Latest news with #PTA
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
Deaths from Congo virus
Listen to article Just this week, five fatal cases of the Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), commonly called Congo fever, have been reported in the country. Three of the deaths happened in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and two in Karachi. The deaths in Karachi – of two men ageing 25 and 42 – mark the first in Sindh this year from Congo virus. Both succumbed within days of their diagnoses, highlighting the severity of the disease and the lack of timely intervention, medical preparedness, and public awareness surrounding it. Despite being endemic and officially recognised as a major public health threat, the prevalence of Congo virus is not widely documented in Pakistan. Symptoms of the disease can include fever, muscle pains, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, and even bleeding under the skin. The virus is mainly spread to humans through tick bites or by coming into contact with the blood or tissue of infected animals, which exacerbates its spread during and after the Eid-ul Azha season. This year, roughly 6.8 million animals were sacrificed in Pakistan, according to the Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA). However, the country lacks a proper system required to manage the health and safety risks of such a large-scale event. Livestock are often brought into the city without regulatory health screening and temporary cattle markets are erected without an understanding of biosecurity protocols. The use of gloves, protective clothing and proper disposal of animal waste is advised by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) ahead of the festival but not only are these practices barely observed, they are often considered unnecessary and needless. Unfortunately, prevention and care are the only options for managing the Congo virus as there are no FDA- or WHO-approved drugs for CCHF, or a commercially available vaccine. Therefore, the government must boost its efforts to strengthen surveillance, public awareness and biosecurity measures to prevent wider outbreaks in the future.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Telecom subscribers surpass 200 million in Pakistan
Telecom subscribers have crossed 200 million in the country, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said on Thursday, terming the development a 'historic milestone' that 'reflects Pakistan's accelerated digital growth'. 'The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority proudly announces a historic milestone—crossing 200 million telecom subscribers nationwide. With 150 million broadband and over 2 million Fiber To The Home (FTTH) subscribers. This achievement reflects Pakistan's accelerated digital growth and PTA's commitment to inclusive connectivity,' the PTA said. Telecom sector shows robust performance in nine months To mark the celebration, the PTA and CMO's (Jazz, Telenor, Ufone, Zong and SCO) are offering free 2GB data + 200 on-net minutes (valid for 24 hours) on June 20, 2025 to all mobile users, the statement added. 'Subscribers can avail this offer by dialing short code *2200# (All Mobile Operators).' To further digital inclusion, especially for female students, PTA—alongside PTCL, Transworld, Nayatel, Cybernet, and Wateen—are deploying free Wi-Fi hotspots for 6-month at HEC-recognized selected universities including women universities to empower students through improved access to digital resources, according to the statement. Moreover, the PTA said, mobile manufacturers have contributed 200 locally assembled smartphones to be distributed among female SIM owners through computerised balloting across Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Faulty wiper, communications system forces Perth passengers off C-Series train
A faulty window wiper and passenger communication system forced all passengers off a C-Series train in Perth on Wednesday afternoon. Just after lunch, passengers were told to get off the service entering Perth underground and catch the next train because that train could no longer continue service. A Public Transport Authority spokeswoman described the problems as a minor technical issue, but confirmed the train had to make the 40-kilometre trip up the Yanchep line to the Nowergup depot to be fixed. 'The minor technical issue related to a windscreen wiper and a passenger communication system not operating as it should, which on rare occasions can occur on all trains the PTA operates,' she said. 'For operational reasons and out of precaution, it was determined the best option was for passengers to disembark and board a train following immediately behind, which is standard practice across all Transperth railcars when there is a technical issue. Loading 'After passengers disembarked, the train continued to travel up the line to Nowergup for this minor repair.' The spokeswoman said there was minimal disruption to timetabled services, and thanked passengers for their patience. The issue occurred at a heightened time for the WA government and PTA as the quality and reliability of its C-Series trains are thrust into the spotlight.
The Age
2 days ago
- The Age
Faulty wiper, communications system forces Perth passengers off C-Series train
A faulty window wiper and passenger communication system forced all passengers off a C-Series train in Perth on Wednesday afternoon. Just after lunch, passengers were told to get off the service entering Perth underground and catch the next train because that train could no longer continue service. A Public Transport Authority spokeswoman described the problems as a minor technical issue, but confirmed the train had to make the 40-kilometre trip up the Yanchep line to the Nowergup depot to be fixed. 'The minor technical issue related to a windscreen wiper and a passenger communication system not operating as it should, which on rare occasions can occur on all trains the PTA operates,' she said. 'For operational reasons and out of precaution, it was determined the best option was for passengers to disembark and board a train following immediately behind, which is standard practice across all Transperth railcars when there is a technical issue. Loading 'After passengers disembarked, the train continued to travel up the line to Nowergup for this minor repair.' The spokeswoman said there was minimal disruption to timetabled services, and thanked passengers for their patience. The issue occurred at a heightened time for the WA government and PTA as the quality and reliability of its C-Series trains are thrust into the spotlight.
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan govt decides to deactivate over 4.9m mobile phone SIMs
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to deactivate more than 4.9 million mobile phone SIMs that were issued on expired, cancelled, impounded, or deceased persons' Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs), a move aimed at enhancing national security and curbing misuse of mobile networks. Acting on the recommendation of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), the Ministry of Interior has directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to begin the deactivation process in phases, starting later this month. According to a letter issued by the Ministry of Interior to the PTA, NADRA has provided comprehensive data identifying such CNICs along with a schedule for the blocking of associated mobile SIMs, according to a statement issued by NADRA. It says that the process will commence on June 30, 2025, with the deactivation of SIMs registered against CNICs that expired in 2017. In the subsequent months, SIMs linked to CNICs expired in 2018 will be deactivated on July 31, 2025, followed by SIMs linked to CNICs expired in 2019 on August 31, 2025. It says that the process will continue with the deactivation of SIMs registered on CNICs that expired in 2020 on September 30, 2025, those expired in 2021 on October 31, 2025, and those expired in 2022 on November 30, 2025. In the final phase, mobile SIMs registered on CNICs that expired in the years 2023, 2024, and 2025 will be deactivated on December 31, 2025. According to the data shared by NADRA, a total of 4,906,611 such CNICs have been identified. These identity cards have not been reviewed nor have their holders been officially reported as deceased. The deactivation of mobile SIMs linked to these identity cards is being carried out to enhance national security, prevent the potential misuse of mobile networks through inactive or fraudulent identities and ensure the safety and integrity of the country's digital ecosystem. It says citizens should renew their CNICs in a timely manner to avoid any disruption to their mobile services and to ensure their continued inclusion in the national identity system. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
