Islamabad, 1st February: Pakistan thanked China for providing it with the COVID-19 vaccine.
Baaghi TV: Pakistan thanked the Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday for gifting it the Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine which reached the country today.
A ceremony was held at Nur Khan Base in Islamabad where 0.5 million doses were given to Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
FM Qureshi said addressed the media and said, “This gift is a practical proof of friendship between the two countries. China once again demonstrated its everlasting friendship with Pakistan by helping it in times of need.”
He added, “This is even more important as we are completing seven decades of diplomatic ties this year.”
FM Qureshi further said, “I want to thank the Chinese government, President Xi Jinping, and the people of China on behalf of the Pakistani government and Prime Minister Imran Khan.”
The minister also expressed his gratitude to his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, with whom he was in talks for the early delivery of the vaccine.
Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong said, “Pakistan is the first country in the world to receive vaccines donated by the Chinese government,” and called it a “manifestation of brotherhood”.
As per earlier reports, a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aircraft brought back the country’s first consignment of COVID-19 vaccines from China.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan confirmed through his Twitter handle:
Alhamdulilah the first batch of Sinopharm vaccine has arrived! Grateful to China and everyone who made this happen. NCOC & provinces played an instrumental role in tackling COVID. I salute our frontline healthcare workers for their efforts & they'll be first to get vaccinated
— Faisal Sultan (@fslsltn) February 1, 2021
Sultan said in a statement released on Twitter, “Thank God, the first batch of Sinopharm vaccine has arrived! Grateful to China and everyone who made this happen. I salute our frontline healthcare workers for their efforts and they’ll be first to get vaccinated.”
As per reports, Pakistan has asked China for another one million doses.
Pakistan is also set to receive 17 million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine under a worldwide scheme to deliver coronavirus treatments to developing nations.
Sultan announced last week that about 7 million doses will arrive by the end of March under the COVAX scheme, with the remainder due by mid-year.
Happy to share that in addition to the 500,000 doses of Sinopharm, almost 7 million does of AstraZeneca to be made available in Q1 and given to the public free of cost! Pakistan’s vaccine drive starts next week, beginning with frontline healthcare workers. pic.twitter.com/6nJACx9aL7
— Faisal Sultan (@fslsltn) January 30, 2021
Last year Pakistan signed up to the vaccine sharing scheme coordinated by the World Health Organisation to support lower-income countries.
Officials have said that Pakistan has approved both the vaccines for emergency use and will review their approval quarterly.
The health ministry announced on its website, “All eligible citizens as per phases will be informed to register once the vaccine process will start.”
As per latest reports, the country has reported 1,615 new cases and 26 deaths in the last 24-hours, taking the total number of cases to 546,428, with 11,683 deaths.
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