The federal government has directed all the provinces to commence Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) for diagnosis of Covid-19.

It has also directed the provincial governments to procure World Health Organisation-approved RAT kits to start process with effect from Nov 15 stating that ‘the RAT has certain advantages over RT-PCR, such as relatively low cost and return results in approximately 15 minutes while the other test process takes a few days’.

The instructions were issued in the wake of the second wave of the infection with a purpose of disease mapping.

Read more here.

Opinion

Editorial

Budget presser
Updated 14 Jun, 2026

Budget presser

If the FBR falters, the government will find itself in hot water sooner rather than later.
Muharram precautions
14 Jun, 2026

Muharram precautions

WITH Muharram due to start next week, the authorities have already begun annual exercises to ensure that the ...
Blood bequests
14 Jun, 2026

Blood bequests

WORLD Blood Donor Day offers a moment of “gratitude, advocacy and renewed commitment” for thalassaemia patients...
Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...