Headlines 9am: Oil companies demand govt raise petrol prices

Here are SAMAA TV’s headlines from the 9am bulletin.

• Oil marketing companies have blamed the government for the petrol shortage in the country. In reply to a show cause notice, the companies demanded an increase in the cost of petroleum products because of a ban on its import.
• The number of coronavirus cases are nearing is the 90,000-mark in Pakistan after 4,896 cases were reported in the last 24 hours. More than 30,000 Pakistanis have recovered from the virus so far. Pakistan now has more known COVID-19 cases than China.
• MQM-Pakistan leader Faisal Sabzwari, his first wife, sons and mother have contracted the coronavirus. Speaking on SAMAA TV’s programme Nadeem Malik Live, the politician said he hasn’t been able to find a bed at any private hospital in Karachi. His mother, who’s having trouble breathing, is being provided oxygen at home.
• The Punjab government has reopened public parks. People heading to the park have been directed to wear face masks and take precautionary measures against the coronavirus.
• Senate, National Assembly and Punjab Assembly sessions will be held with SOPs in place. The lower house will continue to meet every day till August 12 to make up for the sessions that were missed since the coronavirus lockdown was imposed. On August 12, the budget for the ongoing fiscal year will be presented.
• Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited the National Locust Control Centre in Rawalpindi. He affirmed the Pakistan Army’s support in getting rid of the locusts that have destroyed crops in several districts of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan.
• Two brothers, two-year-old Rizwan and six-year-old Irfan, drowned in a stream near Okara’s Pull Jorian. Rescue teams have retrieved their bodies. They had fallen into the stream while playing near their home.
• The US protests against George Floyd’s murder in the police custody have entered their 10th consecutive day. Ten protesters have died so far. Birmingham also took to the streets to condemn Floyd’s killing.

from SAMAA https://ift.tt/2BBARbx