VOLUME 15 | N o 119 Lahore Regd No. CPI 251 LAHORE INTERNATIONAL 6P3 6P7

Measures The ‘We have won adopted to that battle’: overcome NZ PM on coronavirus An English Daily published simultaneously from Lahore and Faisalabad COVID-19 transmission PAGES 08 | R s 20 Buwsww.theibusiness.com.epk ss Ramazan 04 1441 Tuesday, April 28 , 2020 PM for balanced anti-corona policies ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Monday directed his government to formulate anti-COVID 19 strategies consid - ering the needs of all social segments, par - ticularly the poor, ridding the country of previous tendency of pro-rich policies. Chairing a meeting to review the situation of COVID-19 pandemic in the country, the prime minister said the government had to maintain a balance between the prevention against coron - avirus and sustainability of economic process. Fiqh-e-hanFia The meeting was attended by federal ministers Sehr iFtar Hamad Azhar, , Makhdoom 3:52 6:39 Khusro Bakhtiar, Syed Fakhar Imam, Omar Ayub, special assistants Dr Zafar Mirza and Fiqh-e-JaFria Dr Moeed Yousuf, National Disaster Manage - Sehr iFtar ment Authority Chairman Lieutenant General 3:42 6:49 Muhammad Afzal and senior officials. The SAPM on health apprised the meeting of the prevailing COVID-19 situation, new coronavirus cases, and the ratio of fatality Oil falls on storage and recovery. The meeting was told that Pak - istan’s ratio of new cases and recovery was ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan chairs a briefing on COVID-19. lesser than that of the world. Industries Min - woes, producers ister Hamad Azhar briefed the meeting about g the opening of steel and other industries as ECC approves debt restructuring by availing G-20 debt relief cut outputs had been decided as part of the strategy for SINGAPORE: US oil prices fell heavily the the construction industry. He also ap - Monday on renewed concerns over storage prised the participants about the Rs75 billion capacity as the coronavirus throttles demand, package for the labourers and workers de - even as producers start slashing output to signed in collaboration with the industries boost markets. ministry and the Ehsaas Programme to tar - US benchmark West Texas Intermediate get up to six million people. He said the gov - Rs75 billion biggest dropped 9.3 percent to $15.36 a barrel in Asian ernment would bear the utility bills of small morning trade. Brent crude, the international businesses for three months. —APP benchmark, was off 3.2 percent at $20.75 a barrel. Prices have collapsed in recent weeks as demand for the commodity evaporated PSX loses ground owing to lockdowns and travel restrictions im - industrial package posed worldwide to fight the virus. Last week, US oil fell below zero for the over plunging first time as investors scrambled to offload it before the expiry of a trading contract, but oil prices could not readily find buyers. Prices have re - By Our Staff Correspondent for jobless, SMEs covered since, but remain at their lowest lev - ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination support to the small and medium size enterprises 100,000 and industrial consumers up to Rs els for years. A key worry for traders is that KARACHI: The Stock Exchange Committee (ECC) has approved a package worth (SMEs) through pre-paid electricity. 450,000 for three months, according to press storage facilities - particularly in the United (PSX) benchmarkindex closed lower on Mon - Rs 75 billion for the unemployed, on Monday. The ECC chaired by Adviser to Prime Minis - statement issued by the Ministry of Finance. States - cannot cope with the oversupply. day as the market came under pressure amid Minister for Industries and Production Hammad ter on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez The base period for estimating electricity con - "Concerns surrounding rising global inven - concern over tumbling crude oil prices. Azhar said this at a press conference that the gov - Shaikh also approved a credit loss subsidy of Rs sumption would be May-July 2019 and for meters tories, especially in the US with the coron - The plunge in global oil prices stopped in - ernment will grant Rs 12,000 to the deserving per - 30 billion for the Risk Sharing Facility for State for which electricity consumption data is not avirus pandemic weighing on gasoline vestors from accumulating stocks with selling sons and pay three-month electricity bills of small Bank of Pakistan’s Refinance Scheme to support available for the full base period, appropriate av - consumption, are pressuring oil prices," Kim pressure weighing on sentiment. The market businessmen. He further told that the Ministry of employment and prevent lay-off of workers. erage will be used. To avail of the facility under Kwangrae, commodities analyst at Samsung nosedived in the early hours of trading, how - Industries and Production and the Ehsaas pro - Under the Rs 50.69 billion package titled as the ‘Chota Karobar o Sannat Imadadi Package’, Futures Inc, told Bloomberg News. —AFP ever, it later recouped some of the losses. gramme will soon launch a portal in this regard. ‘Chota Karobar-o-Sannat Imadadi Package’ and pre-paid electricity bills of three months or total Moreover, with the beginning of Ramazan, Let it be known that the State Bank of Pakistan prepared by the Ministry of Industries and Pro - bills during the base period would be required. the stock market experienced lacklustre inter - (SBP) will provide loan for the employees’ duction, with active consultation with Small and The period of consumption of the extended fi - Chinese flight est, which led to a slump in trading volumes. salaries and other incentives under the industrial Medium Enterprises Development Authority nancial support would be six months starting At close, the benchmark KSE-100 index package. All sectors including shops, offices, (SMEDA), approximately 95 percent commercial from May/June 2020. The ECC also allowed Rs with medical recorded a decrease of 491.81 points, or 1.5 schools, factories and banks will be able to get consumers with connected load up to 5 KW and 2.5 billion block allocation to the Azad Jammu percent, to settle at 32,314.57. Arif Habib benefit from the package. Another report adds: 72 percent of industrial consumers with con - and Kashmir and Gilgit-Biltistan for disburse - Limited, in its report, stated that the market The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) nected load of up to 70 KW would be provided fi - ment through special arrangement. equipment lands opened on a negative note with a decline of of the Cabinet on Monday approved Rs 50.69 nancial support. Under the scheme, commercial n ISLAMABAD: A special aircraft of Pak - 198 points and trading in 1.6 million shares at billion package to provide indirect cash flow consumers would be given support up to Rs Continued on Back Page istan International Airlines (PIA) carrying an - the opening bell. In a few minutes, the bench - other cache of protective equipment from mark index hit -450 points and gradually ex - g China has reached Islamabad Monday. tended the loss to 675 points, it added. Govt decides to make major changes in NAB law Chairman National Disaster Management The cement sector largely received a bat - Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant General tering, mainly due to concern over recent in - Muhammad Afzal received the equipment. crease in prices. Kohat Cement hit its lower The protective goods include 15 x-ray ma - circuit and remained at that level till the close chines, 119 ventilators, 200 thermal guns, of session. The report added that international and other material. Speaking on the occa - Shibli made Info Minister, sion, Chairman NDMA said more equipment crude oil prices slid 8.5 percent that kept pres - sure on exploration and production stocks. will also arrive from China to fight the coro - navirus pandemic. He told that Pakistan’s testing capacity will likely to be reached at Asim Bajwa replaces Firdous 40,000 daily in coming days. —Online Woman martyred, By Our Staff Correspondent per new amendments. Earlier, feder - ation had decided to hold consulta - girl hurt in Indian ISLAMABAD: Pakistan tion with opposition and coalition Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shibli parties over new NAB Amendment World's largest shelling: ISPR Faraz has been appointed as Federal Ordinance. A committee was Information Minister, while China- formed to hold talks with all stake container ship By Our Staff Correspondent Pakistan Economic Corridor holders and experts in this regard. (CPEC) Authority Chairman and The task of making a new ordi - starts first voyage A woman embraced RAWALPINDI: former Director General ISPR Lt- nance was given to the Ministry of martyrdom and a minor girl sustained in - HMM Algeciras, the Gen (Retd) Asim Bajwa made Spe - Law and Justice, sources told. ISLAMABAD: juries when Indian troops opened unpro - largest container vessel on earth with a TEU cial Assistant to PM on Media. Firdous Ashiq loses portfolio voked fire at Pakistan's civilian population (20-foot equivalent unit) capacity of 24,000, According to a notification issued over ‘corruption’ along the Line of Control (LoC), the mili - started its maiden voyage from the port of by the Establishment Division on PM Imran Khan on Monday de- tary's media wing said on Monday. Qingdao in eastern China's Shandong province Monday, the competent authority October, before the visit of Prime as chairman of notified Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan as In a statement, the Inter-Services Public on Sunday. appointed Lt Gen (r) Bajwa as chair - Minister Imran Khan to Beijing. The the China-Pakistan Economic Cor - his special assistant on information Relations (ISPR) said the yet another cease - The ship, measures 399.9 meters long and man of the CPECA, which comes basic aim of forming the authority is ridor Authority (CPECA). and broadcasting reportedly over cor - fire violation occurred at "Jandrot & Khuiratta under the planning and development to ensure timely completion of the Another report adds: The federal ruption allegations, replacing her 61.03 meters in beam and has a deck area of Sectors along LoC deliberately targeting civil - ministry. “The new chairperson will CPEC projects. The prime minister government on Monday has decided with former ISPR director general more than 24,000 square meters, about the ian population this morning". The wounded get MP-I scale for four years from had said the CPECA will help en - to make major changes in the Na - (DG) Lt Gen (r) Asim Saleem Bajwa. size of three and a half standard soccer fields, child was later "evacuated and [was] being the date of assuming the charge of sure coordination among the depart - tional Accountability Bureau An intelligence report informed said Zhang Jun, deputy general manager of provided medical care", the ISPR added. the office with immediate effect and ments concerned. The authority had (NAB) law. According