China to give Pakistan 0.5 mln COVID-19 vaccine doses by Jan 31: FM.

ISLAMABAD -- China will provide 0.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to the government of Pakistan by January 31, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Thursday.

'As goodwill gesture, China has pledged to handover the batch of vaccine free of cost,' the Foreign Minister told media here, following his telephonic conversation with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi this afternoon.

Qureshi said the Chinese Foreign Minister informed him that Pakistan could send the cargo aircraft to airlift the batch of vaccine.

Terming it a 'welcoming development' amid coronavirus situation, he said, 'This is a very good news that we have received from our friend China,' he said.

Qureshi said as Pakistan would be needing another 1.1 million doses for its frontline population, for which Chinese FM Wang Yi today agreed to handover...