Pakistan thanks Chinese President Xi Jinping for COVID-19 vaccine gift

Pakistan on Monday thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for gifting it the Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine which reached the country today.

A ceremony was held at Nur Khan Base in Islamabad where 0.5 million doses were given to Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

While talking to media, the foreign minister said the "gift is a practical proof of friendship between the two countries," adding that “China once again demonstrated its everlasting friendship with Pakistan," by helping it in times of need.

"This is even more important as we are completing seven decades of diplomatic ties this year," he added.

FM Qureshi said: “I want to thank the Chinese government, President Xi Jinping, and the people of China on behalf of the Pakistani government and Prime Minister Imran Khan.”

The minister also expressed his gratitude to his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, with whom he was in talks for the early delivery of the vaccine.

Qureshi added that Beijing has stood "shoulder-to-shoulder with Islamabad in the fight against the coronavirus."

Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong said Pakistan was the "first country in the world to receive vaccines donated by the Chinese government", calling it a "manifestation of brotherhood".

Rong said that Pakistan is China’s "closest friend" and is a "priority for cooperation." The envoy also mentioned Pakistan's approval of Sinopharm vaccine and trials of another Chinese vaccine.

Earlier today, a Pakistan Air Force aircraft brought back the country's first consignment of COVID-19 vaccines from China, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan confirmed.

"Thank God, the first batch of Sinopharm vaccine has arrived! Grateful to China and everyone who made this happen," Sultan said in a statement released on Twitter.

"I salute our frontline healthcare workers for their efforts and they'll be first to get vaccinated," he said.

Pakistan has asked China for another one million doses. Pakistan is also set to receive 17 million doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine under a global scheme to deliver coronavirus treatments to developing nations.

About 6 million doses will arrive by the end of March under the COVAX scheme, with the remainder due by mid-year, Sultan announced last week.

The country has reported 1,615 new infections and 26 deaths in the latest 24-hours, taking the total number of cases to 546,428, with 11,683 deaths.

"All eligible citizens as per phases will be informed to register once the vaccine process will start," health ministry announced on its website.

Pakistan signed up last year to the vaccine sharing scheme coordinated by the World Health Organisation to support lower-income countries.

Pakistan has approved both the vaccines for emergency use and will review their approval quarterly, officials said.

 

PDM poses no danger to the government: PM Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of eleven Opposition parties, "poses no threat to the ruling PTI government" and that its "bubble has burst."

The PM was chairing a meeting of his party's leaders and spokespersons in the federal capital during which he was briefed about various issues, including the foreign funding case, Senate elections, and action taken against the land-grabbing mafia.

Addressing the meeting and responding to the foreign funding case against the PTI, PM Imran Khan said that the party has "submitted the details of more than 40,000 donors, adding that the Opposition failed to submit the details of donors during their tenures.

He said that the PTI has a "clear record in the foreign funding case" and that it received "no money from any foreign source." Taking a jibe at the Opposition parties, he said that now is the time for PML-N, PPP and other parties to be accountable to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding the funds they received from abroad.

The premier added that former prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif was the one to "bring money into politics," adding that he took money from Osama bin Laden.

"Nawaz Sharif built his ATM through the land-grabbing mafia and the Khokhar brothers are the ATMs of the PML-N," the PM said while also directing his ministers to take strict measures against the occupation mafia in Lahore.

Regarding the issue of the Senate election, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that his government is asking the Senate to make amendments in a bid to make the elections more transparent.

"By objecting to the idea of making the Senate elections more transparent, the Opposition is doing nothing but exposing itself," the PM said.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan also congratulated Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for becoming the first province to provide universal health coverage to every citizen.

PM to personally interact with general public on telephone today

In an unprecedented move, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will personally interact with the general public on the telephone to address their problems today (Monday).

The prime minister will take calls from the public at 4 pm today. He will personally respond to the queries of the general public. People can contact PM Imran by dialing 051-9210809.
Earlier, PM Imran Khan had said the incumbent government’s efforts to reduce inflation were showing results.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, he had said: “More good news on the economic front. Our efforts to reduce inflation are now showing results.

Consumer price index & core inflation are both now lower than when our government was formed.”

Punjab CM to launch corona vaccination from Wednesday: Yasmeen Rashid

Chief Minister of Punjab will launch coronavirus vaccination drive in the province from Wednesday, reported.

Provincial Health Minister Yasmeen Rashid here said that the vaccination drive will begin simultaneously across Pakistan.

