China to provide 0.5m Covid vaccines free of cost: FM.

ISLAMABAD -- Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said yesterday that China will provide 0.5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to the government of Pakistan free of cost by January 31.

Speaking to journalists here after holding telephonic conversation with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, he said Beijing had agreed to provide these vaccines free of cost as a goodwill gesture.

The Chinese Foreign Minister told Qureshi that Pakistan could send the cargo plane to airlift the batch of vaccine. Terming it a 'welcoming development' amid coronavirus situation, FM Qureshi said: 'This is a very good news that we have received from our friend China.'

He said as Pakistan would be needing another 1.1 million doses for its frontline population, Chinese FM Wang Yi had agreed to handover the required vaccine by the end of February.

'In view of the strong strategic relations, China has considered Pakistan as the first country to be supplied with the Covid-19 vaccine,' he said.

https://nation.com.pk/22-Jan-2021/no-minister-in-broadsheet-investigation-panel-fawad-ch

The Foreign Minister said Pakistan had successfully fought the challenges of coronavirus and lauded the performance of National Command and Operation Centre in this regard.

He mentioned that the trials of Covid-19 vaccines were effectively being carried out in the country, with an objective to launch production at later stages.

Earlier, Qureshi tweeted: 'Always great to speak to my friend, His Excellency FM Wang Yi. With encouraging results of Chinese vaccine and our historic relationship, Pakistan has approved emergency use authorisation of SinoPharm. Indeed Flag of Pakistan greatly appreciates the 500,000 doses of the vaccine gifted by Flag of China.'

China has played an instrumental role in Pakistan's fight against Covid-19 with technical assistance and medical expertise, he added.

China has played an instrumental role in Pakistan's fight against Covid-19 with technical assistance and medical expertise, said the Foreign Minister.

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The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan on January 18 had authorised China's Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use in Pakistan, making it the second vaccine to get local approval.

The permission was given in the DRAP registration board meeting after China's Sinopharm had sought permission from Pakistan for the emergency use of its Covid-19 vaccine in the...

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