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
Daesh media chief for ISKP in Pakistan’s custody — state media
- Sultan Aziz Azzam, a senior member of ISKP, used to head its Al Azzam media outlet, says state media
- Azzam was arrested in May while attempting to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan, says state media
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities have taken into custody Sultan Aziz Azzam, the head of Daesh regional affiliate ISKP’s media outlet, state media reported on Thursday citing intelligence sources.
The state-run Pakistan TV Digital reported that Azzam was a senior member of ISKP and hailed from Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. As per the state media report, he is also a graduate of the University of Nangarhar where he studied Islamic jurisprudence.
Pakistan TV Digital reported Azzam joined ISKP in 2016 and later became a prominent member of its leadership council.
“He was arrested in May 2025 while attempting to cross from Afghanistan into Pakistan,” Pakistan TV Digital reported, citing intelligence sources.
“He is believed to have overseen media operations and headed ISKP’s Al Azzam media outlet.”
In November 2021, Washington listed Azzam as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” (SDGT). The move bars American citizens from engaging in transactions with persons designated as SDGTs.
According to a report on the UN Security Council’s website, Azzam has played an “instrumental role” in spreading Daesh’s violent ideology, glorifying and justifying “terrorist acts.”
“Building on his former experience as an Afghan journalist, his activity as ISIL-K’s spokesperson has increased ISIL-K’s visibility and influence among its followers,” the report states.
The report further states Azzam claimed responsibility on behalf of Daesh for the suicide attack near Hamid Karzai International Airport on Aug. 26, 2021, which killed at least 170 Afghans and 13 US service members and injured 150 more.
The development takes place amid tense relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Islamabad alleging militants use Afghan soil to carry out attacks against Pakistan. Kabul denies the allegations.
Tensions surged in October when Pakistan and Afghanistan engaged in fierce border clashes, claiming to have killed dozens of soldiers of the other side.
Pakistan has urged the Afghan Taliban-led government to take “decisive action” against militants it says operate from its soil. Afghanistan says it cannot be held responsible for Pakistan’s security challenges.
