Pakistan’s First Monthly E-Magazine for Civil Services Aspirants ef efits 5 ent ESV I ivi Pd | = ) April 2020 Coronavirus: Which Countries Have Confirmed Cases? World University Rankings By Subject 2020 Monthly Domestic & International Affairs Current Affairs MCQs March 2020 EAMONN oee DLBuy HSM Books Online Books for Competitive Exams & Military Tests a Just while sitting at home you can choose from a vast variety, and your desired Competitive Exams CSS/PMS/PCS/NTS and Military Tests (Army, ISSB/PAF/NAVY) HSM Books will be efficiently delivered to you on the designated date. Spectacular services and satisfying our customers will always be our most significant priority. We hope you have a worthy shopping experience at . www.hsmpublishers.com Thank you. HSM Publishers was started in 2013 as a publishing division of Ilmi Kitab Khana, founded by Haji Sardar Muhammad in 1945. Today it proudly owns: + Ilmi Kitab Khana Lahore + HSM Publishers Lahore + Ilmi Kitab Khana/HSM Publishers Islamabad F-7 Islamabad (Islamabad showroom where one finds under one roof the widest range of All kinds of Schools/Colleges/Universities educational pos Competitive Exams, ey Exam books and General Knowledge ooks ) 2UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Monthly HSM CSS Times COVID-19 3 Coronavirus: Which Countries Have Confirmed Cases? (April 1, 2020) WNiaw Gases oF the nivel coronavirus that Territories with confirmed cases of COVID- emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan i late December are being reported daily Here are the countries that have so far confirmed coronavirus cases as on April 1, around the world 2020: Top 10 More than 46,000 people have died from 1 United States - 206,207 cases, 4,542 COVID-19, as the illness is officially known, deaths . a while over 921,000 infections have been a Italy 2 110,574 cases, 13.158 deaths - Spain - 102,179 cases, 9,131 deaths confirmed in at least 180 countries and 4. china - 82,361 cases, 3,316 deaths territories. More than 192,000 people have (The total includes 41 cases in Macau and 765 recovered from the coronaviru: cases - four deaths - in Hong Kong) Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comMonthly HSM CSS Times ‘April 2020 CORONAVIRUS 5- Germany - 77,558 cases, 891 deaths 6- France - 57,749 cases, 4,043 deaths 7- Iran - 47,593 cases, 3,036 deaths 8- United Kingdom - 29,857 cases, 2,357 deaths 9- Switzerland - 17,768 cases, 488 deaths 10 Turkey - 15,679 cases, 277 deaths South Asia 1- Pakistan - 2,118 cases, 27 deaths 2- India - 1,834 cases, 45 deaths 3- Sri Lanka - 146 cases, 3 deaths 4- Bangladesh - 54 cases, 6 deaths 5- Nepal - 5 cases 6- Bhutan - 4 cases 7- Maldives - 19 cases Middle Esst Israel - 6,092 cases, 25 deaths Saudi Arabia - 1,720 cases, 16 deaths Qatar - 835 cases, 2 deaths United Arab Emirates - 814 cases, 8 deaths Iraq - 728 cases, 52 deaths Bahrain - 569 cases, 4 deaths Lebanon - 479 cases, 14 deaths Kuwait - 317 cases Jordan - 278 cases, 5 deaths UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com COVID-19 4 Oman - 210 cases, 1 death Occupied Palestinian Territ: cases, 1 death Syria - 10 cases, 2 deaths Asia South Korea - 9,887 cases, 165 deaths Malaysia - 2,908 cases, 45 deaths Japan - 2,412 cases, 67 deaths Philippines - 2,311 cases, 96 deaths Thailand - 1,771 cases, 12 deaths Indonesia - 1,677 cases, 157 deaths Singapore - 1,000 cases, 3 deaths Kazakhstan - 380 cases, 3 deaths Azerbaijan - 359 cases, 5 deaths Taiwan - 329 cases, 5 deaths Afghanistan - 239 cases, 4 deaths Vietnam - 218 cases Uzbekistan - 181 cases, 2 deaths Mauritius - 161 cases, 6 deaths Brunei - 131 cases, 1 death Kyrgyzstan - 111 cases Cambodia - 109 cases Myanmar - 15 cases, 1 death Mongolia - 14 cases Laos - 10 cases East Timor - 1 case ‘ies - 134 Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Monthly HSM CSS Times COVID-19 / 5 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC COVID-19 COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a new type of coronavirus detected in China in late Europe Belgium - 13,964 cases, 828 deaths Netherlands - 13,696 cases, 1,175 deaths Austria - 10,663 cases, 146 deaths Portugal - 8,251 cases, 187 deaths ‘Sweden - 4,947 cases, 239 deaths Norway - 4,863 cases, 44 deaths Czech Republic - 3,508 cases, 39 deaths Ireland - 3,447 cases, 85 deaths. Denmark - 3,290 cases, 104 deaths Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | 2019. Data shows the disease is mild in 80 percent of patients, severe in 13 percent, and critical in 6 percent. Most common symptoms: $1 Fever @ Fatigue ® Dry cough Some patients may also have: Aches and pains Runny nose Sore throat Shortness of breath Ys Bove Diarrhoea In critical cases. COVID-19 can cause severe pneumonia or a multiple-organ failure and can lead to death. Russia - 2,777 cases, 24 deaths Poland - 2,554 cases, 43 deaths Romania - 2,460 cases, 92 deaths Luxembourg - 2,319 cases, 29 deaths Finland - 1,446 cases, 17 deaths Greece - 1,415 cases, 50 deaths Iceland - 1,220 cases, 2 deaths Serbia - 1,060 cases, 28 deaths Croatia - 963 cases, 6 deaths Slovenia - 841 cases, 15 deaths For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com M CSS Times COVID-19 => ¢ Wash hands th with soap ughly ¢ Cover your face when coughing and sneezing * Face masks optional - scientists doubt their effectiveness Ukraine - 794 cases, 20 deaths Estonia - 779 cases, 5 deaths Lithuania - 581 cases, 8 deaths Armenia - 571 cases, 4 deaths Hungary - 525 cases, 20 deaths Bosnia and Herzegovina - 457 cases, 13 deaths Latvia - 446 cases Moldova - 423 cases, 5 deaths Bulgaria - 422 cases, 10 deaths Slovakia - 400 cases, 1 death Andorra - 390 cases, 14 deaths North Macedonia - 354 cases, 11 deaths Cyprus - 320 cases, 9 deaths Burkina Faso - 282 cases, 16 deaths Albania - 259 cases, 15 deaths San Marino - 236 cases, 26 deaths Malta - 188 cases Belarus - 163 cases, 2 deaths Montenegro - 123 cases, 2 deaths Georgia - 117 cases Kosovo - 112 cases, 1 death Liechtenstein - 68 cases Monaco - 55 cases, 1 death Canada - 9,539 cases, 108 deaths Ecuador - 2,748 cases, 93 deaths Mexico - 1,215 cases, 29 deaths Panama - 1,181 cases, 30 deaths Costa Rica - 375 cases, 2 deaths Cuba - 212 cases, 6 deaths Honduras - 172 cases, 10 deaths Trinidad and Tobago - 89 cases, 5 deaths Guatemala - 39 cases, 1 death Jamaica - 38 cases, 2 deaths El Salvador - 32 cases, 1 death Haiti - 16 cases Brazil - 5,923 cases, 206 deaths Chile - 3,031 cases, 16 deaths Ecuador - 2,748 cases, 93 deaths Peru - 1,323 cases, 38 deaths Colombia - 1,065 cases, 17 deaths Uruguay - 338 cases, 2 deaths Venezuela - 143 cases, 3 deaths Bolivia - 115 cases, 7 deaths Paraguay - 69 cases, 3 deaths Guatemala - 39 cases, 1 death Jamaica - 38 cases, 2 deaths Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com raed Tere iT Guinea - 30 cases Guyana - 12 cases, 2 deaths Suriname - 10 cases Australia - 4,862 cases, 20 deaths Algeria - 847 cases, 58 deaths Egypt - 779 cases, 52 deaths Morocco - 642 cases, 37 deaths Tunisia - 423 cases, 12 deaths Burkina Faso - 282 cases, 16 deaths Cameroon - 233 cases, 6 deaths Ghana - 195 cases, 5 deaths Senegal - 190 cases, 1 death Ivory Coast - 179 cases, 1 death Nigeria - 174 cases, 2 deaths Democratic Republic of the Congo - 109 cases, 9 deaths Rwanda - 82 cases Kenya - 81 cases, 1 death Madagascar - 57 cases Uganda - 44 cases Togo - 36 cases, 2 deaths Zambia - 36 cases Barbados - 34 cases Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | MCS! ; COVID-19 / ari arn virus identifie, Cen? 2019-nCo Pre BEE) Pais Niger - 34 cases, 3 deaths Djibouti - 33 cases Mali - 31 cases, 3 deaths Ethiopia - 29 cases Tanzania - 20 cases, 1 death Republic of the Congo - 19 cases Gabon - 18 cases, 1 death Equatorial Guinea - 15 cases Eritrea - 15 cases Namibia - 14 cases Libya - 10 cases Mozambique - 10 cases Seychelles - 10 cases Suriname - 10 cases Benin - 9 cases Eswatini - 9 cases Grenada - 9 cases Guinea-Bassau - 8 cases Zimbabwe - 8 cases, 1 death Angola - 7 cases, 2 deaths Chad - 7 cases Sudan - 7 cases, 2 deaths Cape Verde - 6 cases, 1 death Mauritania - 6 cases, 1 death Somalia - 5 cases For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comWe are Looking for Writers Required Areas of Expertise are CSS/PMS/PCS. Experienced Teachers and Qualified CSPs Contact us at 042-37171280, 37171281 or kamran.munir@ilmikitabkhana.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com EDUCATION q Weekly HSM CSS Times WORLD Ma UNIVERSITY RANKINGS Mu World University Rankings by Subject 2020 QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) has released the World University Rankings by Subject 2020. Background: To produce the QS World University Rankings by subject area for this year, QS analysed over 22 million papers, producing close to 200 million citations. 8 institutions have been ranked across 48 subjects in 5 broad categories across 159 locations, which reflects the scale behind this internationally benchmarked undertaking to produce these subject rankings. 5 categories are: 1. Arts and humanities. 2. Engineering and technology. 3. Life sciences and medicine. 4. Natural sciences. 