Govt to seek international donors' help to buy COVID vaccines
- By Jahangir Khan -
- Nov 23, 2020
ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to approach international donors for financial assistance to purchase COVID-19 vaccines, ARY News reported, citing sources.
The government will contact the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and UNICEF for funding for the bulk-buying of doses of the vaccine. The health ministry will approach the multilateral donors through the Economic Affairs Division.
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It will negotiate with them for financial assistance or a loan with no strings attached, the sources said, adding the health ministry has begun working on a coherent plan for the purpose.
On November 20, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had approved a technical supplementary grant worth $150 million for the advance purchase of coronavirus vaccines.
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Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh approved the grant while chairing a session of the ECC wherein a six-point agenda, including funds allocation for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, came under discussion.