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ARY NEWS

Jahangir Khan

  • Covid vaccination of federal employees still incomplete: sources

    Covid vaccination of federal employees still incomplete: sources

    ISLAMABAD: The COVID-19 vaccination of federal employees has not been completed as yet despite the continuous warnings issued by the federal authorities, citing sources, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

    321 out of 13,386 employees of the health ministry have not yet received COVID-19 jabs, sources told ARY News. It emerged that 6,602 family members of the health ministry’s employees were vaccinated.

    The COVID-19 vaccination of cent per cent staff of Federal Medical and Dental College (FMDC), Poly Clinic and Pakistan Institute of Medical Science (PIMS) has been completed, whereas, 99 pc staff of TB Hospital received COVID-19 jabs.

    READ: VACCINATION RECORD AS OVER 1.4MN RECEIVE COVID JABS IN A DAY: NCOC

    Sources added that the vaccination of employees of some federal institutions was not completed that include 20 workers of the health ministry, staffers of Sheikh Zayed Hospital, National Council for Tibb (NCT), Safe Blood Transfusion Programme (SBTP), Pakistan Medical Council (PMC) and Common Management Unit.

    It is pertinent to mention here that both federal and provincial governments have announced measures aimed at imposing restrictions on unvaccinated individuals to boost the COVID vaccination drive in the country.

    Earlier in the day, National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) announced another record-breaking vaccination day in the country after over 1.4 million people received COVID jabs in the last 24 hours.

    READ: NCOC TAKES STRICT DECISIONS AGAINST UNVACCINATED PEOPLE

    According to details shared by the NCOC through its official Twitter handle, the COVID vaccine administered across Pakistan on 30 August stands at 1,405,352 in a single day.

    It shared that the number of COVID jabs administered in the country now stands beyond 55 million.

    Unvaccinated people will not be allowed to travel on the motorways and highways from September 15, the motorway police said. All passengers will be required to carry their Covid-19 vaccination certificate with them during travel.

    On August 22, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had announced it will bar all domestic flight travel for people who will not have been vaccinated against Covid by September 10.

  • COVID-19 booster doses to be available in 18 cities across country

    COVID-19 booster doses to be available in 18 cities across country

    ISLAMABAD: The booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be available in 18 cities across the country including five in Punjab province, three in Sindh, four in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), one in Balochistan, two in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), two in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and federal capital Islamabad, citing sources, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

    The booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be administered to those people who are travelling abroad and aged above 12-year-old at the government vaccination centres.

    Booster doses will be available in three vaccination centres of Karachi, one in Hyderabad and one in Sukkur, one each in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur, Gilgit, Skardu, Quetta, Peshawar, Mingora, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, two in Lahore, one in Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi, Sialkot and the federal capital Islamabad at Tarlai vaccination centre.

    READ: FEDERAL GOVT ANNOUNCES FEE FOR COVID VACCINE BOOSTER SHOTS

    Earlier in the day, it was learnt that people travelling abroad and aged above 12-year-old could receive booster shots of COVID vaccine as per the sources of the health ministry.

    The person receiving the jab would have to submit evidence that the country, he/she is travelling to needed booster shots of the COVID vaccine, sources added.

    “Anyone travelling abroad for education, job, Hajj and Umrah and other purposes will be administered the jab while government officials and businessmen going abroad will also receive the shots,” they said.

    READ: STUDENTS OF GRADES 9 TO 12 IN SINDH CAN GET VACCINATED AGAINST COVID

    They said that those in the age group between 12 to 17 would receive a Pfizer booster shot while people aged above will receive shots from Pfizer, Sinopharm, and Sinovac.

    “The shots will only be administered at government-run vaccination centres with separate counters for the purpose,” they said adding a fee in this regard would be submitted at the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP).

    Those who could not receive the shots, according to the sources, included people lacking NICs, suffering from high fever or low immunity, chronic diseases, and COVID-19.

    READ: UNVACCINATED PEOPLE, OFFICIALS TO FACE ARRESTS IN LAHORE

    “Administration of single or double booster shots will be decided as per the previous details of the vaccination,” they said adding that, however, no one could receive a third shot.

    The sources further said that the WHO has not yet approved COVID booster shots and people will have to get the shots on their own responsibility.

  • Details on who could get COVID booster shots emerge

    Details on who could get COVID booster shots emerge

    ISLAMABAD: People travelling abroad and aged above 12-year-old could receive booster shots of COVID vaccine, new details shared by sources in the health ministry highlighted on Tuesday.

    According to sources, the person receiving the jab would have to submit evidence that the country, he/she is travelling to needed booster shots of the COVID vaccine.

    “Anyone travelling abroad for education, job, Hajj and Umrah and other purposes will be administered the jab while government officials and businessmen going abroad will also receive the shots,” they said.