5. Social sciences and management. buy subject Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is the best university in the world for a dozen subjects in this year's QS World. University Rankings by Subject — more than any other university. MIT is closely followed by Harvard University and the University of Oxford, which are ranked best in the world for 11 and eight subjects respectively. rent subjects are included in the tion of the subject rankings, with 13,198 individual university programs ed and ranked. Some of the most popular subjects are examined in closer detail below. One notable trend this year is ~ despite MIT and Harvard's impressive performance — US universities appear to be declining, with fewer US degree programs featuring in the top 50 than last year. The UK and China have all seen improvements on last year's performance, although not all at the same rate. QS Director of Research Ben Sowter noted: “Our dataset has illuminated a slowdown in Weekly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comWeekly HSM CSS Times Chinese progress. However, their trajectory is still superior to that of American universities.” Arts and Humanities For the sixth consecutive year, the UK's Royal College of Art tops the art & design subject rankings table, one of 11 arts and humanities subjects to be featured this year. chools dominate the rest of the top 10, taking five of the remaining nine places. Also in the top 10 is Finland's Aalto University. No other Finnish institution is ranked this highly across the 48 subjects. Weekly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com EDUCATION 10 In the architecture subject rankings table — another of the most popular subjects with our readers — MIT takes the top spot from UCL's Bartlett School of Architecture. Further down, Sweden has a representative in the top 20 for the first time: KTH Royal Institute of Technology has climbed to 2oth. Engineering and Technology 600 different universities are included in this year's computer science ranking, with MIT ranked in first place for the fifth straight year. Half of the top 10 are from the — For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Weekly HSM CSS Times Ape US, while there is no Asian university in the top 10 this year. Although the National University of Singapore is still the top computer science program in the region, it's slipped to 12th globally. ‘The two most popular engineering degrees with our readers are electrical and mechanical engineering — two subjects which MIT again ranks top for. Of particular note this year is the strong performance of Asian universities, particularly in the electrical engineering table, Mainland China's Tsinghua EDUCATION 1 mostly dominated by Anglosphere universities, with nine of the top 10 hailing from either the UK or US. Sweden's Karolinska Institute is the only medical school bucking the trend in the top 10, and you have to go down to 22nd to find another university from a non-English- speaking country. As well as topping the medical school ranking, Harvard University is also ranked in first place for psychology. Asia's best psychology program can be found at the National University of Singapore; it has. improved from 33rd to 26th year-on-year — University rises to 11th, marginally ahead of the National University of Singapore (12th); South Korea's KAIST features in joint 17th, and Japan's University of Tokyo can be found in joint 2oth. Life Sciences and Medicine Anew university tops this year's dentistry table: King's College London has climbed to first place, it's best-ever performance in the QS subject rankings. Queen Mary of University London (QMUL) also performs remarkably well, ranking 11th in its debut appearance in the ranking. The ranking of top medical schools is its best-ever performance in the subject. Finally, there's a new top university in the veterinary science table. The University of California, Davis has regained the number one spot, having previously lost it to the Royal Veterinary College in the UK. Natural Sciences ‘There's only one new entrant in the top universities for mathematics this year. Tsinghua University has risen five places to 2oth, it's best-ever performance. One of the indicators used to compile the rankings (for more information, consult our methodology) is employer reputation, and Weekly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Weekly HSM CSS Times April 2020 EDUCATION 12 managers and employers that hire mathematics graduates were considered this year. In the physics subject ranking table, the most notable mover in the top 20 is the University of Chicago which has climbed five places to 12th. The top university in Europe for the subject is ETH Zurich, which is ranked ninth. Social Sciences and Management Not to be confused with our ranking of the best full-time MBA programs (the QS Global MBA Rankings), the business & management subject rankings table allows you to see which universities provide the best education for the subject across both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. ‘This year, Harvard Business School is once again top for business & management, while there are notable schools from France, the US and the Netherlands which can all be happy with their performance this year. Harvard also tops this year’s economics ranking, helped by the fact it was the best- performing university in our global survey of employers. The top 10 universities for this subject are all based in the UK and US — Universita Commerciale Luigi Bocconi from Italy is the first to break the duopoly. Law and polities are the other two most popular social sciences covered by our ranking, and Harvard University is once again the best in the world for both of these. However, Yale University out-performs Harvard for research in the field of law, suggesting there's still some room for improvement at the world's best law school. In the polities ranking, the University of Oxford has fallen below second place for the first time ever. Performance of Pakistan's Institutions: The Suleman Dawood School of Business (SDSB) at LUMS continues to gain greater prominence globally. ‘The latest QS World University Rankings 2020 places it as the top business school in Pakistan and in the top 250 business schools of the world for Business and Management Studies. As per the 2020 rankings, NUST is among the top 200 world universities in the subject of Computer Science & Information Systems (CS&IS), becoming the first and only Pakistani university to make it to the top 200 in this subject. It is also featured prominently in 7 other subjects, namely: Electrical & Electronics Engineering; Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Physics & Astronomy; 7 wy Mathematics; Chemistry; and Business & Management. 151 COMSATS, University Islamabad 168 Pakistan Institute of Engineering and = Applied Sciences (PIEAS) 171 University of Engineering & Technology (UET) Lahore 195 University of the Punjab Weekly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Weekly HSM CSS Times Black Carbon Levels Spike at Himalayan Glaciers Researchers recently conducted a study on varying levels of Black Carbon in Himalayas. In the 18th and 19th century, Britain was abuzz with cranking steam engines, rattling power looms, and clattering machines. Amidst this daily ding, the world was witnessing a defining movement in human history—the Industrial Revolution—that soon spread to the rest of Western Europe. Powered by coal, the production of most things transitioned from hand to machine, spurring a rise in population and air pollution, For the next two centuries, London became infamous for its soot and smog, which turned fatal for about 12,000 people. Now, a new study has shown that this mal air has left its trace in the lofty Himala glaciers, thousands of kilometres away from Europe. The study, by researchers at the Ohio State University, USA, shows evidence of several toxie metals in the Dasuopu glacier in the central Himalayas purportedly deposited since the Industrial Revolution. Besides, massive deforestation and biomass burning in parts of the Northern Hemisphere seems to have added to these deposits. The researchers point out that atmospheric currents and wind patterns are \. responsible for bringing these metals to the now-covered Himalayas. Weekly HSM CSS Ti ENVIRONMENT Key findings: 1. Black carbon concentrations near the Gangotri glacier rose 400 times in summer due to forest fires and stubble burning from agricultural waste, and triggered glacial melt. 2. The monthly mean concentration of EBC (equivalent black carbon) was found to be minimum in August and maximum in the month of May. The observed seasonal mean concentrations of EBC indicated a pristine glacial source and an absence of EBC sources in the locality. 3. The concentration varied from a minimum of 0.01pg/cubic metre in winter to 4.62ug/cubic metre during summer. Being a pristine zone far from sources of pollution, the measurements are critical to establishing a baseline for pollution loads and estimating the contribution of various sources to pollution. What is Black Carbon? What are the Concerns? Black carbon results from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass. BC is produced both naturally and by human aetivities as a result of the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biofuels, and biomass. Primary sources include emissions from diesel engines, cook stoves, wood burg and pasties 18 For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comies UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times ENVIRONMENT ‘4 c Ss ciated lived and remains in the 1. The fine particles absorb light and atmosphere only for days to weeks about a million times more energy before it descends as rain or snow. than carbon dioxide. 