“China has gifted vaccine to Pakistan and the government has discussed the matter with all provinces,” Punjab’s health minister said.

“It is misinformation that Sindh has imported coronavirus vaccine and vaccination being started in the province,” Rashid said.

The vaccination drive will begin simultaneously across the country with the vaccine consignment came to Pakistan from China, she said.

“No VIP will be preferred for vaccine as front-line healthcare workers would have foremost priority in the vaccination drive,” health minister reiterated.

“China is an all-weather friend, we are grateful for its gift of 0.5 million vaccine doses,” Yasmeen Rashid said.

All Chief Ministers will launch COVID-19 vaccination for the front-line health workers from Wednesday, minister said.

Pakistan has also secured 17 million vaccine doses with Covax vaccine alliance for its population and more vaccine shots will reach the country by the end of February, the minister said.

It is to be mentioned here that a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) plane with the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine doses reached Islamabad this morning.

The plane carrying 500,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine, gifted from China to Pakistan landed at the Noor Khan Airbase.

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

Sindh sets up 10 Covid immunization focuses in Karachi

Sindh’s health authorities have set up 10 coronavirus vaccination centres in the six district of Karachi, reported on Monday.

As per details, three vaccination centres have been set up in district central of Karachi, two in east and two in the south district of the metropolis. One each centre has been established in west district, Malir, Korangi.
The Sindh health department has established at Jinnah Hospital, Aga Khan Hospital, Children Hospital Nagan, New Karachi, Sindh Government Qatar Hospital, Liaquatabad, Sindh Govt Hospital Korangi and Dow Campus in Karachi.

Meanwhile, vaccination centres have also been established in Badin, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad and Sukkur.

Trained staff have been deployed at these centres equipped with all the necessary equipment and appliances, including refrigerators.

The Sindh government has already earmarked funds to the tune of Rs1.5 billion for the vaccine procurement.

Earlier in the day, a special Pakistan Air Force (PAF) plane with the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine doses has reached Islamabad.

Myanmar's Suu Kyi Detained In Military Coup, 1-Year Emergency Declared

Myanmar’s military seized power on Monday in a coup against the democratically elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who was detained along with other leaders of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party in early morning raids.

The army said it had carried out the detentions in response to “election fraud”, handing power to military chief Min Aung Hlaing and imposing a state of emergency for one year, according to a statement on a military-owned television station. A military spokesman did not answer phone calls seeking further comment.

Phone lines to the capital Naypyitaw and the main commercial centre of Yangon were not reachable, and state TV went off air hours before parliament had been due to sit for the first time since the NLD’s landslide election win in November, viewed as a referendum on Suu Kyi’s fledgling democratic government.

Soldiers took up positions at city hall in Yangon and mobile internet data and phone services in the NLD stronghold were disrupted, residents said. Internet connectivity also had fallen dramatically, monitoring service NetBlocks said.

Suu Kyi, Myanmar President Win Myint and other NLD leaders had been “taken” in the early hours of the morning, NLD spokesman Myo Nyunt told Reuters by phone.

“I want to tell our people not to respond rashly and I want them to act according to the law,” he said, adding that he expected to be arrested himself. Reuters was subsequently unable to contact him.

The detentions came after days of escalating tension between the civilian government and the military that stirred fears of a coup in the aftermath of the election.

The White House said President Joe Biden had been briefed on the arrest of Suu Kyi.

“The United States opposes any attempt to alter the outcome of recent elections or impede Myanmar’s democratic transition, and will take action against those responsible if these steps are not reversed,” spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.

The Australian government said it was “deeply concerned at reports the Myanmar military is once again seeking to seize control of Myanmar” and called for the immediate release of the unlawfully detained leaders.

Japan said it was watching the situation and currently had no plans to repatriate Japanese nationals from Myanmar.

Corona claims 26 more lives, lowest death toll in Pakistan in 74 days

The coronavirus claimed 26 more lives as another 1,615 people tested positive for the deadly disease during the past 24 hours across Pakistan.

According to the latest update released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 1,615 new infections surfaced after 34,785 samples were tested during this period.

The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country has soared to 546,428 with addition of the fresh cases while the countrywide death toll jumped to 11,683. There are a total of 33,493 active cases as 501,252 people have recuperated.

Since the first Covid-19 case was detected in the country almost a year back, Sindh has reported a total of 247,249 infections, Punjab 157,796, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 67,214, Balochistan 18,823, Islamabad 41,418, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 9,019, and Gilgit Baltistan 4,909.

Earlier, Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar had 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 i