ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will soon start production of the antiviral drug remdesivir, which has shown promise in treating the novel coronavirus, the country’s top health official and a pharmaceutical company’s chief executive announced on Friday.
Production should start “within weeks,” said Osman Khalid Waheed, the chief executive of Ferozsons Laboratories Ltd, which will produce the drug. He spoke at a news conference alongside Pakistan’s de facto health minister, Zafar Mirza.
“Pakistan will be among the first three countries in the world where it will not only be produced but will also be exported to the whole world,” Mirza said. It will be exported to 127 countries, he said.
Remdesivir, a drug developed by Gilead Sciences, has grabbed attention as one of the most promising treatments for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, which has killed more than 300,000 people.
To expand its access, Gilead said it signed non-exclusive licensing pacts with five generic drugmakers based in India and Pakistan, allowing them to make and sell remdesivir for 127 countries.
“It is a commitment by us and Gilead that this medicine could be produced at minimum cost and make it most accessible,” Waheed said.
Pakistan has recorded 37,218 COVID-19 cases and 803 deaths. Lockdowns to curb the disease’s spread are forecast to will cause the
country’s economy to shrink 1 percent to 1.5 percent in 2020.
Despite a rising rate of infection, Pakistan began lifting those lockdowns last week, primarily to avert an economic meltdown.
Pakistan to begin producing COVID-19 drug remdesivir
https://arab.news/jxgps
Pakistan to begin producing COVID-19 drug remdesivir
- Production should start within weeks, says Ferozsons Laboratories
- Remdesivir has grabbed global attention as one of the most promising treatments for COVID-19
Pakistan’s PIA partners with UK, Canadian rail services to facilitate passengers
- The development comes weeks after a Pakistani consortium, led by Arif Habib Group, clinched a 75 percent stake in PIA
- The move will offer seamless onward travel to PIA passengers to eight cities in Canada and over 50 in the UK, airline says
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has partnered with rail service providers in the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada to offer seamless onward travel for its passengers, the recently privatized airline said on Tuesday, adding the move is aimed at improving convenience for its customers.
The move comes weeks after a Pakistani consortium, led by Arif Habib Group, clinched a 75 percent stake in PIA for Rs135 billion ($482 million) after a competitive bidding process, in a deal that valued the airline at Rs180 billion ($643 million).
The sale marked Pakistan’s most ambitious effort in decades to reform the debt-ridden airline that had accumulated over Rs784 billion ($2.8 billion) in losses. The government said it aimed to end decades of state-funded bailouts and support the airline’s revival.
The airline’s move to provide both air and train travel facility to passengers on a single ticket is aimed at attracting more customers by providing them improved facilities at their doorstep, according to the Pakistani carrier.
“The air-to-rail partnership is a major step toward building PIA’s network on digital and modern lines,” the airline said. “This facility will save passengers’ time.”
Passengers arriving in Toronto on PIA flights will be able to continue their journey to eight major cities in Canada through PIA’s partner rail service, according to the airline.
Passengers traveling to the UK cities of Manchester and London via PIA will be able to access more than 50 cities through rail service.
“PIA passengers can get tickets to their destination from all PIA booking offices and registered travel agents,” it said. “Tickets can also be booked via PIA’s official website and PIA’s mobile application.”