3. Black carbon absorbs solar energy 2. Itis said to be the second largest and warms the atmosphere. When it contributor to climate change falls to earth with precipitation, it after CO2. But unlike CO2, which darkens the surface of snow and ice, can stay in the atmosphere for years reducing their albedo (the reflecting together, black carbon is short- power of a surface), warming the — snow, and hastening melting. Complete combustion would turn all carbon in the fuel into carbon dioxide (CO2), but combustion is never complete and CO2, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and organic carbon and black carbon particles are all formed in the process, The complex mixture of particulate matter resulting from incomplete combustion is often referred to as soot. Weekly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Weekly HSM CSS Times ENVIRONMENT 15 Black carbon (BC) is the second most important warming component in the atmosphere after CO,. The BC in the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau (HTP) has influenced the Indian monsoon and accelerated the retreat of glaciers, resulting in serious consequences for billions of Asian residents. Westerly a Weekly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | Pakistan has more glaciers than any other country outside the polar region — more than 7,200 in the Karakoram, Himalayan and Hindu Kush ranges, according to Pakistan's meteorological department. They feed the Indus River system, the water lifeline. But data gathered over the last 50 years shows that all but around 120 of the glaciers are showing signs of melting, meteorological officials said. Warming temperatures are to blame for much of the melting but so-called “black carbon” — black soot released from diesel vehicle exhaust, factories, open fires and cookstoves - also is to blame, experts say. The wind-blown pollutants settle onto ‘ers, darkening them and reducing their ability to reflect away sunlight, which leads to a faster rate of melting. For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Pakistan Domestic Affairs Pakistan annual inflation slows to 12.40%: Pakistan's consumer price inflation slowed to 12.40% in February from the same month a year earlier, the statistics bureau said on Monday. The statistics bureau had recorded the CPI inflation at 14.56% in January, the highest in a decade. Prices of food items such as pulses, fresh vegetables and wheat, which have been the main top drivers of inflation, saw a downward trend. Pakistanis have lately been under a tough squeeze on their household budgets. Pakistan's central bank in late January kept rates unchanged at 13.25%, citing strong inflationary pressures. Essential Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | Times PAKISTAN AT A GLANCE nce March 2020 food items that decreased in Feb over Jan are; onion (8.8%), tomato (60.3%), potato (12.9%), fresh vegetables (11.5%) and wheat flour (5.3%). On non-food side major contributions for decrease came from LPG (13.5%) and electricity (13.5%) Mushtaq Mahar takes charge as IG Sindh: Newly appointed inspector general Sindh Mushtaq Mahar took charge on Monday and was instructed by the provincial chief minister to improve the law and order situation in the province, Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar, a BS-22 officer of the Police Service of Pakistan For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Monthly HSM CSS Times April 2020 presently serving as IG, Pakistan Railways Police, under Ministry of Railways, is transferred and posted as Provincial Police Officer, Government of Sindh, with immediate effect and until further orders,’ reads a notification issued by government of Pakistan Cabinet Secretariat Establishment Division. Mahar's name was on the top of the list of the five police officers recommended by the Sindh government for the post of IG Sindh to replace incumbent police chief Syed Kaleern Imam. Earlier, on Feb 1, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had penned yet another letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan to remove Inspector General of Police Kaleem Imam and pick one of the five names recommended by the provincial government for the coveted slot of the top cop. This was a third letter the province's chief executive has written to the premier on the issue of appointment of a new IG. Mushtaq Mahar has served twice as the additional IG of Karachi. Before his appointment as IGP Sindh, Mahar was serving as the Inspector General of the Pakistan Railway. He has also served as the additional inspector general traffic, SSP Nawabshah, SSP Dadu, DIG Mirpurkhas, DIG South Karachi Range, DIG Special Branch Sindh, DIG Headquarters Sindh, DIG Crimes Sindh, United Nations Mozambique and DIG and SSP of the Counter Terrorism Department of the Sindh police. As the Karachi police chief from 2015 to 2018, he led the Karachi Operation. (March 2) Coronavirus: Pakistan confirms fifth case: Pakistan on Tuesday confirmed its fifth case of coronavirus amid strict safety measures to contain the spread in the country. According to local media, the latest case has been identified as a 45-year-old woman from the northern mountainous region of Gilgit Baltistan who had arrived from Iran a few days ago. Soon after confirming the first case in Gilgit, the local government announced that it was closing all schools in the region until March 7 as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, local leading English daily Dawn reported. Pakistan ‘PAKISTAN AT A GLANCE confirmed its first case of the novel coronavirus on Feb. 26 in the port city of Karachi, where a 22-year-old male who had recently visited Iran was found to be infected. The novel coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, has sounded global alarms, with China, the epicenter of an outbreak, reporting at least 2,943 deaths.Outside mainland China, the virus has spread to more than 30 countries, including the U.S, the U.K., Singapore, France, Russia, Spain, South Korea and India.( March 3) Coronavirus: Sindh govt releases Rs100m in emergency funds: The Sindh Cabinet was told on Tuesday that an emergency relief fund of one hundred million rupees has been allocated in light of the ongoing coronavirus scare. Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired the session of the provincial cabinet today, where the prevention measures against the coronavirus epidemic were discussed, which has penetrated 76 countries with more than 3,100 deaths and more than 80,000 infections reported so far.The provincial cabinet was informed that so far 2,301 people, who recently returned from Iran, have been traced. The cabinet was told that nine isolation wards with 118 beds capacity have been established as a precautionary measure to treat coronavirus patients.As part of the measures against the epidemic, the provincial government said that 5,000 testing kits have also been imported. (March 3) Water dispute can trigger Pak-India war, US envoy Cameron Munter: Former US envoy to Pakistan Cameron Munter said on Wednesday that in his opinion, India and Pakistan are likely to fight a war in future over sharing of water resources. Throughout the world the profits from textile products are declining, said Munter. He added that Pakistani youth need to gain expertise in software and information technology. The former US envoy’s statements came in the backdrop of foreign media reports that India will no longer let its share of water to flow into Pakistan from December. India is planning to stop two TMC of water of the Ujh Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com A CSS 1 river which is a tributary of the Ravi River that flows through the Kathua district in Indian Occupied Kashmir. Basing the news on a source, an Indian media outlet claimed that a technical report has been prepared on it and is awaiting an official response to go ahead. Last year Indian Union Minister for Transport and Water Resources Nitin Gadkari stated that the government was planning to build three dams in Uttarakhand to stop India's unused share of river water from flowing to Pakistan. The Indus Waters Treaty signed in 1960 gives India control over the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas and Sutle)) of the Indus basin while it gives Pakistan authority over the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab). The treaty also guaranteed 10 years of uninterrupted water supply during this period Pakistan was to build dams. Pakistan successfully built Warsak Mangla and Tarbela dams. Centre decides against taking administrative control of JPMC, NICVD and NICH: The federal government has decided against taking administrative control of three major hospitals. in Sindh namely PAKISTANATAGLANCE _ 8 Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre JPMC), National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) and National Institute of Child Health (NICH). Foreigners withdraw $263m from debt securities: Foreigners have invested a total of $3.47 billion and divested $313.93 million since July 2019, according to SBP data. Pakistan ranked least internet inclusive country in South Asia: Pakistan has been ranked 76th out of 100 countries on the inclusive internet index 2020 released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), falling into the last quartile of the global index overall ( ) In Pakistan: World Bank okays $300m for human development: The World Bank has approved a $300-million financial package for human development in Pakistan, including a loan of $200 million to improve social and health indicators in about a dozen poorest districts of Punjab. (| ) Equipment for Pakistan seized by India is for industrial, not military use; China: According to Indian media, the ship bearing Hong Kong flag was detained by Customs at Kandla Port in Gujarat while en-route to Port Qasim, Karachi, on February 3. The cargo of the Chinese ship has been offloaded and kept in a godown at the port. Rejecting the Indian claim that the industrial autoclave could be used for "manufacture of a very long-range ballistic missile or satellite launch rocket”, he said that, as a responsible country, China had been strictly fulfilling international nor roliferation obligations and international Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com PAKISTAN AT A GLANCE 19 Monthly SM CSS etal H ‘April 2020 commitments.According to Indian media, the ship bearing Hong Kong flag was detained by Customs at Kandla Port in Gujarat while