ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has not yet approved the Russian Sputnik V vaccine for emergency use in the country, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) told Arab News on Sunday, after local media reported it had been green lighted by the government for ‘emergency use.’
“Emergency use of Russian vaccine is not allowed yet,” Akhtar Abbas, spokesperson for DRAP said.
“The matter is pending with registration and policy boards. Sputnik-V vaccine has been registered by the DRAP and registration is half the procedure,” he said, but added that the company that had applied for the vaccine still required clearance for approval.
“Once (clearance) is done, DRAP will give approval for the third vaccine.”
Last week, Pakistan Drug Regulatory Authority (DRAP) authorized the Oxford University-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use in the country, followed a few days later by the Chinese state-owned firm Sinopharm’s Covid-19 vaccine, also for emergency use.
“The emergency use authorization has not been given yet (for Sputnik V). They have applied for it. Their data was reviewed by the expert committee and they asked for more information. It’s in process,” Pakistan’s Director General for health, Dr. Rana Mohammed Safdar, told Arab News on Sunday.
Pakistan has reported 48 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours and an increase of almost 1,600 cases, bringing the total case count in the country to 532,412, according to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) which overseas the national coronavirus response.
Drug regulator says Russian Sputnik V vaccine not yet approved in Pakistan
https://arab.news/2w8yg
Drug regulator says Russian Sputnik V vaccine not yet approved in Pakistan
- Data was reviewed by the expert committee and more information is required before approval: DG health
- So far, Pakistan has approved only two vaccines for emergency use
Pakistan showcases smart solutions, tech innovation at ITCN Asia expo in Lahore
- ITCN Asia is Pakistan’s largest information and communications technology exhibition and conference
- It highlights developments in cybersecurity, cloud computing, AI, e-commerce and digital governance
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is showcasing its growing technology sector at the 27th edition of ITCN Asia at the Expo Center in Lahore, bringing together innovators, startups, investors and policymakers for one of the country’s premier technology exhibitions, Pakistani state media reported on Saturday.
ITCN Asia is Pakistan’s largest information and communications technology exhibition and conference, which is regularly held to highlight developments in fields including cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, e-commerce and digital governance.
The three-day event, which began on Saturday, focuses on networking, knowledge-sharing and lead generation, with conferences facilitating a learning environment for tech enthusiasts and professionals.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja called ITCN Asia a “distinguished” global event showcasing tech advancement in Pakistan, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“Pakistan’s use of cybersecurity has put the country on the forefront of technological advancement and strengthened global trust in our technology sector,” she was quoted as saying.
The exhibition features more than 850 booths, over 3,000 global brands, international delegates, investors and government leaders, according to the organizers.
Pakistan’s Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) is showcasing electric vehicle and electronics assembly by global brands, including BYD, Samsung and Google at the exhibition.
The STZA has set up a national pavilion at the exhibition with facilitation from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), according to a statement issued by the cabinet division.
The move is part of Pakistan’s efforts to boost foreign investment in its technology sector as the country’s startups and software houses have attracted global interest in recent years. Pakistan’s IT exports rose by $180 million to $1,057 million during
July-September last year, compared with $877 million in the same period of 2024, according to the information technology ministry.
Pakistan’s technology sector is also advancing in AI and cloud computing, marked by the launch of Pakistan’s first sovereign AI cloud in November, designed to keep sensitive data domestic and support growth in the broader digital ecosystem.
