Punjab Govt threatens News Trends for PIC scoop

 

News Trends broke and highlighted the tragic story about wrong medicines that were being given by the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC).

 

As a result of these contaminated drugs, more than 137 poor heart patients have lost lives and an uncounted number is still suffering life-threatening allergies.

 

However, the Punjab government, instead of putting its house in order, has started threatening News Trends with dire consequences for projecting the cause of the poor people.

 

Senior anchors and management of News Trends have been given direct threats.

 

Journalists and human rights organisations have expressed great concern and resentment over the dictatorial attitude of the Punjab government, and called such steps as attack on free media. Pervez Shaukat, President Federal Union of Journalist, said that any regime s days get numbered when it embarks on such dictatorial steps. He said the Federal Union of Journalist would stage a protest to condemn the threats and to express solidarity with News Trends.

 

Similarly, Lahore Press Club President Sarmad Bashir expressed regret over the Punjab government s attitude, saying the media has its duty to expose wrongdoings of the government. Sarmad said the LPC would stage a protest tomorrow on the call of the Federal Union of Journalist.

 

Revealing the extent of threats, senior anchoperson Mubashar Luqman said that anchors and staff have been warned that their wherabouts and addresses had been listed and anything could happen if ruffling truth about Punjab goverbnment s performance was reported further. He said that the callers would even say that they knew the exact addresses of the schools the kids of News Trends management go to.

 

Mubashar Luqman also said while the news of the threats is being aired, certain cable operators have reported that they have been pressurised by the Punjab government to cut off News Trends transmissions.

 

He said that Punjab government has also been trying to cover the news of bird flu virus in the province because some PML-N stalwarts have huge stakes in the poultry industry.

 

It is confirmed separately that News Trends tranmissions in some areas of Rawalpindi have been cut off.

 

Meanwhile, Azam Chaudhry, Secretary General Lahore Press Club, said that a fabricated case, invoking section 302, has been registered against News Trends Chief Executive Mian Amir Mehmood in the Gulberg police station.

Dengue death toll in Lahore reaches 106

LAHORE: All measures taken by the Government of Punjab to contain dengue mosquito appear to be failing as another five people have succumbed to the deadly virus in Lahore on Tuesday.

The death toll from dengue fever in Lahore has reached 106.

According to Punjab Health Department, more than 10, 000 people have been affected by the mosquito-borne virus in Punjab so far.

All state and private hospitals are packed with dengue patients. Long queues of people can be seen in the hospitals.

The provincial government and medical experts term the virus a social problem instead of medical one. They say the virus could not be contained without public support. TrendPK

Army starts anti-dengue fumigation drive in Lahore

Pakistan Army stepped up its efforts for eradication of raging dengue virus by launching a fumigation and spray campaign.

Pakistan Army has formed 35 spray teams equipped with both vehicle and motorcycle mounted machines in support of common dwellers for extensive fumigation and spray of insecticides in adjoining settlements of Cantonment area.

The aim is not only to control but eradicate the spread of deadly epidemic that has cast gloom among the general masses.

Army doctors have already established 12 free medical camps in different localities to provide anti-virus support and treatment to the affected people in the suburbs of Lahore Cantonment. Latest state of the art blood screening machines have been installed to facilitate the general public in effective and timely diagnosis of dengue.

Doctor dies of Congo virus in Karachi

According to reports, Dr Ayaz Mandokhail was infected by Congo virus while treating a patient in a private hospital in Karachi. Dr Ayaz belonged to Quetta.

Another person from the paramedical staff of the same hospital infected by Congo virus is still under treatment.

Dengue on the rise in Punjab as patients number reaches 945

Total number of dengue patients has reached 945. In Punjab, 100 new cases have been reported during the last 24 hours. Out of these, 99 were reported in Lahore.

There are total 856 reported dengue cases in provincial metropolis Lahore, while one case each in Faisalabad, and Gujranwala.
Two cases were reported from DG Khan during last week.

Dengue is an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows a benign course with symptoms such as headache, fever, exhaustion, severe muscle and joint pain, swollen glands (lymphadenopathy), and rash. The presence (the “dengue triad”) of fever, rash, and headache (and other pains) is particularly characteristic of dengue. Other signs of dengue fever include bleeding gums, severe pain behind the eyes, and red palms and soles.

Dengue strikes people with low levels of immunity. Because it is caused by one of four serotypes of virus, it is possible to get dengue fever multiple times. However, an attack of dengue produces immunity for a lifetime to that particular serotype to which the patient was exposed.

The virus is contracted from the bite of a striped Aedes aegypti mosquito that has previously bitten an infected person. The mosquito flourishes during rainy seasons but can breed in water-filled flower pots, plastic bags, and cans year-round. One mosquito bite can inflict the disease.

The prevention of dengue fever requires control or eradication of the mosquitoes carrying the virus that causes dengue.