en- route to Port Qasim, Karachi, on February 3. The cargo of the Chinese ship has been offloaded and kept in a godown at the port, the report said.Indian media had reported that experts at India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had ‘confirmed! that the industrial autoclave seized from the Chinese ship could be used for “manufacturing very long-range ballistic missiles or satellite launch rockets”. (March 6) Coronavirus cases jump to six in Pakistan: Another coronavirus case was reported in Karachi, pushing the total number of COVID- 19 cases to three in Karachi and sixth in the country. (March 6) Highest male-female gap on cell-phone registered in Pakistan: Pakistan has the highest male-female gap in terms of mobile phone set ownership among 15 countries, said a report issued by the GSMA, an organisation representing the interests of mobile operators worldwide, The report highlights that among all the 15 countries only Brazil had the negative male-female mobile phone ownership and mobile internet use, where 84 per cent adult males owned a mobile phone compared to 85pc female adult population. The "Mobile Gender Gap Report 2020 is based on the annual GSMA Intelligence Consumer Survey of 2019 belonging to 15 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2020 highlights that Pakistan has the highest gender gap of 38pc over mobile phone ownership as 81pc Pakistani males owned mobile sets compared to 50pc females. Similarly, the gap over mobile internet usage was 49p¢, with 37pc Pakistani males against 19pc females having access to mobile internet. The report highlights that despite progress, the gender gap in mobile internet usage remains substantial, with more than 300 million fewer women than men accessing the internet from a mobile device. The report finds that the mobile internet gender gap has narrowed and 54pc of women in LMICs now use mobile internet, up from 44pc in 2017. However, the gender gap in mobile ownership remains largely unchanged and 165 million fewer women than men own a mobile. The research found that mobile offers essential benefits to users, and the majority of male and female mobile owners reported that mobile ownership makes them feel safer, better informed and supports them in their day-to-day lives. Access to useful information In Pakistan, SSpc of male mobile owners and 53pc of female mobile owners reported that owning a mobile phone gives them access to useful information they would not otherwise be able to access easily. About S8pc of female mobile owners reported that owning a mobile phone helped them with their daily tasks. The smart phone ratio in Pakistan was 37pc and 20pc for males and females, while 90pc for men against 42pc for females buy their own devices. About 90pc males and 63pc females in India bought mobile sets of their choice. This gap was the lowest in Indonesia where 86pc females compared to 91pc males respondents bought their own mobile sets. (March 6) Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com in Amanullah Khan passes le had appeared in several late night shows including Khabarnaak on Geo News. Before his death, he was working with a private channel's program Khabarzar. ( ) Pakistan wins GSP-Plus exte : The Inter- national Trade (INTA) Committee of EU Parliament has extended the Generalised System of Preferences-Plus (GSP-Plus) status for Pakistan, enabling the country to continue to enjoy preferential duties on exports for the next two years. (| ) Coronavirus outbreak: Trade activities resume at Pakistan-Iran border after 14 days: Pakistan had closed its border with Iran at Taftan after more than 120 people were killed and more than 4,500 infected with the novel coronavirus in the neighbouring country. Trump signs off on $8.3bn in spending for coronavirus: Funding will provide government support for state and local public health systems, hospitals and medical centres. ( ) PAKISTANATAGLANCE _ 7% women have access to financial services: Currently, only 7% of women in Pakistan have access to financial inclusion services, out of the total female population of over 49%.The economist pinpointed that economic empowerment programmes for women are only 1% of the total economic empowerment programmes that are happening in Pakistan. “Between 1% and 7% we haven't started the game to lift our women,’( ’) Pakistan 11th largest arms importer in the world: Pakistan was ranked the eleventh largest arms importer in the world in a report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). According to the report, arch-rival India was ranked second on the list. According to new data released by the Sweden-based institute — which is dedicated to research on conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament — India was the second-largest arms importer in the world over the past five years “As in previous years, in 2019 India and Pakistan — which are nuclear-armed states — attacked each other using an array of imported major arms," said Siemon T. Wezeman, a senior researcher at Sipri. It noted that while both countries had a long- standing aim to produce their own major arms, they remained largely dependent on imports and had substantial outstanding orders and plans for imports of all types of major arms Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Monthly SM CSS Times H ‘April 2020 Sipri said skirmishes between India and Pakistan intensified in early 2019. Pakistan reportedly used combat aircraft imported from China, equipped with Russian engines, and combat aircraft from the United States supported by airborne early warning and control aircraft from Sweden. India reportedly used combat aircraft imported from France and Russia, guided bombs from Israel and artillery from Sweden, it noted The report said China — the fifth largest exporter of weapons in the world — accounted for Sipe of Pakistan's arm imports in 2010-14 and for 73pc in 2015-19. The overall decrease in Pakistan's arms imports was linked to the US decision to stop military aid to Pakistan. The US accounted for 30pc of Pakistan's arms imports in 2010-14 but for only 4.1pc in 2015-19. Pakistan continued to import arms from European states in 2015-19 and also strengthened its arms import relations with PAKISTAN AT A GLANCE Turkey with orders for 30 combat helicopters and four frigates in 2018. The institute said Pakistan was among the top three buyers of arms from top weapons exporters like Italy and Turkey, Pakistan had a 7.5pc share in arms imports from Italy in 2015-19, and 12pc share in Turkish arms over the same period. (March 9) Qatar bans passengers from Pakistan, 13 other countries amid coronavirus fears: The ban covers Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Nepal, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria and Thailand. (March 9) Colonel Mujeebur Rehman of Pakistan Army martyred in DI Khan operation against terrorists: Martyred officer survived by a widow, three sons and a daughter, two terrorists also killed in operation. (March 9) US has ‘no imminent plans’ for flight operations to Pakistan: According to a press release from the embassy, officials from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) — the US government agency that oversees airport and air carrier security — will visit Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comAccording to FPSC Revised, syllabi enirvesn ssc Wraita) ee ee baa ees Ua h iri Ce chan e c Ei canal \CcQs Wee ee ona iN ine: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Monthly SM CSS Times H ‘April 2020 Islamabad airport, view Pakistan's aviation security infrastructure, and meet with their Pakistani civil aviation counterparts this week. (March 10) Sindh govt to issue advisory on avoiding public gatherings after coronavirus cases rise to 13 :Health department suggests CM to shut down schools for longer, ban large gatherings like PSL; countrywide tally is 16. (March 10) Sharmeen Obaid launches international documentary series on gender justice :Released by YouTube Originals and Refinery29, it's the first time an all Pakistan crew has created a global series (March 10) Dollar climbs Rs3.65 in interbank after six months of calm : By midafternoon on Monday, the dollar had hit Rs156.58, representing gains of Rs2.33 or 1.51pc. (March 10) PAF F-16 jet crashes in Islamabad: Pakistan Air Force Wing Commander Noman Akram was martyred when his F-16 fighter jet crashed near Shakarparian in Islamabad on Wednesday morning. (March 11) Govt debt rises only 4% to Rs33tr by end- January: After growing at a double-digit pace in the first year of PTI government, the central government's debt increased nearly 4% to Rs33 trillion in seven months to the end of January, an addition of Rs1.2 trillion, due to a stable exchange rate and better non- tax revenues. The debt bulletin that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) released on Tuesday showed that the central government's debt stood at Rs33 trillion by the end of January 2020. In PAKISTAN AT A GLANCE 3 January last year, the central government's debt was Rs31.8 trillion, excluding debt and liabilities of the central bank and public sector enterprises. However, on a year-on-year basis, the central government's debt grew 22% or Rs5.9 trillion due to massive devaluation in the second half of last fiscal year and a steep shortfall in tax revenues. In the current fiscal year, the rupee largely remained stable against the greenback, except for the past two days when it shed over 2.1% of its value. The rupee was traded at Rs157.5 to a dollar ‘on Tuesday in the inter-bank market. If the trend continued in coming days, this may again adversely affect the central government's debt position that is highly sensitive to the exchange rate volatility. When Imran Khan became the prime minister, the central government's debt was close to Rs24.5 trillion and under his watch about Rs8.5 trillion has been added, excluding liabilities. The general government debt, including guarantees and borrowing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), rose to 88% of the gross domestic product (GDP) by the end of previous fiscal year, according to the IMF. In the current fiscal year too, the IMF has revised upwards its projection for public debt and liabilities to 84.7% of GDP or Rs37.6 trillion, showed a report. The central government debt comprises long and short-term domestic debt and external debt. Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Monthly SM CSS Times H ‘April 2020 The short-term domestic debt dropped from Rs5.5 trillion in June 2019 to Rs5.1 trillion in January this year due to the shift of borrowing to long-term instruments. There was a reduction of Rs454 billion or 8.2% in the short-term debt. The federal government's debt, acquired through the sale of Market Treasury Bills (MTBs) to commercial banks, decreased from Rs4.9 trillion to Rs4.7 trillion, a reduction of Rs169 billion or 3.4% in seven months. The external debt of the central government increased from Rs11 trillion in June to Rs11.2 trillion in January, an addition of Rs147 billion or 1.4%, The external debt of the central government did not increase at a rapid pace due to the booking of IMF liabilities and hot foreign money on books of the central bank The hot foreign money has also started gradually flowing out as foreign investors pulled out $552.5 million, mainly the UK investors. But there were still sizeable hot money inflows, standing at $3.4 billion. The term is used for foreign investment in the government's debt securities. It is called hot because the money flows towards the destination where the rate of return is high, like currently in Pakistan where investors are paid 13.3% interest on investment. (March 11) Pakistan's coronavirus tally rises to 21 after GB reports third case: Gigit Baltistan reported its third case of coronavirus on Thursday, taking the nation-wide tally to 21 a day after the region confirmed its second case. (March 12) Punjab govt declares medical emergency to contain coronavirus: The Punjab government on Thursday declared a medical emergency after 20 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the country this week. (March 12) Saudi Arabia widens travel ban to Pakistan, others over coronavirus: The decision comes after the country’s cases jumped from 21 to 45 overnight. (March 12) PAKISTAN AT A GLANCE 24 coronavirus fears: Karachi Kings Alex Hales, Multan Sultans Rilee Rossouw and James Vince, Peshawar Zalmi’s Tom Banton, Carlos Brathwaite, Liam Dawson, James Foster (coach), Lewis Gregory and Liam Livingstone and Quetta Gladiators Jason Roy and Tymal Mills have confirmed they are leaving (March 13) WHO official expresses satisfaction over coronavirus screening arrangements at Karachi airport: World Health Organization's (WHO) Country Representative in Pakistan, Dr Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala visited the Jinnah International Airport Karachi (IAP) and expressed satisfaction over arrangements made for the screening of people for coronavirus. (March 13) New coronavirus case confirmed in Pakistan's tally reaches 29 : Latest patient is 38 years old and had recent travel history of Saudi Arabia, says Sindh government spokesman. (March 14) Balochistan govt issues ban on gatherings of more than 10 people: Cinemas, educational gatherings and conferences are also banned with immediate effect for a period of one month (March 14) Founding PPP member Mubashir Hasan passes away: Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had founded the PPP at the house of Mubashir Hasan back in 1967. (March 14) Pakistan responds positively to Modi's offer of video conferencing on coronavirus: Indian PM has called for coordinated efforts by SAARC countries to deal with COVID-19 . (March 14) Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Monthly CSS Times HS. ‘April 2020 WHO appreciated efforts of Chief Minister Sindh: The World Health Organization on Sunday appreciated efforts of Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah and measures taken by his government in containing the global epidemic coronavirus.. The WHO spokesman said that the Chief Minister is working day and night to curb the spread of the coronavirus on which SIndh is proud of its dynamic Chief Minister. The spokesman added that Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar should follow the footsteps of the CM Sindh to stopping the virus in his province. It is pertinent to mention here that it was the Sindh government who took decision to close educational institutes in the province back in February for the first time in the country and later other provinces also followed the measure. (March 17) 10 new COVID-19 cases push Pakistan's tally to 194: Provincial authorities on Tuesday confirmed 10 new cases of the novel coronavirus in Sindh and Punjab, pushing the country’s tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 194. (March 17) PAKISTAN AT A GLANCE 25 Sindh education minister shoots down rumour of promotion without exams :Says fresh academic year will begin from June 1. (March 17) Justice Naqvi takes oath as SC judge : Justice Naqvi's appointment will fill the position of SC judge that fell vacant after the retirement of former CJ Khosa. (March 17) Kartarpur corridor project gets ex post facto approval : Modified cost at Rs16.5bn approved on an engineering, procurement and construction basis for phase-1. (March 17) Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comDesigned for CSS, PMS, PCS IR TuaTOretL TMT utelttsyo4 VA Buy online: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Monthly HSM CSS Times ‘April 2020 WHO Praises CM Sindh and His Efforts On Containing Coronavirus: The WHO spokesman said that the Chief Minister is working day and night to curb the spread of the coronavirus on which Sindh is proud of its dynamic Chief Minister. (March 17) We are heading towards a lockdown; Bilawal: PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Thursday "we are heading towards a lock-down", a day after the country reported its first two deaths from coronavirus. (March 19) ‘Alarming situation going to turn worse’: GDP growth target revised downwards to 2.6%:The government envisages that the GDP growth would touch 3% in Financial Year (FY) 2020-21, 4.5% in F¥ 2021-22 and 5.1% in FY 2022-23, the strategy paper outlined. (March 19) Covid-19: Sindh govt to distribute ration bags to needy: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Thursday ordered provincial authorities to distribute ration bags to the needy as the province takes measures to. battle the coronavirus pandemic. (March 19) ADB offers Pakistan $350m to fight virus: The Asian Development Bank has offered $350 million to fight the coronavirus pandemic, as a three years old global assessment revealed that Pakistan's public Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | PAKISTAN AT A GLANCE health system is very poor in detecting and responding to the outbreak of any major infectious disease. (March 19) Wagah Border closed for two weeks over coronavirus: The decision has been taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus which has infected more than 335 people in Pakistan. (March 19) Coronavirus updates, March 20: Pakistan reported its third death from the coronavirus as the nationwide tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 451 on Friday, after new cases were reported in Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. Globally, 176 countries have been affected, more than 10,000 people have died and more than 245,000 infected by the disease as it spreads rapidly to new territories. (March 20) Sindh govt to establish coronavirus field hospital at Karachi Expo Centre: The chief minister directed the Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shallwani to start purchasing beds and other medical equipments needed to establish a field hospital at the expo centre after the federal government approved the plan. (March 20) Hot money outflows climb to $1.3bn: Foreign investors have pulled out more than $1.38 billion from the country's capital markets in the ongoing month with hot money outflows amounting to $1.28bn. (March 20) Lt Gen (Retd) Gilani resigns from FCCL chairmanship: Lt Gen (Retd) Gilani has resigned from his position as Director and Chairman of FCCL board with effect from 20" March 2020. (March 20) 21 For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Monthly SM CSS Times H April 2020 US announces $1mn aid for Pakistan to responding to coronavirus in Pakistan with initial $1 million under USAID programme," Alice Wells tweeted. (March 20) Coronavirus updates, March 21: Pakistan's tally rises to 531 after Sindh and Balochistan report new cases; PIA suspends international flights for a week(March 21) IRSA releases 60,000 cusecs water: The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) Saturday released 60,000 cusecs water from various rim stations with inflow of 74,600 cusecs. (March 21) Coronavirus Pandemic: CM Murad Ali Shah Announces Province-Wide Lock-Down In Sindh: After 12am tonight [Sunday night), Sindh will undergo a lock-down. People will not be allowed to venture out of their homes unnecessarily (March 22) PM Says Pakistan Does Not Have Capacity To Opt For Lockdown: PM says it is better to quarantine ourselves instead of shutting the entire country. (March 22) Coronavirus Outbreak: K-P Govt Imposes Complete Ban On Public Transport In Province: The decision has been taken in the best interest of the people and as part of precautionary measures against the coronavirus. (March 22) Nation-wide tally of confirmed coronavirus