PAF plane carrying first batch of COVID-19 vaccine reaches Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: A special Pakistan Air Force (PAF) plane with the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine doses has reached Islamabad today (Monday), ARY News reported.

The plane carrying 500,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine, gifted from China to Pakistan landed at the Noor Khan Airbase. SAPM Dr Faisal also reached Islamabad in the plane.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), all arrangements for storage, transportation and administration of the vaccine have been finalised.webv desk

It said all measures for vaccine distribution across Sindh and Balochistan provinces have also been finalised.

The NCOC said a special vaccination centre has been set up in Islamabad while such centres in all provinces at a district-level are yet to be established.

Also Read: China to gift 0.5mn doses of Sinopharm vaccine to Pakistan by Jan 31: FM Qureshi

China had promised to gift 500,000 doses of a coronavirus vaccine to Pakistan by January 31.

Earlier, Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar said that Pakistan will likely get 17 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine by March.

Turning to social media via his official Twitter handle, the federal minister announced, “Good news on covid vaccine front.” He added that Pakistan received a response letter from Covax which indicated “supply of up to 17 million doses of AstraZeneca in 1st half 2021”.