ISLAMABAD, June 26: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday constituted a joint steering committee for the prevention and control of avian and pandemic influenza. Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan and Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan had been asked to preside over the committee, a government announcement on Monday said. The committee will meet on quarterly basis.

HAEMORRHAGIC FEVER: The federal health ministry has asked the provincial health authorities to maintain surveillance following reports of increase in the number of viral haemorrhagic fever cases in Karachi.

The provincial authorities have been asked to implement strict infection control measures. The executive director of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre has been asked to activate the working group set up in this regard to monitor the situation.

The National Malaria Control Programme has been asked to make prompt interventions for the containment of the disease.

A team of the NIH, the health ministry and the World Health Organisation will visit Karachi soon to investigate and monitor the situation.

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...