MQM Quaid?s posters removed from Mukka Chowk, Jinnah Ground

KARACHI: Posters of MQM’s Qauid have been removed from Mukka Chowk and Jinnah Ground. Pictures broadcast on television showed torn posters lying on the ground in these areas. 

The situation in the Azizababd area remains peaceful and MQM workers have not gathered in the area. 

When contacted MQM leaders did not comment nor did they say who had removed these pictures.  Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) leaders said this was a reaction from the people but the party’s workers were not involved.

In Hyderabad, posters of the party’s Quaid have been removed from Latifabad 6,7,8 areas.

The development comes in the wake of MQM leader Farooq Sattar announcing that the party was distancing itself from provocative statements made by the MQM Quaid and his assuming control of the party.

Sattar further said that decisions regarding the MQM would now be made from Pakistan.

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Balochistan responded to Indian PM statements: FO

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office spokesman,  Mohammed Nafees Zakaria during the weekly news briefing said the people of Balochistan had responded to statements of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi by protesting across the province.

"The Indian PM's statement was an attempt to divert attention from the Kashmir issue," Mr. Zakaria said. 

People of Balochistan do not need Indian advice: Zehri to Modi

Sartaj Aziz reacts to Modi statement

The spokesman said the situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) was being continuously monitored and human rights issues were also being highlighted by the Pakistani media.  

He added that over 80 Kashmiris had been martyred and 7,000 injured by Indian security forces.

Mr. Zakaraia further said that John Kerry had expressed his desire to visit Pakistan, however, a schedule for his visit had not been received.

Speaking on the SAARC conference, the spokesman said Pakistan was hopeful for this conference.

When asked about statements made by the MQMs Quaid, the spokesman replied that Pakistan’s Interior Ministry had contacted the British Home Office several times over this issue.

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Jennifer Lawrence ranked world's highest-paid actress for second year

"Hunger Games" star Jennifer Lawrence on Tuesday topped a Forbes magazine list of the world's highest-paid actress for the second straight year, earning some $46 million, followed by Melissa McCarthy.

Lawrence, 26, took the top spot largely through a slice of the profits from the final movie in the "Hunger Games" franchise, as well as a big upfront fee for her forthcoming space adventure movie "Passengers," Forbes said.

Yet Lawrence's estimated payday was likely well below that for Hollywood's leading men, Forbes said, despite the actress sparking a debate about the gender pay gap last year. She declared she was "finished being adorable" when it came to negotiating better deals for herself.

Lawrence's 2016 earnings dropped 11.5 percent from her 2015 total of $52 million. Forbes will release its list of the world's highest-paid actors on Thursday. Last year Robert Downey Jr. topped the list with an estimated $80 million.

Neither however came close to pop star Taylor Swift, who was named the top earning celebrity of 2016 earlier this year, pulling in an estimated $170 million from record sales and her world tour.

McCarthy took home $33 million in earnings, up $10 million from 2015 in part from her payday for the controversial female reboot of "Ghostbusters."

It was the biggest annual paycheck to date for the star of television comedy "Mike and Molly." McCarthy, 45, also launched a clothing line for sizes 4 to 28 after becoming frustrated at the outfits available for larger women.

Scarlett Johansson of "Captain America: Civil War" was third at $25 million, down nearly 30 percent from 2015.

Together, the world’s 10 highest-paid actresses tallied a combined $205 million between June 1, 2015 and June 1, 2016, before management fees and taxes, Forbes said.

The estimates include earnings from movies, TV and endorsements from cosmetic and other companies. Bollywood star Deepika Padukone is the only newcomer on the list.

The rest of the top 10 2016 highest-paid actresses are:

4. Jennifer Aniston - $21 million

5. Fan Bingbing - $17 million

6. Charlize Theron - $16.5 million

7. Amy Adams - $13.5 million

8. Julia Roberts - $12 million

9. Mila Kunis - $11 million

10. Deepika Padukone - $10 million

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Final of PSL second edition to be played in Lahore: Sethi

LONDON: Pakistan Super League (PSL) Chairman Najam Sethi has said that preparations for the second edition of PSL are complete, the final of which will be played in Lahore.

