Saeed Ghani. PHOTO: EXPRESS

Sindh asks Centre to fly Taftan pilgrims to Karachi, escort to isolation wards

Sindh minister Saeed Ghani announces academic schedule for grade 9, 10, 11 and 12


Hafeez Tunio/Vakeel Rao March 16, 2020
KARACHI: The Sindh government on Monday asked the Centre to fly pilgrims quarantined in Taftan to Karachi and move them to isolation wards.

This was stated by Pakistan Peoples Party minister Saeed Ghani in a news conference after a meeting on academic year amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. Ghani said the provincial government was ready to bear all expenses.

Ghani said the 800 people had left the quarantine in Taftan but only 300 pilgrims have arrived in Sukkur so far. The number, he said, could surpass 900.

The press conference came hours after Sindh Health Department confirmed 41 new COVID-19 cases. Sindh Health Department spokesperson Meeran Yousuf told The Express Tribune that four cases were confirmed late Sunday while another 37 surfaced early Monday. Combined with the 13 confirmed cases from yesterday, the total number of pilgrims who tested positive stands at 50.

The province's tally stands at 76 while Pakistan's swells to 94.

Academic year

Ghani dismissed rumours about promoting students without examination and listed down dates for the academic year.

“The new academic year will begin June 1,” he told reporters. “The exams for grade one to eight will be held between June 1 and 15. The students will be promoted after the results.”

For grade nine and 10, the exams will be held between June 15 to 30 and the result will be announced on August 15. For grade 11 and 12, the exams will start July 6 onwards while results will be announced on September 15. The classes, however, will begin August 1 – the enrollment will be based on the results of grade 9. Failed candidates would be annulled.

The Sindh education department will help boards with marking of the examination papers.

When asked about the summer school fee, Ghani cited court orders and explained that the schools have to pay their employees during the summer vacations. He, however, asserted that there will be no advance fee and urged parents to pay on monthly basis.

Defeding Sindh government’s decision to shut educational institutes till May 31 against federal and provincial governments’ decision to close schools till April 5, Ghani said the outbreak was likely to increase and highlighted that the disease was now locally transmitted.

“We made the decision after much deliberation,” he said, adding that the provincial government didn’t want any confusion in notifying and de-notifying holidays.

 

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