    They said that those in the age group between 12 to 17 would receive a Pfizer booster shot while people aging above will receive shots from Pfizer, Sinopharm, and Sinovac.

    “The shots will only be administered at government-run vaccination centres with separate counters for the purpose,” they said adding a fee in this regard would be submitted at the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP).

    Read More: Federal govt announces fee for COVID vaccine booster shots from Sep 1

    Those who could not receive the shots, according to the sources, included people lacking NICs, suffering from high fever or low immunity, chronic diseases, and COVID-19.

    “Administration of single or double booster shots will be decided as per the previous details of the vaccination,” they said adding that, however, no one could receive a third shot.

    Read More: WHO SLAMS WEALTHY NATIONS’ RUSH TOWARDS COVID BOOSTER SHOTS WHILE MILLIONS WORLDWIDE LACK FIRST JAB

    The sources further said that the WHO has not yet approved COVID booster shots and people will have to get the shots on their own responsibility.

  • Govt to disburse Covid risk allowance to Islamabad health workers

    Govt to disburse Covid risk allowance to Islamabad health workers

    ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to disburse COVID-19 risk allowance to health workers of Islamabad following the approval of Prime Minister Imran Khan, ARY News reported on Monday.

    The health ministry has issued a notification to the federally-administered hospitals and subordinate institutions, stating that the federal health workers will be given 5.5 months basic salary as COVID-19 risk allowance.

    The notification was issued to the administrations of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Poly Clinic, Federal General Hospital (FGH), National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM), National Institute of Health (NIH) and National Health Emergency Preparedness & Response Network (NHEPRN).

    covid-19 risk allowance health workers islamabad clinical staff

    According to the notification, the COVID-19 risk allowance will be given to the clinical staff of the federal hospitals. It was learnt that 9,191 clinical staff members of the federal hospitals and their subordinate institutions will be given the allowance.

    READ: GOVT TAKES DECISION ON COVID-19 RISK ALLOWANCE TO HEALTH WORKERS

    It added that the federal government allocated Rs1,976 million for COVID-19 risk allowance for the health workers.

    Earlier in July, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan had assured the protesting health workers of early release of COVID risk allowance.

    Speaking to the protesting employees, Dr Faisal Sultan had assured them of early release of the COVID risk allowance to all the health workers of Islamabad.

    “COVID risk allowance is right of the health workers.” He had also lauded the services of the frontline health workers in the fight against the pandemic.

  • Lockdown to be enforced in parts of Islamabad after spike in Covid-19 cases

    Lockdown to be enforced in parts of Islamabad after spike in Covid-19 cases

    ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad administration has decided to seal several streets in the federal capital under smart lockdown policy owing to rising COVID-19 cases, ARY News reported on Sunday.

    The district administration has decided to impose smart lockdown in several sectors of the capital city on the recommendation of the district health authorities.

    Following streets have been advised to seal:

    • Street No. 54, 56 in sector G-7/2
    • Street No. 1 in sector G9/2
    • Street No. 34,52 in sector G9/1
    • Street No. 12 in sector I-10/4
    • Street No. 2,8,10,70 in sector G-9/3

    Also Read: INDOOR DINING BANNED, MARKETS TO STAY OPEN UNTIL 8PM

    The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration earlier this month had reimposed restrictions to control the fourth wave of coronavirus.

    According to a notification, all businesses in the capital will stay open until 8pm.

    A complete ban was imposed on all types of indoor gatherings, including those related to cultural, musical and religious. However, outdoor gatherings with a maximum limit of 400 individuals will be allowed with Covid-19 protocols.

    The administration had banned indoor weddings with effect from August 8. However, outdoor weddings will be allowed to take place with a maximum limit of 400 guests and strict implementation of Covid-19 SOPs.

    Indoor dining has also been banned as only outdoor dining will be allowed until 10pm. All amusement parks and swimming pools have been closed except for public parks which will remain open under the government-mandated SOPs.

  • Federal govt announces fee for COVID vaccine booster shots from Sep 1

    Federal govt announces fee for COVID vaccine booster shots from Sep 1

    ISLAMABAD: Federal government on Saturday decided to administer booster COVID vaccine shots for people traveling abroad and announced a fee in this regard to be submitted at the National Bank of Pakistan, ARY NEWS reported.

    According to sources privy to the development, the federal government has conveyed a handout to the provincial governments, and Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) governments for taking measures in this regard.

    The handout stated that the COVID vaccine shots to those willing to travel abroad would be administered at designated centres in the provinces and federal regions.

    A fee of Rs1270 has been fixed for those willing to receive booster shots and they had to submit the money to the designated branches of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP).

    The citizens could get the vaccine shots after showing their visa and bank voucher.