Sethi said the world's leading cricketers will be participating in the league, of which the final will be played in Lahore on March 8 or 9, 2017.

Pakistan has not staged major international cricket events on its home grounds â€" barring a few limited over matches against lowly ranked Zimbabwe last year â€" since terrorists attacks targeted the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009.

Earlier in July, Sri Lanka’s fast bowler Lasith Malinga and South African all-rounder Albie Morkel joined the players’ roster for the second edition of the league, ahead of the players’ draft.

A statement by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that both the players have agreed to be the part of players’ draft which will be held in October this year.

Malinga and Morkel joined former Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum and current England ODI and T20 captain Eoin Morgan in having signed up for PSL.

Malinga, who captained Sri Lanka to the 2014 ICC World T20 trophy, had to withdraw from last year’s player draft because of an injury.

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Over 1000 Americans revelers ended up in Canada illegally

PORT HURON: Hundreds of Americans illegally ended up in Canada after inclement weather forced the participants of the river party down the river into Canadian territory.

About 1,500 Americans taking part in the annual Port Huron Float Down party last weekend on the St. Clair river which runs between US state of Michigan and Canadian province of Ontario. The revelers had to be rescued by coast guard personnel after strong rain and winds sent them across the border into Canada.

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Kareena Kapoor to handle a movie and pregnancy together

Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan has been the highlight of many stories being published recently. While few have been on the work front, most of them have been related to her pregnancy and family life.

For a while now, fans of this pretty actress have been waiting for her film Veere Di Wedding in which she stars with Sonam Kapoor. However, since the news of her pregnancy came out, there have been many rumors claiming that she will walk out of the movie.

However, fans of this actress can rest assured as Kareena herself has rubbished these rumors. She has cleared her stance by informing her fans that she will shoot for the movie till mid-October, after which she will be taking a break from shoot and will continue post-delivery.

Talking about her shoot schedule, she said, "We are going to shoot Veere Di Wedding for a couple of days in October. Then I will pick up the film post-delivery. I am definitely doing the film. We are working on how and when we can shoot," Indian media reported.

Producer Rhea Kapoor too clarified on Kareena’s exit stating, "The report is completely untrue. Kareena is very much a part of Veere Di Wedding and will be shooting for us in October and early next year," according to reports which circulated news websites in India.

Veere Di Wedding also stars Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania and is directed by Shashanka Ghosh. It is produced by Rhea Kapoor under her father Anil Kapoor's banner in association with Balaji Motion Pictures.

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Clinton ready for ?wacky? debate with Trump

WASHINGTON: White House hopeful Hillary Clinton suggested Monday that rival Donald Trump could be an unpredictable adversary in upcoming presidential debates, saying she is girding for "wacky stuff."

With the first debate scheduled to take place a month from now near New York, Clinton joked about what to expect from her unorthodox opponent.

"You?ve got to be prepared for wacky stuff. I?m planning on drawing off my experiences from elementary school," she said on late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live."

Trump has suggested he might not attend all of the three scheduled debates.

But he is trailing badly in the polls and the highly watched events offer a much-needed chance to break through with undecided voters.

For a first-time debater, this cauldron of presidential political theatre could present a daunting challenge.

Trump has thrown a series of barbs at Clinton, describing her as "crooked" and making opaque suggestions lately that she has unspecified health problems.

Host Kimmel asked Clinton to open a jar of pickles to show she was in good health and also took her pulse as she brushed off a scandal over emails sent from a private server when she was secretary of state.

After Clinton told Kimmel that she used FaceTime video phone calls to visit with her grandchildren, he teasingly demanded whether she had ever considered using FaceTime instead of email.

Clinton also hit back at Trump?s highly contested assertion that she and President Barack Obama created the so-called Daesh (Islamic State group).

