China makes Pakistan’s fight against Covodi-19 successful

Islamabad: Pakistan has achieved a huge milestone of Covid-19 pandemic vaccinations due to the support from China, a top government official said.

Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar said China had played a key role to achieve this goal.

“We have vaccinated more than 50 million people and a lot of credit goes to China in this regard. China’s help is still continuing,” he said.

Over this weekend, Pakistan reached a milestone of vaccinating more than 50 million people across the country.

The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) has urged people to get the second doses of the vaccine to make the campaign successful.

Umar, who also heads the NCOC, said the Chinese vaccines had been the most used jabs during the whole campaign. “China was the first one to send us gifts (of vaccines) and then we also purchased vaccines from China on special on priority basis. China’s role has been vital,” he acknowledged.

On Saturday, the government announced, Pakistanis travelling abroad can get additional coronavirus vaccine doses from September 1, according to the requirements of the country they are heading to.

“Additional vaccination to travellers will be administered at select immunisation centres. A fee of Rs 1,270 will be charged from them,” a notification issued her said. The payment of the vaccine can be deposited at all branches of the National Bank of Pakistan.

Earlier this week, the government decided to open a special vaccination category for people who require a particular vaccine to travel abroad. There are two conditions for this – visa and vaccine requirement of the country they are travelling to and a sum of money will be charged from these people.

The government is also mulling over starting booster shots for health workers and people with weak immune systems. If this is approved, the vaccination will begin from October 1.

Only fully vaccinated people will be allowed to board both international and domestic flights from September 30. Unvaccinated people visiting and working at malls, hotels, restaurants, and guest houses will not be allowed inside after September 30.

Unvaccinated people will also be barred from using public transport after October 15. Only fully vaccinated people will be allowed on motorways and highways after October 31.

It has been made mandatory for students above 17 years to get the first dose by September 15. By October 15, students should be fully vaccinated. Staff at schools and people working in the transportation of students to be fully vaccinated by September 30, said a government order.

In the last 24 hours, 4,191 new cases were reported across Pakistan, while 120 people succumbed to the deadly virus.