ISLAMABAD: The number of deadly coronavirus cases has again shown an upward trend in the country in general, and the federal capital in particular during the last few days but the situation is still under control as we have not yet enter the danger zone.

Officials of the Ministry of Health, District Health Department said this, while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, which met with Senator Rehman Malik in the chair on the preparation/preventive measures with reference to the potential spread of Covid-19 (phase-II).

Zaeem Zia, district health officer (DHO) told the committee that the number of coronavirus cases had witnessed a spike in capital city but still the situation was under control.

We are very far away from danger zone as positivity rate in the city is 1.7 percent, he said. Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat, while briefing the committee, said that the city reported 100 cases today, which was the biggest single increase during the last one and a half month.

There are a total 527 active cases in the city, and seven patients are on ventilator, he said, adding that the Covid-19 tests have been performed on 400,000 people in Islamabad. Malik said that he had predicted that the number of cases of the coronavirus would increase with the onset of winter.

He said that there was still a misunderstanding among the people about the coronavirus as still many were taking it non-seriously. He urged that awareness about the Covid-19 among the masses should be created, and the public was urged to strictly follow the precautionary measures against the coronavirus.

The committee discussed in detail and passed with majority, "The Islamabad Capital Territory Law Officers Bill, 2020", which was introduced by Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi. According to statement of objects and reasons of the bill, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) has own High Court, and set up of the lower courts working under the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

But there is no effective and sufficient law specifically dealing with the appointment of the law officers in the ICT. Hence, a law is immediately needed to deal with the issues related to the appointment of the law officers in the ICT.

The parliamentary body also discussed other three bills, including the Islamabad Capital Territory Criminal Prosecution Services Bill, 2020, The Islamabad Capital Territory Watersides Safety Bill, 2020, and the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2020, moved by Abbasi. The committee discussed in detail the Islamabad Capital Territory Criminal Prosecution Services Bill, 2020.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020

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