"Who would have guessed this audience would be so enthusiastic about the co-founder of ISIS?" Kimmel asked, after a rousing welcome for Clinton from the crowd.

Clinton responded that she thought "when Trump talks the way he talks, it actually helps the terrorists."

"I do feel sometimes like this campaign has entered into an alternative universe," she said.

"I have to sort of step into the alternative reality and, you know, answer questions about am I alive?" she said incredulously, referring to the health rumours.

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Under trial MQM leaders leave Karachi court chanting 'Pakistan Zindabad'

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement leaders accused of attacking an ARY news office on Monday after being incited to violence by the party chief left the court today chanting pro-Pakistan slogans.

The 37 MQM workers including leaders Qamar Mansoor and Kanwar Naveed are being tried for anti-state speech and vandalism.

An anti-terrorism court on Thursday remanded them for another day in police custody.

Television footage available with Geo News showed Qamar Mansoor and Kanwar Naveed chanting 'Pakistan Zindabad' and 'Pak Fauj Zindabad' slogans.

Scores of MQM workers and five top leaders were detained by law enforcement agencies following the violence on Monday. Dr Amir Liaquat, Farooq Sattar and Khwaja Izhar were later released by Rangers.

The MQM chief’s speech to participants in the hunger strike incited party workers to take to the streets, ransack media houses and vandalise property. At least one person died and eight others were injured during the violent attacks in which around 2,000 party workers participated.

A day after the attack Farooq Sattar accompanied by several other MQM leaders announced that the Rabita committee in Pakistan had taken over control of the party and had cut off the party chief from making future decisions or statements.

 

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Sonia Rykiel, Queen of Knitwear dies at 86

PARIS: French fashion designer Sonia Rykiel, the so-called Queen of Knitwear, died on Thursday at the of 86 after a long battle with Parkinson?s disease, her dauther told AFP.

?My mother died at 5:00 this morning at her home in Paris from the effects of Parkinson?s? Nathalie Rykiel said.

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Dizzy Roy sets up England win over Pakistan

SOUTHAMPTON: Jason Roy overcame a dizzy spell to lead England´s charge to a 44-run win under the Duckworth/Lewis method in a rain-marred first one-day international against Pakistan in Southampton on Wednesday.

Surrey opener Roy´s quickfire 65 fired England towards an initial victory target of 261 after Pakistan had made 260 for six, captain Azhar Ali top-scoring with 82.

But following a third and final rain interruption of this day/night fixture at 9:37 pm local time (2037 GMT), the umpires eventually called the game off with England 194 for three.

Eoin Morgan, the England captain, was 33 not out and Ben Stokes 15 not out.

Roy and Joe Root (61) took England to the brink of victory with a second-wicket stand of 89 in 14 overs.

The 26-year-old Roy sparked England´s chase with three fours in four balls off Umar Gul.

But there was a worrying moment when Roy, on 20, needed several minutes´ on-field treatment for a dizzy spell.

"It was a case of not having enough sugar on me apparently, that´s it plain and simple," Roy told reporters.

"I had a headache, felt a bit dizzy, they got the physio and the doctor on, they told me to get some sugar on board.

"I was able to get my bearings, settle and re-set myself and just go again," he added.

Meanwhile opening partner Alex Hales, who managed just 145 runs during the preceding 2-2 drawn Test series against Pakistan, again fell cheaply.

Hales was out for seven when he guided Gul straight to Mohammad Hafeez at slip.

More Amir misfortune

Mohammad Amir had five catches dropped off his bowling during the Test series and the Pakistan paceman´s bad luck continued Wednesday.

Roy, on 24, skied left-arm quick Amir high on the legside.

The ball appeared to be heading straight to Gul at square leg.

However, wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed called for the catch, only to make insufficient ground and drop the chance despite getting both gloves to the ball.

Pakistan may have recently climbed to the top of the Test rankings, but this was the kind of fielding error which had helped leave them languishing in ninth place in the equivalent ODI standings.

