ISLAMABAD: Islamabad’s top diplomat in the United States has said Pakistan was planning to strengthen the health sector by seeking assistance from leading US public agencies and pharmaceutical companies and wanted to promote linkages between the US Center for Disease Control and the Pakistani health ministry.
The US is the single largest donor of COVID-19 vaccines to Pakistan, having donated over 61.5 million doses as of April this year. It has also provided large quantities of N95 masks, protective goggles, ventilators and pulse oximeters to Pakistan.
According to a statement released by Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in Washington, Ambassador Masood Khan told international students at Johns Hopkins University Pakistan wanted to “promote institutional linkages between CDC (Center for Disease Control) and Ministry of National Services & Regulations and National Institute of Health.”
Pakistan's ambassador to US, Masood Khan speaks to international students at Johns Hopkins University on June 27, 2022. (@PakinUSA/Twitter)
“Pakistan would also invite and involve US pharma to develop pharmaceutical and bio-technology sectors,” he said. “We are also seeking US cooperation for manufacturing vaccine for various variants of COVID and future pandemics.”
Khan said Pakistan was currently investing its energies in preparedness and response for possible future pandemics.
“The pandemic was a reminder that it is not about the safety of one but the safety of all that matters,” he said.
The ambassador also held a session with Pakistani students and health professionals at the university later.
