-Pakistan to purchase 1m doses of Pfizer COVID Vaccine
-Asad says govt to launch major Vaccination drive
-Aims to make sure Vaccination of the entire population
By Uzma Zafar
ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet in its special meeting on Monday approved technical supplementary grant of USD 130 million (equal to approximately Rs.20 billion) for the National Disaster Management Fund to ensure timely procurement of Corona Vaccine for the effective national response to COVID-19 Pandemic.
The ECC meeting was chaired by the Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Shaukat Tarin, according to press statement issued by the Finance Ministry here.
According to the statement, funds would be utilized for the procurement of 10 million doses of the COVID vaccine during June.During the new financial year, need for additional funds would be reviewed and additional funds would be provided accordingly.Administration of vaccine would be the responsibility of Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination and Provincial Health Departments.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Asad Umar; Federal Minister for Privatization, Muhammad Mian Soomro; Federal Minister for Railways, Azam Swati; Adviser to the PM on Commerce, Abdul Razak Dawood; Adviser to the PM on Institutional Reforms and Austerity, Dr. Ishrat Hussain; SAPM on Finance and Revenue, Dr. Waqar Masood, Finance Secretary and other senior officers. COVID vaccination drive: The head of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) Asad Umar said that the government will launch a major campaign to make sure that the coronavirus vaccine reaches the entire population.
Umar spoke about the government’s plan to launch the campaign while addressing a press conference in Islamabad after attending a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan that reviewed the coronavirus situation in the country.
The federal minister for planning said that the restrictions introduced by the government before Eid had paid dividends as the positivity rate was declining.
He explained that the restrictions were a “defensive action” and affects the livelihood of the people, adding that the only way out of the current situation was to get vaccinated.