Roy swept left-arm spinner Imad Wasim for the first six of the match before completing a 43-ball fifty also featuring five fours.

But his innings ended when a lofted drive off spinner Mohammad Nawaz was brilliantly caught just inside the boundary by Babar, running round from long-off.

Root, England´s star batsman in all three formats, was untroubled while hitting six fours in 72 balls.

But when Morgan dropped the ball into the offside and set off, Root failed to beat Azhar´s direct hit.

Earlier, Azhar won the toss and led from the front in an innings where Ahmed made 55 and Azam was unluckily lbw for 40.

Pakistan were going well at 173 for three after 35 overs but then lost Azhar and the skipper felt his side had fallen short with the bat.

"300 obviously, we always look to score 300, but definitely 280-290.

"One of your top order has to score and bat long, triple figures would be nice and you always build a total when the top order perform," said the opener.

Azhar, however, was twice dropped on nine.

Hales floored a relatively routine chance in the gully before wicket-keeper Jos Buttler could not hold a more difficult left-handed catch down the legside.

Babar was given out lbw to leg-spinner Adil Rashid by Australian umpire Simon Fry, even though replays clearly showed an inside edge.

But by that stage Pakistan had used up their lone review of the innings.

Azhar pressed on to a relatively sedate 84-ball fifty before upping his tempo.

But he fell when top-edging a slog-sweep off Rashid (two for 51) to Moeen Ali at short third man.

The five-match series continues at Lord´s on Saturday.

Teams

England: Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (capt), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wkt), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Pakistan: Azhar Ali (capt), Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (wkt), Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Umar Gul

Umpires: Simon Fry (AUS), Rob Bailey (ENG)
TV umpire: Marais Erasmus (RSA)
Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)

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Daqri Smart Helmet , combining safety and augmented reality for industrial use

Augmented reality is the rage these days, with Pokemon-Go being the most talked about application that uses augmented reality to enhance user experience. However, an American company called Daqri has designed a hard-hat type smart helmet that could change the way workers and engineers at construction sites and industrial environments go about their work.

The helmet comes with an anti-reflective, scratch-resistant safety visor, but hiding inside is some serious tech. It includes a 13 megapixel high-definition camera, 2D target recognition and tracking as well as object/colour recognition and a 4D HUD ? a transparent augmented reality display tweaked for use in the industrial environment.

The helmet is powered by a sixth-generation Intel Core m7 processor and also includes Intel?s RealSense technology to enhance its depth sensing ability, according to information released by the UK Construction Media.

The hardware is utilized using a software program called intellitrack which is able to capture and display information about the user?s surrounding environment.

Brian Mullins, Founder and CEO of Daqri described the Smart Helmet as an entirely new type of human machine interface that will redefine the future of how we work in the industrial world.

Mullins says, his company has ?been working in the medium of augmented reality for the past four years, and what we found was, you just can?t solve the most challenging problems with devices that were designed for consumers.?

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Karachi court remands alleged child kidnappers in police custody

KARACHI:  A local court on Thursday remanded three alleged child kidnappers in police custody for three days.

The accused Rizwan, Naeem and Tahir, had allegedly kidnapped a three-year-old child from Gulistan-e-Jauhar area on August 21.

Police said Rizwan, a cousin of the child, kidnapped him from outside his house. He took him to Hazara Goth along with his friends and sexually abused him.

For fear of being identified the men threw the child in a water tank where he died, police said.

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Karachi court remands alleged child kidnappers in police custody

KARACHI:  A local court on Thursday remanded three alleged child kidnappers in police custody for three days.

The accused Rizwan, Naeem and Tahir, had allegedly kidnapped a three-year-old child from Gulistan-e-Jauhar area on August 21.

Police said Rizwan, a cousin of the child, kidnapped him from outside his house. He took him to Hazara Goth along with his friends and sexually abused him.

For fear of being identified the men threw the child in a water tank where he died, police said.