According to the residents of Lahore, the Punjab government was not taking sufficient steps to eradicate the dengue epidemic while mosquitoes were increasing due to rain water in different areas of the city.

Y-Films – Taking the unconventional route

Y-Films have already made a splash. The youth film studio of Yash Raj Films, Y-Films have unveiled three films at one go – LUV KA THE END release: 6 May, MUJHSE FRAAANDSHIP KAROGE 12 August and VIRUS DIWAN 30 December. But have you noticed something? The last two films are slated for release on dates that are considered ‘risky’ by the film fraternity.

MUJHSE FRAAANDSHIP KAROGE is slated for release during Ramzan.
While a chunk of film-going audience is likely to stay away from movies, the movie also faces a strong opponent in Prakash Jha’s AARAKSHAN. At the same time, VIRUS DIWAN is releasing exactly a week after DON 2 and in a week that’s considered ‘dicey’ in filmi lingo because of New Year festivities. The general question is, who’d like to sit in a movie hall on 31 December or 1 January? That’s not all, for the first time, Yash Raj will have two releases in a single month – LADIES VS RIKKI BAHL and VIRUS DIWAN.

But Ashish Patil, Head of Y-Films, thinks differently. “I am no soothsayer who predicts what’s right or wrong. Let’s face it, the release window is so limited that we are left with very few choices/options while zeroing on a release date. Exams, cricket matches, availability of screens, sometimes heavy rains and even H1N1 can ruin the perfect plan. Hence, we’ve opted for dates that may not be patronized by the conventional film-makers,” Patil states.

But AARAKSHAN and DON 2 are mighty opponents. “Of course they are,” Patil adds instantly, “But we’re talking to a different audience. Sure, there would be a huge audience for the multi-starrers you just mentioned, but let’s not rule out the possibility that a segment of audience would be equally enthusiastic to watch the kind of cinema Y-Films is making. As far as MUJHSE FRAAANDSHIP KAROGE is concerned, we are targeting the Independence Day weekend. Also, a lot of colleges may have re-opened during that period. Even if we get two solid days in the weekend, we would be safe as far as the economics are concerned.”

Patil continues in the same breath, “As far as VIRUS DIWAN is concerned, not everybody is out on the streets during the 31 December/1 January celebrations. Yes, people are in a mood to party and I would like to believe that they would also like to frequent cineplexes, if given a choice. Hopefully, things should work in our favour.”

5000 dengue cases reported across country

As many as 5000 cases of dengue virus have been confirmed across the whole country; where as 27 people have so far lost their lives due to this virus, according to National Health Department.

According to the report of the department, as many as 1556 cases have been rep[orted in Lahore only while 155 cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 5 in Azad Jammu Kashmir and 3371 cases in Sindh have been confirmed so far. the death toll due to this fast spreading virus has now reached 35.

Maximum people affected from this virus in Punjab are registered in Lahore. Dengue Surveillance Cell in Sindh is being extended and it is being associated with Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority. According to the health department Punjab, total number of Dengue patients has increased to 690.

In Faisalabad, 8 cases of Dengue virus have been detected and collectively 850 cases of Dengue virus from all over Punjab have been confirmed so far.

Dengue tests arrangements in Sindh

Staff Report

KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Health Dr Sagheer Ahmed has said that all arrangements have been made for dengue patients’ tests.

Dr Sagheer said that total 247 dengue positive patients are admitted in different hospitals of the province.

While talking to media persons on Sunday, he said the health department has conducted dengue tests of 3,371 people in the province and found 1,816 positive with the virus. Trend Pk

Dengue on the rise across Pakistan

Staff Report

KARACHI: Dengue virus is taking lives of people like a silent assassin, but the government doesn’t seem to be interested in taking effective measures to contain the mosquito-borne disease.

The fact is that inadequate measures taken by the government have led to a further spread of the deadly disease which has no known treatment.

In Sindh, so far 17 people have fallen prey to dengue.

The number of patients suffering from dengue in Lahore has crossed 1,000.

Similarly, hundreds of people are suffering from dengue in Peshawar and other cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to the National Institute for Health (NIH), 6,999 cases of dengue fever have been reported across the country. Of these, 3,138 have tested positive for the virus.

NIH said the deadly virus has left 24 dead in Pakistan. Trend Pk

53 new dengue cases confirmed in Sindh

Staff Report

KARACHI: The Sindh Health Department has confirmed 53 new dengue cases on Thursday.

According to the Health Department’s details, 3,297 patients were admitted in different hospitals of Sindh, including Karachi, in the last three months and 1,879 patients were confirmed with the virus.

The Health Department further said that 252 patients are under treatment in different hospitals in Karachi, Hyderabad, Benazirabad (Nawabshah), Larkana, Sukkur, Badin and Sanghar. Trend Pk

Next Page »