Pakistan receives vaccine consignment from China

Islamabad:Pakistan has received a consignment of half a million doses of Covid-19 vaccine grants from China and the vaccination drive is set to begin across the country from Wednesday onwards.The first batch of the vaccines reached Islamabad on Monday from Beijing on a special Pakistan Air Force plane.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mah­mood Qureshi received the consignment of the Sinopharm vaccine grant from Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong at a ceremony held at Nur Khan Airbase on Monday.Mr Qureshi expressed his gratitude to the Chinese leadership for gifting the vaccine to Pakistan.

Qureshi said the vaccine had arrived at a time when the country is grappling with the second wave of coronavirus, and added that its delivery also coincided with the 70th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong said: “I am proud to announce that Pakistan is the first country to receive the Chinese government-donated vaccine.”

The Covid-19 jabs will be used to inoculate frontline health workers and will play an important role in saving precious lives, the foreign minister added.(UNI)