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'Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai' lead actors visit Academy for Deaf

The lead cast of the upcoming Pakistani feature film ‘Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai’ begin their promotional campaign by visiting JS Academy for the Deaf in Karachi.

All set to make their big debut on the silver screen, lead stars Feroze Khan and Sajjal Ali interacted with hearing impaired  students of all ages.

Poised to make his mark on the big screen, Vj-turned-actor Feroze Khan described the visit as a very humbling experience, adding it makes one realize how blessed we are.

Popular TV star and actress Sajjal Ali, on the other hand, upon communicating with the children visually and physically using sign language, was highly impressed with their expressiveness.

 A special screening of the film trailer with sign language interpretation was also arranged during the visit.

Laila.A.Dossa, chairperson of the Academy for the Deaf, appreciated the initiative and efforts of the cast for recognizing the needs of the students and making it an enjoyable experience for those with less or no hearing.

After this innovative promotional activity, 'Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai' is set to be released by Geo films this Eid Ul Azha.

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Pakistan Juniors Kick off European Tour with 6-3 win

LAHORE: Pakistan's under 21 hockey team opened its second leg of the European tour on an impressive note routing the Voordaan club 6-3 on Wednesday at Groenekan Netherlands.

According to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), six different players got on the scoring sheet. Three goals were scored in the open play with similar numbers coming through penalty corner conversions.

Sohail Riaz Shan Irshad and Dilber scored the field goals in lively attacking moves engineered by both the flanks and the mid field. Mubashar Ali Abubakr and Hasan Anwar found the target through astute planning and accurate shooting in penalty corners drills.

 

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Police deny kidnapping attempt in Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI: Unknown men tried to take control of a van carrying hospital staff early Thursday morning.

According to details unknown men entered a van at 9:00 AM near Khayaban-e-Sir Syed carrying three teachers and two students. They threatened the driver with a gun and took control of the car.

One of the girls jumped off the moving vehicle, police said. Two of the girls suffered minor injuries.

The van which had a tracker device installed stopped near Imam Bargah Chowk and the alleged robbers escaped.

Police said it was an attempted robbery and denied that a kidnapping attempt had been made. Investigation into the incident is underway.

 

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Humsafar girl to make her debut in Bollywood

Hamsafar fame singer Quratulain Balouch a.k.a QB is now making her debut in Bollywood.

She has lent her voice for the movie 'Pink'. The song titled "Kaari Kaari" is picturized on the leading ladies of the movie. The cast of the film includes Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, Andrea Tariang, Piyush Mishra, Angad Bedi, Dhritiman Chatterjee.

The emotional song Kaari Kaari has been composed by Shantanu Moitra and written by Tanveer Ghazi. It is scheduled for release on 16 September 2016.

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Nashpa 6 and 7 to add to significant hydrocarbon reserves: OGDCL

KARACHI: The Oil and Gas Development Co. Ltd. (OGDCL) reported on Wednesday on successful testing and completion of development wells number 6 and 7 in the Nashpa field located in the Karak and Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to sources, well number 7 was drilled to a depth of over 15,000 feet (4,500+ meters) to test the hydrocarbon potention of Data and Shinwari formations. The information released added that 2.700 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil was produced and 7.4 million cubic feet per day of gas was produced through a 36/34 inch choke at wellhead flowing pressure of 1,886 pounds per square inch guage (psig).

OGDCL claims that it has completed laying a 1.16 mile (1.86 kilometer) pipeline and the well would be included into the system within a week.

The statement also added that Nashpa well number 6 was drilled to a depth of nearly 16,500 feet (5,000+ meters) to test the hydrocarbon potential of Kingriali, Datta, Shinwari, Samansuk, Lumshiwal and Lokhart formations.

The zones produced 2,550 bpd of crude oil and 16.3 million cubic feet per day of gas was produced using a 36/34 inch choke at wellhead flowing pressure of 2,667 psig.

The well is likely to be included in the system by mid-September after completion of a 0.4 mile (0.7 kilometer) pipeline is laid.

