Govt needs to stop relying on charity: Shahbaz on vaccine shortages

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday expressed grave concern on the shortage of vaccines in Pakistan and called for the federal government to change its approach with regard to procuring vaccines.

"Planning should be done keeping in view the 220 million population. The small-minded view of ordering a few million vaccines and relying on donations needs to change," the PML-N's official Twitter account quoted Shahbaz as saying.

He said that the unavailability of the coronavirus vaccine is another proof of the government's "criminal negligence and incompetence".

Shahbaz said the Opposition had sounded the alarm time and again for the government to ensure timely booking of vaccines to keep the populace safe from the virus.

"The same thing is happening with the supply of vaccines as that which occurred with the supply of LNG," the PML-N president said.

He went on to state that "just as people with vested interests lined their pockets by scamming people over the sale of wheat flour, sugar and medicines, the same is being repeated when it comes to coronavirus vaccines".

Shahbaz said that it is regrettable that the government, when it comes to the lives of the people, is "displaying the most serious form of criminal negligence".

The Opposition leader said the situation had already been muddied with questions being raised about the Rs1,200 coronavirus relief package following allegations of corruption.

"Theft of public funds is rampant and the provision of services to the public is zero," he said.

"The people are being punished for the government's thievery, incompetence and poor planning, which is regrettable and condemnable," Shahbaz added.