Two Radio Pakistan staffers die of Covid-19.

ISLAMABAD -- Two Radio Pakistan staffers died from Covid-19 on Thursday.

The deceased include a senior broadcast engineer and an Urdu newscaster. They were both associated with Radio Pakistan for 20 years.

According to an official statement issued by the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), Senior Broadcast Engineer Mohammad Ashfaq, 48, was a regular Radio Pakistan employee who was known for his competence and dedication.

Huma Zafar, 52, was an Urdu newscaster who had been reading national bulletins for the last 20 years. She had recently completed a PhD in Psychology from abroad. For her performance and qualification, she was awarded the 'outstanding' category in 2017.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz, Information Secretary Akber Hussain Durrani, Radio Pakistan Director General Ambreen Jan and all the directors and staff members of the national broadcaster have expressed their condolences regarding the deaths of both staffers and sympathised with their families.

The PBC director general also held a meeting at PBC Headquarters, where the concerned officers were directed to ensure strict compliance with standard operating procedures to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

She said all the preventive and precautionary measures are being taken to protect PBC staff.

Radio Pakistan Deputy Controller News Sajjad Parvez told Dawn that Ashfaq was from Bahawalpur but had been working in Islamabad for several years.

He said Ashfaq tested positive for Covid-19 10 days ago and had isolated himself. He already...