ISLAMABAD: Starting Saturday, anybody over 30 years old in Pakistan can walk into a vaccination center and get their jab, planning minister Asad Umar, who also heads the National Command Operation Center (NCOC) said in a tweet on Friday.
Pakistan, a country of 220 million people, has so far secured over 18 million doses of various vaccines with the help of China and the WHO, with millions more in the pipeline according to officials. The country has also successfully started local production of the Chinese single-shot vaccine, CanSino.
“In the NCOC meeting today it was decided to open up walk in vaccination for 30 plus from tomorrow. So if you are 30 or older and registered please go to any vaccination center and get vaccinated,” Umar tweeted.
On Thursday, the NCOC opened vaccination registrations for all people over 18 years of age, which brings almost 100 percent of the country’s eligible population into the fold of the inoculation drive.
Pakistan has been battling a third wave of the virus, with the national positivity rate dropping under 5 percent for the first time in nearly three months. The country reported 67 deaths from COVID-19 over the last 24 hours.
Starting tomorrow, vaccine walk-ins welcome if you’re over 30 in Pakistan
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Starting tomorrow, vaccine walk-ins welcome if you’re over 30 in Pakistan
- Pakistan’s planning minister tweeted that people over 30 could walk into any vaccination center and get their jab
- Over 18 million doses of vaccines have been secured so far by the country
Pakistan to begin first phase of Hajj 2026 trainings from today
- Training programs to be held in phases across Pakistan till February, says religion ministry
- Saudi Arabia allocated Pakistan a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry has said that it will begin the first phase of mandatory Hajj 2026 training for pilgrims intending to perform the pilgrimage from today, Thursday.
The one-day Hajj training programs will be held in phases across the country at the tehsil level until February. The ministry directed intending pilgrims to bring their original identity cards and the computerized receipt of their Hajj application to attend the training sessions.
“Pilgrims should attend the one-day training program according to their scheduled date,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) said in a statement.
The ministry said training schedules are being shared through the government’s Pak Hajj 2026 mobile application as well as via SMS. It added that details of the schedule are also available on its website.
According to the ministry, training programs will be held in Abbottabad on Jan. 2; Ghotki, Thatta and Kotli on Jan. 3; and Tando Muhammad Khan and Khairpur on Jan. 4.
Hajj training sessions will be held in Rawalakot, Badin and Naushahro Feroze on Jan. 5, while pilgrims in Fateh Jang, Dadu and Tharparkar will receive the training on Jan. 6.
The ministry said training programs will be conducted in Umerkot and Larkana on Jan. 7, followed by sessions in Mirpurkhas, Shahdadkot and Mansehra on Jan. 8.
Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry has previously said these trainings will be conducted by experienced trainers and scholars using multimedia.
It said the training has been made mandatory to ensure that intending pilgrims are fully aware of Hajj rituals and administrative procedures.
Saudi Arabia has allocated Pakistan a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026, of which around 118,000 seats have been reserved under the government scheme, while the remainder will be allocated to private tour operators.
Under Pakistan’s Hajj scheme, the estimated cost of the government package ranges from Rs1,150,000 to Rs1,250,000 ($4,049.93 to $4,236), subject to final agreements with service providers.
