H1N1 death toll 17 in Multan

MULTAN: The number of H1N1 seasonal influenza patients has reached 114 on Monday and the suspects’ death toll had reached 17 after a female suspect died.

Nishtar Hospital epidemiology focal person Dr Attaur Rehman said a woman of Multan diagnosed with seasonal influenza passed away on Monday. she belonged to Multan. While giving the reasons for increase in outbreak, he said that suspects who died after contracting the seasonal influenza were already suffering from another disease. Dr Attaur Rheman said that currently 67 H1N1 virus suspects were under treatment at Nishtar Hospital. Muzaffargarh is the second district where 11 suspects were being treated. Khanewal stands at fourth number where nine suspects have been reported while five patients have been arrived at Dera Ghazi Khan. The Vehari and Layyah stands at fifth number where four suspects each were reported, he said. Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif has already taken notice of the spread of influenza and directed the authorities concerned to take all possible measures for its prevention. He also advised them to organise awareness campaign regarding the illness.

BZU employees stage demo: The Bahauddin Zakariya University Employees Welfare Association (BZUEWA) on Monday observed strike and staged demonstration in front of the BZU registrar office for not entertaining their demands. They announced continuing their strike for indefinite period until their grievances are addressed. The university employees led by BZUEWA president Malik Safdar stopped administrative work in protest against the BZU registrar. Safdar said the association repeatedly presented their demands to the BZU registrar but to no avail. He demanded regularisation of contractual staff, completion of promotion of engineering college, laboratory staff members and regularisation of bus conductors - who are driving on authority letters.

When contacted, BZU Registrar Prof Dr Mutahir said that lawful demands of employees were under consideration and it would take due time for implementation. “There is no room of making unlawful demands. The university is solving the problems of employees on priority basis.”

Minister’s assurance to refund exporters’ claims lauded: The Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Monday hailed the assurance of State Minister for Finance Rana Afzal Khan on clearance of the pending refund claims of exporters. Addressing a press conference here, MCCI president Malik Asrar Ahmed Awan said industrialists had heaved a sigh of relief after the proposal of the minister that pending claims of Rs 137 billion could be finally settled in addition to the payment of Rs 11-12 billion existing claims. He said the ultimate objective of the proposal was to enhance export by resolving the issue of liquidity crunch being faced by the exporters. He said the present government should work simultaneously on reducing cost of doing business and promoting ease of business. The MCCI president said the minister had assured cutting down the cost of electricity further.