ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday launched a COVID-19 vaccination for the general public, starting with older people, as it grapples with a high degree of vaccination hesitancy among its 220 million people, even among health workers.
The drive will begin with a focus on the oldest people in the community, generally over the age of 80, Health Minister Faisal Sultan said.
“We will work our way down in coming days,” Sultan told Reuters.
According to a survey released last week, nearly half of health care staff had concerns over China’s Sinopharm vaccine, which is the only one available in Pakistan for now.
The poll of 555 medical workers conducted by Gallup Pakistan and a physicians’ association between Feb. 12 and Feb. 20 found that many health workers would prefer other vaccines.
Pakistan distributed 504,400 Sinopharm vaccine doses to provincial authorities by Feb. 20, and 230,000 front-line health workers had got a shot by Friday, Sultan said.
One woman, Nilofar Minhas, 65, was happy to get her shot in the city of Karachi.
“I’m now secured against the disease,” she said.
Pakistan has recorded 595,239 coronavirus cases and more than 13,000 deaths, with 1,786 infections and 43 deaths reported in the last 24 hours.
Pakistan has not secured any supplies from vaccine manufacturers and is largely depending on the GAVI/WHO COVAX initiative for poorer nations and donations from old ally China.
Authorities have opened up almost all of sectors of society but on Wednesday reversed a decision to allow large indoor gatherings like cinemas, theaters and marriage halls.
Schools will also be closed again for two weeks from March 15, they said.
Pakistan launches COVID-19 vaccination drive for general public, starting with elderly
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Pakistan launches COVID-19 vaccination drive for general public, starting with elderly
- Health chief says drive will begin with a focus on oldest people in the community, generally over the age of 80
- Pakistan has not secured any supplies from vaccine manufacturers, is largely depending on COVAX initiative and donations from China
Australia arrive in Lahore for three-match T20I series against Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: The Australian cricket team arrived in the Pakistani city of Lahore on Wednesday ahead of a three-match men’s Twenty20 International series against the host nation, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said.
The first T20I will be played on Jan. 29, followed by the second on Jan. 31, with the final match scheduled for Feb. 1. All matches will start at 6 p.m. local time and be played at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium.
The series is expected to provide crucial game time for both teams ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where the sides have been drawn in separate groups.
“Australia team arrives in Lahore for the three-match T20I series against Pakistan,” the PCB said in a video post on X.
Australia is resting five top players including Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwel, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David and Nathan Ellis, who are being replaced by Sean Abbott, Mahli Beardman, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mitch Owen, Josh Phillippe and Matt Renshaw.
The upcoming series will mark Australia’s third tour of Pakistan since 2022, when the two sides played a three-match Test and One Day International (ODI) series, followed by a lone T20I that Australia won.
Australia also played three matches of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan.
Pakistan last featured in a three-match T20I away series in Sri Lanka, which ended in a 1–1 draw after the second match was washed out by rain.
Pakistan squad: Salman Ali Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk) and Usman Tariq
Australia squad: Mitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