cases rises to 892: : The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the country rose to 892 after Punjab and Sindh reported new cases in the province. (March 24) Coronavirus pandemic: US diplomat Alice Wells condoles death of Pakistani doctor: Senior US diplomat Alice Wells on Tuesday expressed her condolences at the passing of Dr Osama Riaz, who lost his life while treating coronavirus patients. (March 24) Death toll soars to six as tally rises to 892 across country: The total number of positive cases has risen to 892 across the country. According to official figures, 99 new cases were reported during the last 24 hours and three persons died. (March 24) Coronavirus updates, March 25: The PAKISTAN AT A GLANCE 8 number of confirmed cases in Pakistan surged to 1,000. (March 25) Pakistan constitutes Scientific Task Force to develop COVID-19 vaccine: The committee of Scientific Task Force on COVID- 19 will be lead by renowned scientist Prof Atta ur Rahman. (March 25) Pakistan seeks clarity about Saarc's Covid- 19 fund: Pakistan wants the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation's Covid- 19 Emergency Fund to be administered by the bloc’s secretary general and is seeking clarity about its utilisation. (March 25) Pakistan's confirmed coronavirus cases jump to 1,118: The country has also reported eight deaths from the virus (March 26) Egypt's Al-Azhar issues fatwa permitting Juma prayers’ suspension in Pakistan : President Arif Alvi had asked for guidance on the matter. (March 26) CM Sindh receives 500,000 face mask from Chinese authorities:The China has donated 500,000 face masks, including 50,000 N-95 to Sindh government.Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah under the banner of Pakistan- China national flags performed taking over ceremony of the consignment. (March 26) Sindh CM approves purchase of new coronavirus testing machines, PPE: The new medical equipment ordered includes 290 ventilators, 3.2 million Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), 100,000 testing kits, 100 Rapid Kit Antigen Test Machines (RKATM), 50 RT Lamp Testing Machines and 10,000 RT Lamp Kits, and 29 portable X-ray machines. With the addition of these tools, Sindh's testing capacity will be improved. (March 26) Coronavirus updates, March 27: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 1,286 on Friday. (March 27) Pakistan's internet usage rises by 15% as COVID-19 confines people to homes: The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) said "a net increase of around 15% in internet usage was witnessed since last week" — based on data from telecom operators. (March 27) Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Monthly SM CSS Times H April 2020 US Dollar hits new highs against Pak Rupee: The US Dollar jumped by Rs1.87 against the Rupee at the interbank and is being traded at 168 rupees. (March 27) Coronavirus updates, March 28: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 1,415 on Saturday after more people tested positive in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Islamabad Capital Territory and Balochistan. (March 28) Chinese medical team arrives in Pakistan to lend expertise against coronavirus:They will remain in Pakistan for two weeks. China has also sent medical supplies. (March 28) PM Imran has not tested positive for coronavirus: The PTI senator was responding to a news report by Arise TV which had claimed that Prime Minister Imran Khan had tested positive for coronavirus (March 28) US places Pakistan on high-priority list for Covid-19 assistance: US has set up a $274 million fund to help the international community in combating the outbreak of this deadly disease. (March 28) 3 more recover from Covid-19 in Pakistan sThree more people have recovered from Covid-19 — according to the government's official portal — increasing the total to 28. So far, Pakistan has reported 1,542 cases of the coronavirus, which has claimed the lives of 12 people. (March 29) 2 Covid-19 deaths reported in Sindh: Sindh Health and Population Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho confirmed that two more citizens have died from the novel coronavirus. As of now, three deaths have been reported in the province. (March 29) PAKISTAN AT A GLANCE 29 Ex-squash champion Azam Khan succumbs to coronavirus in UK : Khan had tested positive for Covid-19 last week. (March 29) Coronavirus updates, March 30: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 1,670 on Monday after new cases were reported across the country. (March 30) Pakistan Covid-19 fatalities rise after 5 more deaths confirmed today; 2 each in Sindh and Pindi, 1 in GB : Schools in KP to remain closed till May 31; Punjab reports another 45 cases, taking provincial tally to 638. (March 30) Pakistan concerned over curbs in held Kashmir despite virus : World urged to ask India to allow supply of medical equipment. (March 30) Sindh govt should have ‘full plan’ if lockdown prolongs: Bilawal : PPP chairman says it is government's foremost responsibility to ensure that not a single citizen remains hungry. (March 30) ADB approves $2m for Pakistan to combat COVID-19: Country director says ADB recognizes the extraordinary burden of this pandemic on Pakistan The grant, financed from the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund, will help fund the immediate purchase of emergency medical supplies, personal protective equipment, diagnostic and laboratory supplies, and other equipment. It supplements an initial $500,000 approved by ‘ADB on 20 March which is already being deployed to support Pakistan's procurement of emergency supplies through UNICEF. Taken together, this $2.5 million in approved funding represents ADB's immediate response for Pakistan, with further support to. follow. It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan has arranged about $4 billion additional financial assistance from multilateral lending and aid agencies to shore up foreign exchange reserves and budgetary support for fighting adverse impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. In $4 billion, the Asian Development Bank would provide $350 million immediately and Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comDesigned for CSS, PMS, PCS Objective Type Questions (MCQs) with Explanatory Notes — aa Pleats a) ee tlle Buy online: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Monthly HSM.CSS Times PAKISTAN AT A GLANCE at a request had been made for another $900m disbursement by June this year to meet emerging needs. (March 30) Coronavirus updates, March 31: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 1,872 on Tuesday after new cases were reported in the country. (March 31) Federal cabinet meets to approve coronavirus relief package, discuss economy: The meeting will also deliberate upon the steps taken by the government to languages, including Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, check the coronavirus epidemic as the Balochi and Kashmiri. The technology number of confirmed cases of the virus rise aNswers questions about novel coronavirus, exponentially. (March 31) its symptoms, ways to protect yourself, risk mponentialy.( ) assessment, educative videos made by the health ministry and shares information about nearest labs for the Covid-19 test. The helpline also provides daily figures of confirmed cases in Pakistan. The figures, however, are quoted from the National Institute of Health's 10am update and do not tally with the latest number of confirmed cases across the country. (March 31) Punjab govt approves malaria drug for critically-ill Covid-19 patients : The govt Jang Group's publisher Mir Javedur has procured 50,000 tablets of chloroquine Rehman passes away in Karachi: Mir Javed —_ and hydroxychloroquine. The government has ur Rahman was being treated at a private procured 50,000 tablets of the two said hospital in Karachi and had been in critical medicines.Mayo Hospital had earlier started condition for the past few days (March 31) using the drug on critical patients of Covid- Govt launches virus information service on _19. China had also treated its critical patients WhatsApp : Facebook starts news hub for suffering from the virus and the US has also Pakistan. WhatsApp users across the country _ allowed its use. The decision was taken by the can reach out to the health ministry on government after the Food and Drug +923001111166 for credible information, Authority (FDA) of the US granted approval to awareness resources, latest statistics, or using hydroxychloroquine, which is originally finding the nearest lab for testing. To contact —_ used to treat malaria. (March 31) the helpline, citizens should save the WhatsApp number in their phone, and then start a chat by typing "Hi" and sending it to the number, which will prompt them to either type in a query or choose from a list of frequently asked questions. Depending on the question, users will receive verified information in the form of a video, or text or link. The WhatsApp helpline provides information in Urdu and six regional Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comeae are Ruri Pade aa HOST el ar eco pertain Nahe aaa Ts a Mar dca (cr a mi re Mehmood Parcs Buy online: www.h Ay it emerMonthly HSM CSS Times ‘April 2020 WORLD CURRENT AFFAIRS Turkey launches Operation Spring Shield in Syria's Idlib: Turkey has launched Operation Spring Shield in Idib, the country's defence minister, Hulusi Akar, announced, just days after airstrikes killed 33 of its troops in the Syrian city. (March 1) Operation Spring Shield Idiib, one of the four de-escalation areas designated at the 4th Astana Meeting held on 4-5 May 2017, remains as the last one after the regime took control of Eastern Ghouta, Northern Homs and Daraa-Qunaitra in 2018. President Erdogan and the