ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has administered more than five million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it began the immunization campaign in February this year, announced the country's top health official in a Twitter post on Saturday.
"Let us reaffirm our commitment to the data driven, balanced response that has been the hallmark of the Pakistan Covid effort with dividends in health AND with economic good news [of] 3.94% growth," said the prime minister's advisor on public health Dr. Faisal Sultan.
Pakistan began the inoculation drive for frontline health workers and elderly citizens after receiving its first batch of Sinopharm vaccine from China, though it later expanded the program and is currently inoculating people aged 30 or above.
Apart from getting these COVID-19 shots from China, a private Pakistani company also imported 50,000 doses of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine.
Earlier this month, the country received 1.2 million doses of Britain's AstraZeneca under the COVAX program which is managed by the World Health Organization to ensure equitable distribution of coronavirus jabs among developing nations.
Pakistan's National Command and Operation Center, which oversees the country's pandemic response, recently announced that the first locally produced batch of China's CanSino vaccine will be available for use by the end of May.
The single-dose vaccine is being processed at the National Institute for Health in the capital Islamabad.
Pakistan on Saturday reported 4,007 new coronavirus cases with 88 fatalities in the last 24 hours.
The country's southern province of Sindh decided earlier in the day to retain its current virus curbs, as Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah pointed out that COVID-19 cases were on the rise since Eid al-Fitr which made it difficult for his administration "to ease restrictions in the province."
Pakistan's health chief says more than 5 million COVID-19 vaccines administered so far
https://arab.news/z82hr
Pakistan's health chief says more than 5 million COVID-19 vaccines administered so far
- Dr. Faisal Sultan maintains the government has adopted a data-driven approach to deal with the pandemic
- Pakistan's southern Sindh province has decided to retain its current virus curbs as COVID-19 cases mount
Pakistan PM invites UAE investment across tech and resource sectors at National Day event
- Shehbaz Sharif says the UAE remains a key economic partner and continues to lend ‘critical support’ to Pakistan
- UAE envoy says both nations have potential for cooperation in renewable energy, AI and economic diversification
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is ready to welcome investment from the United Arab Emirates across emerging technologies and resource sectors, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday, as both countries marked the 54th National Day of the Gulf country in Islamabad.
Speaking at the ceremony attended by senior ministers, diplomats and business leaders, Sharif said the UAE remained a key economic partner for Pakistan and continued to lend “critical support” to the country’s stabilizing economy.
“Pakistan takes great pride in its strategic partnership with the UAE, which continues to deepen across every domain of life,” he said. “With Pakistan’s economy stabilizing, we stand ready to welcome Emirati investment in renewable energy, AI, fintech, agriculture and minerals.”
Sharif praised the UAE’s leadership and recalled his earliest memories of the Gulf nation as “a land that believed in possibilities long before they became realities,” saying the country’s progress under President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan commanded “profound admiration.”
UAE Ambassador Salem Al Bawab Al Zaabi said the Emirates was committed to strengthening ties with Pakistan in areas including the economy, energy and artificial intelligence.
He said the two countries shared a “deep-rooted friendship built on mutual respect, shared values and a common vision for regional peace and development.”
“We see tremendous potential for collaboration in renewable energy, artificial intelligence, sustainability and economic diversification,” the ambassador said, adding that the UAE aimed to broaden the scope of its economic relations with Pakistan.
The UAE hosts around 1.8 million Pakistani expatriates, one of the country’s largest overseas communities, who Sharif said contributed “tirelessly” to the Gulf state’s development.
Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also joined the UAE ambassador in a cake-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion.