    On August 25, it was reported that separate counters would be established at the vaccination centres, where travelers would be administered booster shots of COVID vaccines of the United States and Britain.

    Read More: WHO SLAMS WEALTHY NATIONS’ RUSH TOWARDS COVID BOOSTER SHOTS WHILE MILLIONS WORLDWIDE LACK FIRST JAB

    “The travelers will be charged for getting booster shots including the price of the vaccine and administration cost,” they said.

    The sources further said that those wanting to get the shots had to show the travel documents including a visa and they would be issued a certificate for the booster shot to be presented to the authorities during their foreign trip.

  • Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to be appointed as president PPP Punjab

    Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to be appointed as president PPP Punjab

    LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party leadership has decided to appoint former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf as PPP Central Punjab chapter president, ARY News reported on Friday, quoting sources. 

    The decision has been taken after the consultation by chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former president Asif Ali Zardari with the party leadership, said sources.

    Notification in this context would be issued in a day or two. It is to be noted that Qamar Zaman Kaira and Chaudhry Manzoor tendered their resignations from the party positions in the month of May, earlier this year.

    Kaira was made president of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Central Punjab in 2016.

    The decision was made during a meeting with the provincial coordination committee chaired by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

    Read more: Kaira appointed as PPP President Punjab

  • Pakistan receives another 3mn doses of Pfizer vaccine under Covax scheme

    Pakistan receives another 3mn doses of Pfizer vaccine under Covax scheme

    Pakistan on Thursday received another consignment of 3 million doses of Pfizer COVID vaccine from the United States via the COVAX global distribution program, bringing the total number of doses sent to Pakistan to around 8.5 million, ARY News reported.

    The shipment is part of a US vaccine diplomacy effort that has sent vaccines to dozens of countries. The doses were delivered through the COVAX program, run by the World Health Organization, the official said.

    The vaccine consignment has been shifted to the central warehouse of the federal Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) from the airport, sources said.

    Around 100,600 doses of Pfizer vaccine were provided to Pakistan under the Covax programme last month.

    Read: PAKISTAN RECEIVES SINOPHARM VACCINE SHIPMENT UNDER COVAX PLATFORM

    The American vaccine would be administered to people with chronic diseases and weak immunity. People traveling abroad will also get the Pfizer shot.

    Pakistan has so far received 5.5 million doses of Moderna, 6 million doses of Astra Zeneca, and around 400,000 doses of Pfizer through the COVAX platform, according to health department.

  • Federal govt decides to administer booster shots to abroad travelers: sources

    Federal govt decides to administer booster shots to abroad travelers: sources

    ISLAMABAD: The federal government has prepared a strategy to administer booster shots of COVID vaccine to people traveling abroad, ARY NEWS reported quoting sources on Wednesday.

    According to sources privy to the matter, the booster shots would be administered to travelers from the ongoing month. “The service would be provided to travelers in designated vaccination centres in major cities of the country,” they said.

    They further shared that separate counters would be established at the vaccination centres, where travelers would be administered booster shots of COVID vaccines of the United States and Britain.

    “The travelers will be charged for getting booster shots including the price of the vaccine and administration cost,” they said.

    The sources further said that those wanting to get the booster shots had to show the travel documents including a visa and they would be issued a certificate for the booster shot to be presented to the authorities during their foreign trip.

    Read More: Pregnant women can get COVID-19 jabs: Dr Qaiser Sajjad

    In a report yesterday, it emerged that the federal government has sought recommendations from the health experts regarding COVID-19 vaccine boosters and the strategy would be chalked out with the consultation.

    Sources privy to the development further said that the federal government has sought results for the shots from the international firms and the drive will only be initiated after positive results.

  • Pakistan considering to launch COVID booster shot drive

    Pakistan considering to launch COVID booster shot drive

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is planning to provide COVID-19 vaccine boosters to uplift vaccines’ ability to protect against milder infections, ARY News reported on Tuesday, citing sources. 

    In this context, it has been learnt that the federal government has sought recommendations from the health experts regarding COVID-19 vaccine boosters and the strategy would be chalked out with the consultation.

    The authorities will make a decision about COVID booster drive in the current week as America and the majority of the European countries have not approved the Chinese COVID-19 vaccine.

    Sources privy to the development further said that the federal government has sought results for booster shots from the international firms and the drive will only be initiated after positive results.

    Read more: Pregnant women can get COVID-19 jabs: Dr Qaiser Sajjad

    It is to be mentioned that as the majority of the Pakistanis have received the Chinese COVID vaccine and it was their demand to get booster shots so that they can travel abroad.

    On the other hand, the COVID-19 has claimed 91 more lives during the past 24 hours, taking the country’s overall death toll to 25,094.

    The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) said that the country’s number of overall confirmed cases has risen to 1,131,659 after the emergence of 4,075 new infections.