President of the RF met in Sochi on 17 September 2018 to discuss the situation in the Idlib De- Escalation Area. As a result, the yee tty Battin = Spring os 7s Stet ae x UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com WORLD AT A GLANCE BB “Memorandum on Stabilization of the Situation in the Idlib De-escalation Area" was signed between two countries. Iran, the third Astana guarantor, later announced its support to the Memorandum. Maintaining compliance with the Memorandum is critical to prevent escalation on the ground, a wave of irregular migration and humanitarian crisis as well as for the sustainability of the political process. Regime elements have increased their attacks on Idlib since May 2019 under the pretext of combating terrorism. Turkey emphasizes to the regime's guarantors its deep concern regarding the regime's targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as the risks those pose to Turkey. Turkey's expectation is the establishment of calm on the ground by fully implementing all agreements on Idlib, first and foremost the Memorandum of 17 September 2018. Turkey bet on cooperation with Russia in Syria. It lost this bet. The situation in Idlib escalated after the February 27 terrorists from the Khayyat Tahrir al-Sham group launched a Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comMonthly HSM CSS Times April 2020 large-scale attack on the positions of the Syrian army. Some 33 Turkish soldiers were killed as a result of an airstrike in the Syrian province of Idlib, Rahmi Dogan, the governor of the Hatay province, located close to the Turkish border with Syria, said 27 February 2020. The Associated Press called the Thursday attack the largest death toll for Turkey in a single day since it first intervened in Syria in 2016," and "a major escalation in a conflict between Turkish and Russia-backed Syrian forces." The BBC reports “The air strike came after the opposition retook the key town of Saraqeb, north-east of Balyun." On 28 Febuary 2020, Turkey began Operation Spring Shield against regime. Operation Spring Shield is already yielding results according to Defence Minister Hulusi Akar. He said since the operation began on February 28, 1 UAV, 8 helicopters, 103 tanks, 72 guns/howitzers/CNRA, 3 air defence systems and 2,212 regime soldiers have already been eliminated. "We have no intention to confront Russia but we want to stop the Assad regime's massacre of civilians. Our target is only regime forces and elements attacking our troops," he added. Al-Hawwash, where these air strikes occurred on 27 February 2020, is only 40km away from Russia's Khmeimim Airbase. There isn't much buffer, and the proximity meant Russia would feel more threatened by Turkish UAVs overhead. On 01 March 2020 Turkish drone strikes in Syria's Idlib province killed 19 regime soldiers, a war monitor reported, as tensions soared between Damascus and Ankara. The 19 died UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com WORLD AT A GLANCE 34 Zawiya area and a base near Maaret al Numan city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The report came hours after Turkey shot down two Syrian regime warplanes, in an escalating offensive against the Damascus regime in the country's northwestern province of Idlib. This operation took the regime planners and their allies by surprise. They probably estimated that the Turkish leadership would think twice, shy away from further human losses, and potentially opt for disengagement from Idlib. However, the Turkish military response destroyed scores of Syrian military assets, including at least three fighter jets (comprising two Sukhoi SU-34 and one L-39), five helicopters, 100 tanks, howitzers, and radar installations, while neutralising hundreds of troops. It dealt a serious blow to the military capabilities of the Syrian army and its surrogates. Pyongyang test-fires two ‘short-range ballistic missiles’: South Korea's military claimed on Monday that Pyongyang fired two short-range ballistic missiles, the launch comes weeks after North Korea threatened to demonstrate a "new strategic weapon” and its deadline for Washington to offer sanctions relief expired. The launch originated from North Pyongan province, the agency said, citing the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff. Earlier this month, the nuclear-armed North carried out similar launches on two occasions - Pyongyang said they had conducted "long- range artillery" drills, but the Japanese coast guard said that the project hich in strikes on a military, convoy in the Jabal al Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com WORLD AT A GLANCE 3b Monthly HSM CSS Times appeared to be ballistic missiles - landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone waters. North Korea announced it will hold in April a session of the Supreme People’s Assembly, its rubber-stamp legislature, in Pyongyang, which analysts had said would involve gathering almost 700 of the country’s leaders in one spot as the coronavirus spreads worldwide. The latest launch comes as a prolonged hiatus in disarmament talks with the United States drags on. The North has been continuing to refine its weapons capabilities, analysts say, more than a year after a summit between its leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump broke down in Hanoi Pyongyang is under multiple sets of United Nations, US and other sanctions over its weapons programmes, The North carried out a series of weapons trials late last year, the last of them in November, which it often described as multiple launch rocket systems, although others called them ballistic missiles. It also conducted static engine tests, most recently in December. Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | Pyongyang set Washington a unilateral deadline of the end of 2019 to offer fresh concessions on sanctions relief, and at a party meeting in late December, Kim declared the North no longer considered itself bound by its moratoriums on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests. Heightened tensions in 2017 were followed by two years of nuclear diplomacy between Pyongyang and Washington, including three meetings between Kim and Trump, but little tangible progress was made. (March 2) Top brands like Apple, BMW, Gap, Nike using forced Uighur labour in China: China is transferring tens of thousands of Uighur detainees out of internment camps and into factories that supply some of the world's leading brands. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute said the Chinese government has transferred 80,000 or more Uighurs out of camps in Xinjiang and into factories across the country. An estimated one million mostly Muslim ethnic minorities have been held in internment camps in Xinjiang. After initially denying their existence, Beijing cast the facilities as "vocational education centres" where "students" learn Mandarin and job skills in an effort to steer them away from religious extremism, terrorism and separatism. Rights groups and witnesses accuse China of forcibly trying to draw Uighurs away from. their Islamic customs and integrate them into the majority Han culture. Officially, the Chinese government says it is transferring “surplus” Xinjiang labour to other regions in For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Monthly HSM CSS Times April 2020 the name of poverty alleviation According to official news agency Xinhua, more than 25,000 workers from Xinjiang were slated to be transferred “inland” in 2019 China’s foreign ministry and the Xinjiang government did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the report. (March 2) UN rights chief approaches Indian Supreme Court against CAA: United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has approached the Indian Supreme Court to challenge the Citizenship Amendment Act or more commonly called the CAA UN Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHRC) Michelle Bachelet informed India that her office has filed an application urging the Supreme Court to make the UN body a third party in a petition filed by a former civil servant against the law. The CAA makes it easier for religious minorities from three neighbouring Muslim- majority countries who came to India before 2015 to get Indian citizenship - but not if they are Muslim. Coupled with the ongoing National Population Register (NPR) and a proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), India's Muslims, who form nearly 15 percent of the country’s 1.3 billion population, fear the steps are aimed at marginalising them. The NPR is a list of residents in the country — both citizens and non-citizens — while NRC is the list of citizens. Though the government has denied any links between NPR and the contentious NRC, WORLD AT A GLANCE 36 critics fear the data collected for the NPR may be laying the foundation for deciding citizenship. Opposition leaders as well as some allies of the ruling party have expressed apprehension after the government introduced new clauses in the NPR exercise that requires furnishing of new documents such as date and place of birth of parents. Critics say millions of Indians will find it difficult to furnish date of birth certificates. Nearly a dozen Indian states have said they won't implement NPR in the current form, demanding that it should be implemented in its 2010 form. UN application after Delhi violence: Since the passage of the CAA on December 11, hundreds of thousands of people across India, led mainly by Muslims and students, have been protesting against the legislation. So far, the violence against the law has killed more than 75 people across the country. In the worst communal violence in decades in the national capital, at least 47 people were killed and more than a 100 wounded as groups chanting Hindu nationalist slogans torched mosques and dozens of Muslim houses, Many Muslims abandoned their homes in the areas hit by the violence and took refuge in shelters set up by voluntary relief workers or moved to their relatives’ houses. The violence took place after a series of hate speeches were made by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, some of whom warned Muslims to wind down peaceful sit- ins or face consequences. Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hempublishers.com“Practice Makes A Man Perfect” 2020 HSM CSS Compulsory Subjects EO Solved Papers 2016-19 BeSLEESMEt2m Preparation siadeg panjos of pe ) always to crack the CSS hind exam and not just gain knowledge. Here is where CeepnERR SORE Solved Papers the previous year papers an important role. They authentic source to know the pattern of questions asked in both the BH) Css exam, On analyzing these papers, you get an idea about w different topics number of static a dynamic questions being asked over the years 20162019 So, solve more and more Previous Year CSS Papers for better understanding of Buy Online ssn" : Think CSS- Think HSMUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Monthly HSM CSS Times April 2020 Videos shared on social media showed Delhi Police officials forcing injured Muslim men to sing the national anthem, and in some cases, smashing CCTV cameras in violence-affected areas. Unfazed by criticism, India’s Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month said his government stands by its CAA decision "despite all the pressure’. z oF sd Iran slams killing of Muslims in India: Iran condemned violence against Muslims in India, calling it "senseless thuggery’. Trump, Mullah Baradar discuss Afghan peace deal over telephone: Afghan Taliban's chief negotiator Mullah Baradar Akhund held a phone call with US President Donald Trump a few days after the two sides signed a troop withdrawal agreement in Doha World Bank to help countries combat coronavirus outbreak : World Bank has WORLD AT A GLANCE a) unveiled a 12 billion dollar aid package that will provide fast-track funds to help countries combat the coronavirus outbreak. World Bank President David Malpass told reporters that the goal is to provide fast, effective action that responds to country needs. The funds, some of which are targeted to the world’s poorest nations, can be used for medical equipment or health services and will include expertise and policy advice. Malpass said the money will go to countries that request help. The bank has been in contact with many member nations, but he did not specify which are likely to be the first to receive aid. Khalilzad speaks to Taliban chief as Pentagon downplays new attacks by insurgents : US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad on Thursday said he met with the insurgent group's political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and his team for a “candid discussion" on next steps. Coronavirus is changing the way Muslims worship across the world: People around the world are avoiding crowded places, cutting back on inessential travel and taking precautionary measures such as working from home to avoid catching the new coronavirus. Several countries have also urged their citizens to change the way they greet one another, or celebrate certain festivities. Religious authorities, meanwhile, are advising people how to pray or mark holy days without risking spreading COVID-19 further. The virus, which originated in China, has so far infected more than 93,000 people globally and killed more than 3,000. Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Monthly HSM CSS Times ‘April 2020 Here are some examples of the new measures and advice from Muslim countries, organisations and Islamic sites for worshippers and pilgrims. Saudi bans ‘Umrah’ pilgrimage, stops foreigners visiting Islam's holiest sites The kingdom on Wednesday banned “Umrah” for residents and citizens, according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Umrah, which can be completed in a few hours, is a pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time of year, unlike the much more intensive and time-consuming Hajj - one of the five pillars of Islam performed during a few specific days each year. The move was in line with the "precautionary measures taken by Saudi authorities to prevent the spread of the virus” in the Gulf state, SPA said. Last week, Saudi Arabia said it was preventing foreigners from reaching the holy city of Mecca and the Kaaba, the building at the centre of the Great Mosque. It also said travel was suspended to Prophet Muhammad's mosque in Medina. This year's Hajj, which usually brings about three million people to Mecca, is expected to take place from July 28 to August 2. Authorities have not yet announced any restrictive measures; more than 60,000 people have applied to participate in this year's event already, Iran halts Friday prayers in major cities Iran is struggling to contain the virus, with a rising number of cases and deaths each day. ‘As of Wednesday evening, those totalled 2,922 and 92, respectively. Friday prayers in all provincial capitals have been halted. WORLD AT A GLANCE 39 ‘This disease is a widespread one," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told his cabinet, according to a transcript. "It encompasses almost all of our provinces and is, in a sense, a global disease that many countries in the world have become infected with, and we must work together to tackle this problem as quickly as possible." Singapore Muslim leader advises worshippers to use own prayer mats, avoid shaking hands According to The Straits Times, Masagos Zulkifli, a minister in charge of Muslim affairs in Singapore, has advised Muslims to bring their own prayer mats to mosques and refrain from shaking hands with one another. “In these circumstances, we will not be shaking hands. But if you do, wash your hands, and then make sure you don't touch your face. This is just a precaution for many of us who always forget that,” he said. 9 aa 5e08 While it remains logistically difficult to take worshippers’ temperatures at mosques, some of which attract thousands of people, Masagos said Muslims should stay at home if they showed any coronavirus symptoms. There have been more than 100 cases of coronavirus in Singapore, and the majority of patients have recovered. UK group calls on Muslim institutions to follow hygiene advice The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), one of the United Kingdom's largest Muslim umbrella organisations, has called on mosques and Islamic schools to "keep your Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comMonthly HSM CSS Times congregations safe", by following the government's advice. “Much of this advice, and an emphasis on cleanliness and hygiene is in line with Islamic tradition. Abu Malik Al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) said: ‘Purity is half of iman (faith)'," MCB sai on its website, referring to a saying of the Prophet Muhammad. It advised madrassas, or schools, to encourage handwashing and said mosques should have enough soap and hand sanitisers available, especially near ablution areas. The number of people infected in the UK has risen to 87. Prayers banned at mosques in Tajikistan Tajikistan, which so far has no reported cases, has suspended Friday prayers. The Muslim-majority country of nine million has shut its border to neighbours China and Afghanistan as well as South Korea, Iran and Italy. It is also cancelling celebrations for Nowruz or the Persian New Year, which is celebrated from March 21 to 25. Sindh Provincial Govt asks Citizens to pray at home The Sindh government banned prayers and other religious gatherings in mosques, including Karachi, in another attempt to stem the coronavirus. The ban that begins Friday, will go through April 5 and will apply to typical Friday prayers across the province which is home to 50 million people which has been worst hit by the pandemic, provincial information minister Nasir Hussain Shah told reporters. (March 5) ‘This is not a drill': WHO urges world to take coronavirus more seriously ; “Countries have been planning far scenario: like this for decades. Now is the time to act, says WHO chief, (March 6) Adviser to Iran's Javad Zarif passes away after contracting coronavirus: Hossein Sheikholeslam an adviser to Iran's foreign minister who took part in the 1979 US embassy hostage crisis has died from coronavirus. (March 6) Monthly HSM CSS Times (E Magazine) | April 2020 | UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com WORLD AT A GLANCE 40 service in Sindh this month; A Chinese tech giant is set to launch wide-ranging operations in Karachi, including delivery and ride-hailing cab services, with plans to invest $600 million in the country. This time round, a Chinese tech giant is set to launch wide- ranging operations in Karachi, including delivery and ride-hailing cab services, with plans to invest $600 million in the country, Officials and market sources said, _— oa These sources said that, after first setting foot in Islamabad, the Chinese firm Timesaco is now set to expand its Tatu Mobility operations to Karachi, with initial plans to launch two services this month, thereby adding to several existing ride-hailing services being operated by some half a dozen technology companies across the city. The company, however, claims that its services will be different from the already existing operators on a variety of fronts. (March 6) Afghan political leader Abdullah Abdullah escapes attack on Kabul ceremony ; Gunmen attacked a ceremony in the Afghan capital Kabul on Friday where a top Afghan political leader, Abdullah Abdullah, was present but escaped unharmed. (March 6) For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com