Tue, 21-Oct-2025

No plans for the closure of educational institutions: Shafqat Mahmood

'Board exams to begin after June 15 in Pakistan,' announces Shafqat Mahmood

Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood has on Wednesday said no plan is under consideration for the closure of educational institutions across Pakistan amid rising coronavirus cases.

Shafqat Mahmood said in a statement that the country is witnessing another wave of COVID-19 and the health ministry advised to keep a tight eye on the developments.

He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had chaired the session of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) where the participants reviewed the COVID-19 testing capacity in educational institutions.

He clarified that educational institutions could not be closed in the current situation. The minister said that the country fought the pandemic and produced exemplary results to curb COVID-19 as compared to the other nations.

He termed the establishment of a science lab a step towards setting a standard.

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Surge in COVID-19 cases: Asad Umar chairs NCOC meeting to review the situation

Cinemas, shrines allowed to reopen for fully vaccinated As NCOC relaxes curb

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) meeting was held under the chair of Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar.

The NCOC session is being attended by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan and other concerned officials.

During the session, the participants reviewed the government’s steps and implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to curb the spread of second wave of Coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had rejected the closure of businesses, schools and industries again in view of rising COVID-19 cases in Pakistan.

PM Imran Khan had given the statement while chairing the federal cabinet meeting. A briefing was given to the cabinet members regarding an increase being witnessed in COVID-19 cases.

The federal cabinet was told that coronavirus cases are consistently increasing besides a hike in the number of critical patients put on ventilators and mortality rate.

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