OGDCL sees the inclusion of Nashpa wells 6 and 7 to add to the significant hydrocarbon reserves of OGDCL, PPL and GHPL, the statement concluded.

 

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Pokemon-mad Russians hunt Ivan the Terrible with new app

MOSCOW: A compass on the smartphone screen points towards Red Square. As the distance to the target narrows, the camera app pops up and zooms in on a bearded figure in a fur cloak.

The routine is familiar to Pokemon hunters obsessed with the ultra-popular Pokemon Go game -- but this is no Pokemon. Instead, it is Russia?s brutal 16th-century tsar Ivan the Terrible, or rather, his digital 3D rendition in a new app developed by Moscow authorities.

As the Pokemon Go craze sweeps the globe, city officials have launched an augmented reality app called Discover Moscow Photo, which is billed as Russia?s answer to the Nintendo creation.

Instead of yellow and pink Pokemons, the app?s characters are figures from Russian history -- from modernising tsar Peter the Great to Napoleon Bonaparte, who briefly occupied Moscow in 1812, to Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin and national poet Alexander Pushkin and composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky.

The app, available for Apple and Google Android devices, allows players to track down historical figures in places they once frequented and take a selfie with their 3D images.

The app is part of an educational digital project called Discover Moscow, which maps historical buildings and makes it possible for locals and tourists to create personalised guided tours as well as offering quizzes and quests.

"The launch of Pokemon Go gave further impetus" to the Moscow game, which debuted in mid-August, said project leader Kirill Kuznetsov, who works for Moscow city hall.

The game comes out as Pokemon Go is still not officially available in Russia, although thousands of Russians have already found ways to download it and their incessant Pokemon hunting has irked some officials and clerics.

 ?Educational version?

The Moscow government has invested one million rubles ($15,600) in the app and does not deny its resemblance to Pokemon Go, calling it an "educational version" of the game in its publicity materials.

"Some users have accused us of stealing the (Pokemon Go) idea," Kuznetsov said in a recent interview, explaining that in fact the Russian game has been in the making for three years, ever since the augmented reality technology became available.

The game ? so far only in Russian though an English language version is planned ? took a while to complete since developers were trying out various technologies to digitise the historical figures and make them three-dimensional, Kuznetsov said.

"Through this game, we hope to attract tourists to the main Discover Moscow app, so that they can learn something about the rich history of the city," he said.

The game gives Muscovites "more reason to go for a walk," said a press release from city hall, which is on a quest to redevelop Moscow into a tech-savvy and modern capital, so far with mixed results.

The game is set to add another dozen characters to the current nine, a difficult and delicate task as they have to be widely recognisable but not too controversial.

For Maxim Malyshev, the head developer at the game?s producer Notamedia, "the most difficult thing is to find actors who resemble the characters as closely as possible."

As augmented reality technology advances, there will be more and more possibilities for the game, he said: "We can make characters interact with objects or play with other parameters like perspective."

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Two more cases of Congo virus reported in Quetta

QUETTA: Two more Congo Virus patients were shifted to the isolation ward on Thursday.

The Fatima Jinnah General and Chest Hospital has four patients under treatment for the virus. Hospital administration said that their health is improving.

Samples of their blood have sent for PCR Tests to Karachi, Quetta does not have facilities to conduct the test.

Death toll from the Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever or Congo virus in Pakistan has climbed to 19 this year, with five deaths reported in Karachi, twelve in Quetta and two in Bahawalpur.

Congo virus is a viral disease that is commonly spread by ticks found on hairy animals.

With Eid-ul-Azha almost upon us, health experts are advising citizens to take special preventive measures to avoid contracting the virus.

According to them, healthcare workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed Congo virus or handling specimens from them should implement standard infection control precautions.

These include basic hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment, safe injection practices and safe burial practices, Dr Wasim Khawaja a public health specialist at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) said.

He said that to reduce the risk people should wear protective clothing like long sleeves or long trousers and wear light coloured clothing to allow easy detection of ticks on the clothes.

 

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