ISLAMABAD: Only 180,000, or 2.25 percent, of around eight million senior citizens in Pakistan had registered to get vaccinated against the coronavirus two weeks after the government launched a registration drive, Pakistani media reported on Friday.
Pakistan launched its COVID-19 vaccine drive earlier this month, saying it would inoculate health care workers in the first phase, followed by the elderly in March.
The government started registering senior citizens for the vaccination program on Feb 15.
“The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) has described it as a slow response, considering that there are around eight million people above 65 years of age in Pakistan,” Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported, saying only 180,000 people above the age of 60 had registered.
“We urge people that they should register themselves so that they would be inoculated as soon as vaccine would reach at the Adult Vaccination Centers in Pakistan,” Dawn wrote, quoting a health ministry official.
Around 500,000 doses of vaccine produced by Sinopharm and donated by China had arrived in Pakistan on a military flight on February 1, allowing authorities to kickstart a nationwide inoculation campaign starting with health workers.
Pakistan has also been pledged 17 million doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine under a global scheme to deliver coronavirus treatments to developing nations.
About 6 million doses will arrive by the end of March under the COVAX scheme, with the remainder due by mid-year, the health chief has said.
Only 2.25% of Pakistani senior citizens register for COVID-19 vaccine — report
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Only 2.25% of Pakistani senior citizens register for COVID-19 vaccine — report
- 180,000 of around eight million senior citizens have responded to government calls to register for vaccination program
- Government started registering senior citizens on Feb 15, “not a very positive response,” health ministry says
Pakistan Airports Authority reports ‘historic’ twin-engine aircraft landing in Lahore
- Twin-engine aircraft are usually larger, heavier and require better airport infrastructure, navigation systems to land
- Pakistan Airports Authority says landing reflects its commitment to enhance aviation sector, strengthen infrastructure
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) announced on Saturday that the New General Aviation Aerodrome achieved a significant milestone when it handled the landing of a twin-engine aircraft.
A twin-engine aircraft has two engines that provide it redundancy and increased performance compared to single-engine counterparts. These aircraft range from small twin-engine propeller planes to large commercial jetliners. The presence of multiple engines enhances safety by allowing the aircraft to continue flying in the event of an engine failure.
However, twin-engine aircraft are usually larger, heavier and more complex than single-engine planes. They require advanced airport infrastructure such as better runways, navigation systems and air traffic coordination.
“The New General Aviation Aerodrome, Lahore achieved another significant operational milestone today with the successful landing of a twin-engine aircraft, following the recent arrival of a single-engine aircraft,” the PAA said in a statement.
It said the flight was also boarded by Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed, the director general of the PAA. The move reflected “strong institutional confidence” in the aerodrome’s safety standards, operational capability, and overall readiness, it added.
“The landing was conducted with exceptional precision and professionalism, demonstrating the aerodrome’s robust operational framework, technical preparedness, and effective airside coordination in accordance with contemporary aviation requirements,” the PAA said.
It said the landing represented a “major advancement” in Pakistan’s general aviation sector and underscores the PAA’s commitment to enhancing regional aviation capacity, strengthening infrastructure and promoting excellence in aviation development.
