ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government said on Thursday neighbouring arch-rival India had caused a delay in the delivery of the first batch of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, which was scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on March 2.
The vaccine is being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, which will deliver it to 92 lower and middle income countries, including Pakistan, under the World Health Organization’s COVAX programme - the main global scheme to vaccinate people in poor and middle income countries around the world.
COVAX aims to deliver at least two billion coronavirus vaccine doses by the end of 2021 to cover 20% of the most vulnerable people in 91 poor and middle-income countries, mostly in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
“The [AstraZeneca] vaccine delivery to Pakistan has got late due to a delay in issuance of an export exemption certificate,” Dr. Nausheen Hamid, parliamentary secretary for health, told Arab News on Thursday. “It [the vaccine] has to come from India so they have delayed the release of the [export exemption] certificate.”
When asked if the delay in granting the export exemption certificate was a “deliberate” move on the Indian government’s part, the parliamentary secretary said: “I don’t know if it is intentionally delayed. But I do know the delay is caused by their [India’s] end.”
Islamabad is now expecting the first tranche of the AstraZeneca vaccine by mid-March. As per the plan under the COVAX program, the country will by June be receiving 45 million doses in two to three instalments. At least 14 million doses are expected to be delivered in the first phase.
Since February 24, COVAX has so far shipped over 17.8 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to a number of countries including the Philippines, Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya, Gambia, Cambodia, Angola, Nigeria and Ghana.
Pakistan started its COVID-19 vaccine program in the first week of February with jabs for frontline health workers as priority after getting at least 500,000 doses as a donation from China. The government on Wednesday kicked off the second phase of the coronavirus vaccination drive, administering jabs to people over 60 years of age.
AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate, dubbed AZD1222, can be stored and transported at normal refrigerated temperatures of two to eight degrees Celsius (36-46 degrees Fahrenheit) for at least six months and can be easily administered in Pakistan’s existing healthcare settings.
Pakistan says AstraZeneca vaccine delivery delayed by India
https://arab.news/nsyyh
Pakistan says AstraZeneca vaccine delivery delayed by India
- India delayed issuing export exemption certificate for vaccine to be supplied to Pakistan under COVAX plan, parliamentary secretary health says
- Islamabad is expected to receive 45 million AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine doses by June this year, first delivery was scheduled for March 2
No increase in gas prices for next six months, Pakistan minister says
- Any increase in gas tariff adds to existing pressures on Pakistani households and businesses already struggling with inflation, stagnant incomes
- Petroleum Minister says no domestic field is under curtailment and enhanced gas supply is being provided to domestic consumers across the country
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government has decided to keep the gas tariff unchanged for the next six months, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik announced on Tuesday.
The announcement came at a meeting in Islamabad, wherein Malik said the decision was made on the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Any increase in gas tariff in Pakistan adds to existing economic pressures on households and businesses already struggling with high inflation and stagnant incomes.
Speaking at the meeting, Malik said that the flow of circular debt in gas sector had been quelled, marking a significant milestone, according to Pakistan's Press Information Department (PID).
"The gas prices will remain same for all consumers for the next six months," Malik was quoted as saying. "Enhanced gas supply is being provided to domestic consumers across the country. No domestic field is presently under curtailment."
Pakistan revised gas prices for fiscal year 2025-26 and okayed a 50 percent increase in fixed charges for domestic consumers, effective from July 1.
The move aligned with structural benchmarks agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), including rationalization of captive power tariffs and a shift from subsidies to direct, targeted support for low-income consumers.
Officials of Sui southern and northern gas companies also briefed participants of Tuesday's meeting on operational improvements in the sector.
"SNGPL (Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited) reported a substantial reduction in Unaccounted-for Gas (UFG) losses from 9% to 5%, while SSGC (Sui Southern Gas Company) reported that UFG losses have been reduced from 17% to 10%," the PID said.
SNGPL Managing Director Amer Tufail informed that gas supply hours have also been extended from 5am to 10pm in winters to ensure maximum relief to the public.
