TOKYO: Olympic delegations from Pakistan and five South Asian neighbors will be vaccinated before the Tokyo Games, organizers said Friday, as concern rises over the risks of coronavirus variants spreading at the event.
The move affects delegations coming from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Nepal, Tokyo 2020 and the International Olympic Committee said.
The six countries are all subject to Japan's highest level border restrictions, in part because of concern about the so-called Indian variant of the virus.
The IOC said national Olympic committees from the six countries had also agreed to conduct additional testing of delegation members, beyond the two tests within 96 hours of travel to Japan already required under current rules.
Details of the additional testing were not specified.
Tokyo 2020 organizers declined to say whether media and other participants coming from the six countries would have to be vaccinated to enter Japan, saying it was still consulting with the local government.
The IOC has said it expects up to 80 percent of those staying in the Olympic village during the Games to be vaccinated by the time they arrive in Japan.
But organizers are facing strong domestic opposition in Japan to hosting the Games this summer, with most backing further postponement or outright cancellation.
Japan is currently battling a fourth wave of virus infections and the government is extending a state of emergency in Tokyo and other regions until June 20, just over a month before the Games.
South Asian Olympic delegations, including Pakistan, to be vaccinated before Tokyo games
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South Asian Olympic delegations, including Pakistan, to be vaccinated before Tokyo games
- Japan has already subjected South Asian nations, including Pakistan, to strict border restrictions due to the Indian variant of the coronavirus
- Organizers of the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 games are facing strong criticism for not postponing or canceling the event
Planning minister says Pakistan to set up advanced technology centers to support economic growth
- Ahsan Iqbal says planned centers to focus on artificial intelligence, quantum computing and nanotechnology
- He also cites satellite technology as key tool for climate monitoring, early warning and disaster management
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan plans to set up technology Centers of Excellence, including facilities focused on quantum computing and nanotechnology, as it seeks to benefit from rapid advances in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, state media reported on Friday.
The announcement was made by Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who said the government aims to position Pakistan to compete in future technologies that are expected to drive economic growth and reshape global industries.
Quantum computing, which uses the principles of quantum mechanics to process information far more quickly than conventional computers, has applications ranging from complex data analysis and cryptography to climate modeling and materials science. Nanotechnology focuses on engineering materials at the molecular level and is widely used in energy storage, medicine and electronics.
Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, Iqbal said countries that master artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum computing and space technologies would lead the global economy in the coming decades.
“During the address, the minister said Pakistan’s efforts to align itself with rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, space innovation and emerging technologies reflect the country’s ambition to participate confidently in shaping the future,” Radio Pakistan reported.
“Ahsan Iqbal further announced that the government plans to establish three Centers of Excellence, including a National Center for Quantum Computing and a National Center for Nanotechnology, aimed at upgrading the national economy,” it added.
He informed the ceremony that measures were underway to develop a new Silicon Valley in Pakistan “to promote cross-fertilization of ideas and innovation by bringing talent, research and industry together under one roof.”
The minister also highlighted the role of technology in tackling climate challenges, noting that satellite systems are increasingly used worldwide for disaster management, early warning systems and climate monitoring.
Pakistan, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, can benefit from satellite technology to track weather patterns, manage floods and improve disaster preparedness, he said, adding that more than 9,000 satellites currently orbit the Earth and are transforming how economies and governments operate.
Iqbal said the planned centers would support Pakistan’s broader “Uraan Pakistan” vision, which focuses on exports, digital development, energy and infrastructure, environmental resilience and social equity, Radio Pakistan reported.