to details, the PM’s Office about the alleged the Qingdao Qianwan United Container Ter - Almost two weeks ago, Pakistan had sum - until further orders,” it stated. reportedly been given vast powers to the cases of corruption above Rs involvement of Dr Firdous Ashiq minal Co Ltd. The HMM Algeciras can carry moned an Indian envoy over cross-border Retired Lt Gen Bajwa had served summon any information related to one billion will come under the ju - Awan and a senior official of the some 200 more containers than the previous shelling, which had killed a child and as Commander Southern Command CPEC activities and impose penal - risdiction of anti-graft watchdog Ministry in awarding govt adver - largest container ship, Zhang added. When wounded four civilians. India had claimed before his retirement. He remained ties on those who fail to do so. while a high-level commission will tisements to some media houses in fully loaded, all 24,000 containers, if con - that shelling from Pakistani forces had killed director general of the Inter-Services Meanwhile, is serv - be made for decision making pur - lieu of bribes. The source said that nected end to end, will reach a total length of three civilians, while the Pakistani foreign Public Relations from 2012 to 2016. ing as the Leader of the House in pose. following the intelligence tip-off, 150 kilometers. Recently launched in the Re - ministry had said Indian firing had killed the The government had established the Senate. Last year, the govern - The commission will exercise all PM Imran tasked Information Sec - public of Korea, the unloaded HMM Algeci - child and wounded four others. "This year, the CPECA through an ordinance in ment had appointed Lt Gen (r) the authority of NAB chairman as retary Akbar Hussain Durrani to ras arrived at Qingdao port in the early India has so far committed 749 ceasefire vi - olations to date,” the ministry had said, adding its condemnation over the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians. Confirmed virus cases in Pak soar to 13,909 ISLAMABAD: The number of per day. Talking to the media after re - mostly PPE and ventilators would ar - Nadeem Ahmad said the NDRMF bers and their three relatives from Sar - CORONAVIRUS IN PAKISTAN confirmed coronavirus cases in the ceiving a consignment of 18 tonnes rive soon, he added. The NDMA would try to create earning opportu - goda (Punjab) were tested positive in Confirmed cases: 13,909 country has mounted to 13,909. medical equipment from China arrived chairman thanked the NDRMF for nities for the people, whose busi - Sarsawa area of Kotli district that had According to National Command here through a special PIA flight, he sponsoring huge consignments of nesses or employments had been travel from Sargoda for the burial of ICT: 245 and Operation Center, these include said in the next few days the country's medical equipment. NDRMF Chief affected due to the lockdown. He said family head, Dr. Najeeb Naqi, Minis - 5,526 cases in Punjab, 4,996 in Sindh, laboratories would be able to conduct Executive Officer Lt Gen (R) negotiations were nearing conclusion ter Health told this agency. Punjab: 5,526 1,984 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 781 in upto 40,000 COVID-19 tests daily. Nadeem Ahmed said the Fund was with the French Development Bank “The family head died in Sargoda Sindh: 4,996 Balochistan, 318 in Gilgit-Baltistan, He said the National Disaster Risk procuring the PPE to ensure the for $40 to 45 million to procure more and they brought the body for burial in 245 in Islamabad Capital Territory and Management Fund (NDRMF) had col - safety of doctors and paramedics, medical equipment. Sarsawa having a death certificate KP: 1,984 59 in Azad Kashmir. 3029 patients laborated with the NDMA in procur - who were on the front line in the Nine more including a family mentioning the cause of death as heart have so far recovered while the death ing the medical equipment valuing fight against the coronavirus. contracted virus taking tally to 68 attack issued by Sargoda Hospital,” Balochistan: 781 toll from the virus stands at 292. $50 million from China. Today's con - He said the Asian Development Nine people of a family including Commissioner Mirpur division AJK: 59 Pakistan to soon 40,000 per day signment included 15 x-Ray ma - Bank (ADB) was funding around women and children have diagnosed Chaudhary Raqeeb said, adding, the COIVID-19 testing capacity chines, 159 ventilators, 200 thermal $105 million to the NDRMF for Covid -19 positive in Azad Jammu family and relatives from Sargoda GB: 318 National Disaster Management Au - guns, 290,000 surgical masks, 15,000 procuring more medical equipment and Kashmir (AJK) on Monday taking were quarantined on April 20. Another thority (NDMA) Chairman Lt Gen protective gowns, 30,000 gloves ,which would be provided to the fed - the total tally of region to 68. person tested positive in Bagh district Recovered: 3,029 Muhammad Afzal Monday said Pak - 5,000 safety goggles and other per - eration and the provinces through the However, 35 of this number have who had returned from abroad, the istan would attain the capacity to con - sonal protective equipment (PPE). NDMA. The WB would also give $60 recovered the disease and no death has Minister informed saying he was al - Deaths: 292 duct 40,000 tests for the coronavirus Three to four more flights carrying million to Pakistan for the purpose. occurred so for. A family of five mem - ready in quarantine. —Agencies