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First consignment of COVID-19 vaccine to arrive Pakistan on Saturday

First consignment of COVID-19 vaccine to arrive Pakistan on Saturday
January 28, 2021

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The first consignment of the COVID-19 vaccine will arrive Pakistan on Saturday by a special plane of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

This was confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday. According to sources, the PIA is providing free services for bringing coronavirus first batch.

Five hundred thousand doses, gifted by China, will arrive in Pakistan through PIA special flight. The PIA special plane will depart for Beijing on Friday and the national carrier will provide free service in this regard.

Earlier, Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar announced that Pakistan will launch its COVID-19 vaccination drive next week, starting with front-line health workers.

“Inshallah, the vaccination of frontline health workers will start next week,” Asad Umar, who is also the head of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), said in a tweet.

“The system for vaccination is in place. Hundreds of vaccination centres in the country will be administering covid vaccine,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that China has pledged to donate 500,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine made by the Chinese firm SinoPharm to Pakistan by January 31. Pakistan has so far approved two vaccines for emergency use, one made by China National Pharmaceutical Group (SinoPharm) and the other by AstraZeneca.