Varsities in Faisalabad, Lahore, Multan, Sialkot, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad will continue with online lessons for two weeks
Schools resume at full capacity despite a rising number of new cases
The federal government’s decision to allow school operations to resume at full capacity has been marred by confusion. The decision is not being implemented in seven Punjab districts, including Lahore, and in Sindh.
Talking to
The News on Sunday, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood said, “We had decided to open schools in February… the decision is being implemented from March 1. The number of active Covid-19 cases is decreasing and vaccines are now available. We can also control the spread of virus through strict implementation of safety SOPs.” He said that Pakistan could not afford a disrupted or sluggish education system. “We have suffered huge losses and cannot afford further damage to our education system,” the minister said.
Islamabad: Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad’s premiere health facility, has directed its employees who were registered but are not vaccinated yet to get vaccinated or face disciplinary action.
In a circular dated Feb 27, the PIMS Joint Executive Director (JED) Dr Minhajus Siraj has directed the PIMS’ “registered” employees not to “wait & see,” rather they should go for vaccination.
The office order has come in the backdrop of the fact that health workers in the federal capital are still reluctant to receive jabs despite the fact almost a month has passed since the arrival of vaccines.
Out of 8,000 doses not half have been utilized so far, admitted an official of the District Health department of Islamabad.
Regular classes: Saeed Ghani says Shafqat Mehmood’s announcement creating confusion
Pakistan
Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani (L) and Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood
KARACHI: Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani on Sunday said that the decision announced by Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood regarding the resumption of 5-day regular classes from March 1 (Monday) is creating confusion among the students.
Speaking to the media, Saeed Ghani said that as per the decision taken by the provincial government, schools will allow 50% attendance, adding that the government cannot allow 100% attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Emphasising the importance of following the coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs), the minister added that children going to school will be required to maintain social distancing in the classroom.