China to provide 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Pakistan by end of this year
10.8 million Pakistanis fully vaccinated and 31 million received at least one dose
Islamabad: As COVID-19 virus continues to pose serious health risks, Pakistanis have been assured of receiving as many as 100 million vaccine doses from its ‘iron-brother’ and closest strategic ally China.
The disclosure for huge supplies of COVID-19 vaccines came following a meeting between Pakistani President Arif Alvi and the Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong in Islamabad on August 9.
Chinese Ambassador said that China would provide 6 million vaccine doses to Pakistan this week while 100 million vaccine doses would be provided by the end of the year.
Despite vaccine supply constraints globally, the Government of Pakistan has procured and administered more than 38 million coronavirus vaccine doses. The country of 220 million has mainly relied on vaccines import from China including Sinopharm, CanSino and Sinovac. Pakistan has also received around 8 million vaccine doses through the COVAX facility including AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna.
Almost 10.8 million Pakistanis have been fully vaccinated and nearly 31 million have received one dose as of August 10. The country, which began rolling out vaccines in February, is now administering over one million doses of vaccine in a single day.
President Alvi thanked the Chinese government for continuous support to help Pakistan’s fight against the pandemic.
During the meeting Pakistan and China reaffirmed their resolve to further boost bilateral cooperation in various fields for mutual benefit and both sides emphasized the need for making collective efforts to promote peace, prosperity and development in the region.
President Alvi and Ambassador Nong Rong stressed the need to enhance cooperation in the field of Information Technology. President Alvi said that the “all-weather strategic cooperative partnership” between Pakistan and China would further take the bilateral relationship to new heights. Pakistan’s President reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to “One-China Policy” and firm support to China on core issues of its national interest including Taiwan, Tibet, Hong Kong and the South China Sea. He appreciated China’s support for Pakistan’s core national issues such as Jammu and Kashmir dispute, NSG and FATF.
President underlined that Pakistan was committed to the timely completion of the CPEC project that had huge potential to contribute to the socio-economic development of Pakistan and noted that certain hostile players were trying to sabotage the project but the two countries are strongly committed to implement the project.
He also offered his condolences to the Government of China and the bereaved families who lost their dear ones in Dasu bus attack and said that the security of Chinese nationals, working in various projects in Pakistan, was the top most priority for Pakistani government.