cop, a woman SHO [Station House Officer], sustained injuries after a clash between local police and worshippers erupted outside a mosque in Karachi on Friday.

    According to the details, the clash took place outside Haqqani Masjid located in the Peerabad locality of the port city as people flocked to the mosque for Friday prayers despite a government ban and complete lockdown across the metropolis on account of the coronavirus pandemic.

    A video available with The Current showed the enraged injured cop, namely Sharafat [as per her nameplate], shouting at the police personnel for arriving late, and sharing how the mob took an attempt on her life.

    “They broke my glasses,” she can be heard as saying while also instructing her staff to initiate legal proceedings.

    The video also showed hundreds of worshippers exiting the mosque.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Earlier in the day, Sindh Minister for Information Nasir Hussain Shah said that the ban on congregational prayers across the province will be strictly followed for Friday prayers.

    Shah requested that people pray at their homes and limit their movements outside from 12 pm to 3 pm in the afternoon. He also asked citizens to cooperate with law enforcement authorities in this regard.

    “The purpose of the measures being adopted is to protect the people against the coronavirus,” he said, adding that the lockdown would actually make the lives of people safer in the long run.

    “The restriction of the prayer congregations has been enforced to protect the lives of citizens,” Shah clarified. “The religious leaders have backed the efforts made by the Sindh government in this regard,” he added.

    Sindh with 1,214 COVID-19 infections is trailing far behind Punjab where the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus has reached 2,280 — highest in the country.

    While the number of infections across Pakistan has reached 4,688 with at least 68 deaths, people still do not appear to be taking government-imposed lockdowns seriously.

  • Dua Mangi identifies kidnappers before the court

    Dua Mangi identifies kidnappers before the court

    Dua Mangi has identified the men who abducted her on November 30 last year before the court. The Karachi-based teenager, who was kidnapped from outside a restaurant in Karachi’s DHA was kidnapped for ransom. She has returned home a week later.

    The hearing of the case was in the court of the Judicial Magistrate South, Karachi. At the beginning of the hearing, Dua identified the kidnappers who were presented before her in the court.

    They were identified as Zohaib Qureshi and Muzaffar. Dua Mangi in her statement before the court said Zohaib and Muzaffar along with their partners had kidnapped her from outside a restaurant in Karachi.

    On March 18, the police had arrested two accused from different areas in the country in Dua Mangi and Bisma kidnapping cases.

    Additional IG Ghulam Nabi Memon confirmed that the five-member kidnappers’ gang that was behind Dua and Bisma’s kidnapping was led by an ousted police officer.

    Taking action on the intelligence reports, the police conducted raids in different areas of the country and arrested the two suspects, he added.

    Memon had said that the gang had taken cue for the kidnapping from movies.

  • Online grocery stores in your city

    Online grocery stores in your city

    After the spread of coronavirus outbreak, people are asked to stay at their homes and practice social distancing to avoid the spread of the virus. Amid all this, people need groceries for their homes and some people might be worried about how to go and get them from the market.

    The Current did some research and listed a few online grocery stores in your city.

    Karachi

    Agha’s Supermarket

    Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AghasSupermarket/

    Freshiez

    Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/freshiezpk/

    Fowry

    Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/fowrryofficial/

    Website: https://www.fowrry.com/

    Lahore

    Road Runner

    Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/roadrunnerpk/

    Grocer App

    Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GrocerApp.pk/

    Jalal Sons

    Islamabad

    Shaheen Grocers

    Fowry

    Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/fowrryofficial/

    Other cities

    Al Fatah

    If you have a branch of Al Fatah in your city then you can order your groceries from there.

  • Alleged kidnapper involved in Dua Mangi’s case arrested

    Alleged kidnapper involved in Dua Mangi’s case arrested

    The prime suspect in the Dua Mangi kidnapping case has reportedly been caught while trying to escape the country. 

    As per reports, the wanted suspect was caught while boarding an airplane from Islamabad Airport as he was trying to leave the country.

    The suspect, Muddasir is one of the many wanted by the law enforcement agencies for his involvement in the high-profile kidnapping that took place last year.

    Earlier on March 3, investigation agencies claimed a major breakthrough in the investigations of kidnapping incidents of two girls, Bisma and Dua in Karachi.

    Investigation agencies have traced the gang involved in two kidnapping incidents, sources said adding that the agencies have also traced three hideouts of the alleged abductors in the city.

  • Police arrest fake doctor selling ‘vaccine’ for coronavirus

    Police arrest fake doctor selling ‘vaccine’ for coronavirus

    Karachi police arrest a man who was posing as a doctor and selling a ‘vaccine’ for the treatment of coronavirus in Defence.

    “Defence police has arrested one fake doctor, Syed Didar Ali, who was malignantly and fraudulently selling fake vaccine for COVID-19 at West Point Clinic, DHA Phase 2 Extension,” said Clifton Superintendent of Police Imran Mirza.

