China to gift 500,000 more doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Pakistan
Announcement made after event marking 70 years of diplomatic relations between countries
Islamabad: China will give an additional 500,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine as a gift to Pakistan for frontline health workers and senior citizens.
This was announced by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi while talking to the media after attending a virtual event marking establishment of 70 years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and People’s Republic of China.
Earlier, on Feb 1, Pakistan had received the first batch of 500,000 doses of vaccine as a gift from China.
State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi attended the event from Beijing. Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Qureshi expressed gratitude to China for additional supply of doses as vaccination process has been underway in Pakistan since Feb 3.
The country has already begun the vaccination campaign and in the first phase, frontline health workers and those over age 65 are being inoculated. In January, the government announced it has secured 17 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine through the UN-led COVAX initiative.
70 years of friendship
A logo was also launched at the ceremony symbolising Pakistan-China ties. On the special occasion of the 70th anniversary, both sides have planned a series of events, including people-to-people exchanges spread over the entire year to commemorate this historic milestone.
China’s foreign minister said Pakistan was the first country to receive vaccines and “this fully attests to the special, iron-strong friendship that we have”.
Casualties up in Punjab
Pakistan on Wednesday reported 75 deaths and 1,388 cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. Out of the countrywide 75 fatalities, 50 died in Punjab alone.
With these fresh numbers, COVID-19 death toll has surged to 5,441 in the province which is the highest as compared to other federating units.
In Sindh, 19 people lost their lives in the last 24 hours while KP recorded 6 in the same period.
Punjab also recorded 712 new cases. The province’s total number of cases stood at 554,255.
6,849 recoveries in a day
According to the official portal of the National Health Ministry, with 75 deaths, Pakistan’s toll has reached 13,013.
The number of recoveries jumped to 6,849 in the last 24 hours reaching 554,255 overall.