Not my place to decide on exams from a health standpoint, says Shafqat Mehmood
Pakistan
Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood. File photo.
Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mehmood on Sunday said that it is not his place to make decisions related to exams from a health standpoint as such decisions are taken by medical experts.
Speaking during
Geo News programme Naya Pakistan about holding exams despite students protest given the rise in coronavirus cases across the country, Shafqat Mehmood said that Cambridge examinations will start tomorrow as per the schedule. The government will ensure that all coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs) are strictly followed in the examination halls. We are closely monitoring the situation and [action will be initiated] if the SOPs are violated during the exams, the minister said.
Plea against O & A Levels exams dismissed
Lahore
April 24, 2021
LAHORE:The Lahore High Court on Friday dismissed a petition by the students of O & A level challenging the conduct of examinations with their physical presence in exam halls during the growing cases of Covid-19.
Justice Jawad Hassan directed the education authorities to ensure strict implementation of Covid-19 SOPs announced by the National Command & Operations Centre (NCOC) in the examinations. The examinations would be held as per the schedule from May 4 for O levels and April 26 for A levels. The students had filed the petition through Barrister Hassaan Khan Niazi pleading that the classes had not been held for the whole academic year and syllabus had not been finished or even covered for the most part yet the petitioners were forced to take exams in a traditional way putting their lives and the lives of their family members in danger.
Traders call for increase in business hours
Lahore
April 19, 2021
LAHORE:Business community has demanded the government reconsider the decision of closing businesses by 6pm and no business activities on Saturday and Sunday as it has been adversely affecting the domestic trade and commerce.
Historically, Ramazan is always a peak season for domestic trade but for the second consecutive year it is being affected due to COVID-19 related lockdown restrictions.
The National Command Operations Centre (NCOC) decided to close normal businesses by 6pm during Ramazan. However, the business community was unsatisfied with the decision and demanded the government reconsider this decision to save businesses from further losses.
Lahore traders call for increase in business hours
National
April 19, 2021
LAHORE: Business community has demanded the government reconsider the decision of closing businesses by 6pm and no business activities on Saturday and Sunday as it has been adversely affecting the domestic trade and commerce.
Historically, Ramazan is always a peak season for domestic trade but for the second consecutive year it is being affected due to COVID-19 related lockdown restrictions.
The National Command Operations Centre (NCOC) decided to close normal businesses by 6pm during Ramazan. However, the business community was unsatisfied with the decision and demanded the government reconsider this decision to save businesses from further losses.
Whilst such news triggered various reports, which highlighted the need for accelerated vaccine rollout, the shocking figures led to Asad Umar, Federal Minister for Planning and Development and Head of the National Command Operations Centre (NCOC), reporting that oxygen supply in the country is “now under stress”.
Umar’s statement on oxygen supply broke just hours ago. Within his announcement, Umar stated, “Hospital fill up continuing to grow. Critical care patients now above 4500, which is 30% higher than peak in June last year. Oxygen supply capacity in the country is now under stress. Sop compliance remains low. We are making a huge mistake by not following sop’s.”