    READ MORE: Need authentic coronavirus updates? Follow these Twitter accounts

    A first information report (FIR) was registered against the suspect under Sections 419 (cheating by impersonation) and 420 (cheating or dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

    RELATED: KP CONFIRMS ITS FIRST 15 CORONAVIRUS CASES

    To date, there is no vaccine for coronavirus and has yet to be developed. As of now, countries are still scrambling to get enough test kits to confirm the virus in suspected cases.

    There are 183 confirmed cases in Pakistan with 150 cases in Sindh, 15 in KP, 10 in Balochistan, one in Punjab, two in Islamabad and five in Gilgit Baltistan.

  • Karachi seals restaurants to curb coronavirus spread

    In a bid to control the spread of the coronavirus, the Karachi police is sealing large restaurants in the city.

    As per reports, the police have taken action in several areas, including Rashid Minhas Road, Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Keamari. They are also taking action against large gatherings of people.

    Earlier, the Sindh government had released advisories asking people to avoid going to crowded places and government officials had been requesting people to refrain from getting together and even celebrating wedding functions.

    On Saturday, Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar had announced that recreational sites in Karachi, including the Karachi Zoo, Safari Park and Landhi-Korangi Zoo, have been closed for the public for an indefinite period of time. All marriage halls, shrines and cinemas in the province have also been closed for the next three weeks.

    According to the latest reports, Pakistan has at least 84 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the country. At 76, Sindh has the highest number of cases. Two people have recovered.

  • Pakistan’s handling of coronavirus among world’s best: WHO country head

    Pakistan’s handling of coronavirus among world’s best: WHO country head

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Head Dr Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala, praised Pakistan’s efforts in tackling coronavirus, noting that the country had come  up “with one of the world’s best National Response Program against the virus”.

    While talking to media in Karachi during his visit to hospitals and labs, he said, “At a time when other countries were reporting cases, Pakistan was keeping the virus at bay, which is something quite praiseworthy.”

    READ MORE: CORONAVIRUS DAILY UPDATES

    “Pakistan has timely come up with one of the world’s best National Response Program against COVID-19 and it is being implemented very effectively. Authorities are doing their job and now it is the responsibility of the people to follow the instructions and take preventive and precautionary measures to avoid contracting the viral disease”, Dr Mahipala said while speaking to The News.

    He inspected the isolation ward of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) In Karachi and was satisfied with the steps taken by the institute. He also visited Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) Oja Campus and said that their lab and isolation facility was, “a world-class diagnostic and treatment facility”.

    RELATED: Pakistani couple distributes free coronavirus prevention kits in UK

    “At the moment, Pakistan has seven diagnostic labs which are capable of conducting 15,000 tests, but there is a need for more diagnostic facilities in case the number of suspected patients go up,” he said, adding that authorities had even established a mobile diagnostic facility that had been sent to Taftan to test and diagnose suspected cases coming from Iran. Even countries with superior health systems like South Korea and Italy had failed to contain the virus but Pakistani authorities timely responded to the pandemic and took preventive measures earlier on, he said.

    READ MORE: Coronavirus: Indian media reports fake claim, says top Pak army officers infected

    He urged people to wash their hands with soap and use a ‘coughing etiquette’ while coughing. He also said that 67% of the patients who were tested positive with COVID-19 had cough with temperature and difficulty in breathing.

  • Win for embattled Pakistan as 64-year-old coronavirus patient recovers

    In what is being termed as a major win for the country amid reports that the new coronavirus can be fatal for the elderly, a 64-year-old infected man in Karachi has been discharged from the hospital following complete recovery, government officials have confirmed.

    Journalist Omar Qureshi had on Thursday tweeted that a 64-year-old suffering from coronavirus in Pakistan had recovered.

    The tweet had come after reports said that a second patient infected with the COVID-19 had been discharged from the hospital.

    Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab confirmed the development, saying that the 64-year-old had tested negative and sent back home.

    Provincial health officials had on Wednesday said the second coronavirus patient in Karachi was recovering and would be discharged soon if his condition improved further.

    The resident of the port city’s Kharadar neighbourhood was admitted to Civil Hospital on February 29. According to the hospital administration, further tests were conducted on Wednesday and were sent to the lab. “The patient would be discharged if the test results are negative,” the hospital administration had added.

    The family members of COVID-19 patient were also tested the day he contracted the virus. However, the results were negative.

    Earlier, the first coronavirus patient was discharged from the hospital after full recovery.

    The patient was in isolation and treatment for the past 10 days and was tested three times.

    The young patient, who is believed to have contracted the virus in the Iranian holy city of Qum, was diagnosed on February 26 and subsequently shifted to the isolation ward of a private hospital. He had travelled to the Islamic Republic in a group of 28 pilgrims.