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ARY NEWS

Jahangir Khan

  • WB allows Pakistan to utilise PREP funds for Covid vaccine procurement

    WB allows Pakistan to utilise PREP funds for Covid vaccine procurement

    ISLAMABAD: The World Bank on Monday agreed over providing funding to Pakistan for advance purchases of coronavirus vaccines, ARY News reported on Monday, citing sources.

    According to sources, the World Bank has offered Pakistan providing new funds for the vaccine procurement which was reportedly rejected by Islamabad.

    Sources told ARY News that Pakistan has requested WB to allow utilizing funds issued for Pandemic Response Effectiveness Project (PREP) for the purchase of Covid vaccine which was accepted by the World Bank.

    The World Bank’s (WB) Board of Executive Directors in April had approved $153 million for Pandemic Response Effectiveness Project for Pakistan.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan had sought $153mn from the WB for advance purchases of the COVID-19 vaccines. The request had been made by the Economic Coordination Division.

    The Health ministry had penned a letter to the Economic Coordination Division advising it to seek funds from the WB for advance purchases of the coronavirus vaccines.

    Read more: ECC approves supplementary grant to purchase COVID-19 vaccines

    Pakistan is also in direct contact with the COVID-19 vaccine producer firms and also using GAVI platform for the ani-covid vaccines.

    It is to be noted that the ECC has already approved a supplementary grant for the advance purchases of the vaccines.

    Pakistan has planned to vaccinate health workers and senior citizens in the first phase in a bid to save them from the deadly pandemic.

    Pakistan Covid tally

    Pakistan has recorded 36 deaths and 2,362 new cases due to the COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.

    In the past 24 hours, 36 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 8,832. 1,719 patients have recovered from the virus during the last 24 hours and 2,456 patients are in critical condition, however, no patient has been declared critical today.

    The total count of active cases is 47,236.

  • Coronavirus positivity rate rises to 304 pc in two months: NCOC

    Coronavirus positivity rate rises to 304 pc in two months: NCOC

    ISLAMABAD: The positivity rate of COVID-19 has risen to 304 per cent in two months while the current week’s rate recorded at 8.2 per cent in Pakistan, ARY News reported on Friday.

    The statistics of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) stated that the country witnessed a major surge in COVID-19 positivity rate in two months which was recorded up to 304 per cent. The positivity rate was recorded at 2.3 per cent on October 12, whereas, the overall rate stood at 8.2 per cent in the current week.

    The daily positivity rate in Pakistan is 3,166 per cent with an increase up to 413 per cent as compared to the 617 per cent recorded on October 12.

    During the two months, the mortality rate was increased up to 630 per cent in the country. Eight deaths had been reported on October 12, whereas, 58 deaths were reported this week.

    Read: Covid numbers will surpass hospital capacity if SOPs not followed: PM

    A record rise was seen in the number of patients admitted to different hospitals across the country, increasing the rate to 404 per cent which had been recorded at an average of 46 per cent on October 12.

    The rate of hospital admissions of COVID-19 patients reached up to 232 per cent this week, stated NCOC.

    It added that the rate of critical patients admitted to intensive care units in different medical facilities increased up to 415 per cent in the two months as compared to the number of COVID-positive patients which was 491 during the second week of October. In this week, 2,527 patients were admitted to ICUs.

    According to the daily statistics of NCOC on Friday, Pakistan recorded 50 deaths and 3,047 new cases due to the COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.

    Read: CAA notifies new SOPs for passengers travelling to Pakistan

    In the past 24 hours, 50 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 8,653. 4,791 patients have recovered from the virus during the last 24 hours and 2,538 patients are in critical condition, however, no patient has been declared critical today.

    The total count of active cases is 44,582 and the positivity rate was recorded up to 7.15 per cent.

    According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), with fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 432,327.

    A total of 42,596 tests were conducted across the country during this period. Overall 379,092people have recovered from the deadly disease so far while 5,948,742 samples have been tested thus far.

  • PPP divided over en masse resignation from assemblies: sources

    PPP divided over en masse resignation from assemblies: sources

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) stands divided over the resignation issue as many of its legislators have expressed their concern and refused to submit resignations to their party head in light of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) decision, ARY News reported, citing sources.

    Sources informed ARY News that several PPP lawmakers have expressed concern over en-masse resignations from the assemblies by December 31.

    The lawmakers were of the view that PPP should not submit resignation on the pressure of any other party as PPP had always opposed the decision of resignations from assemblies.

    “Opposition should give a tough time to government in parliament instead of en-mass resignations from assemblies as the decision will depress party workers,” the PPP lawmakers maintained.

    Sources said that the lawmakers will inform the PPP leadership about their concerns in the meeting.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had said on Tuesday that lawmakers belonging to different opposition parties will submit resignations to their respective party heads by December 31.

    Read More: Opposition lawmakers to submit resignations by Dec 31, says PDM chief Fazl

    Briefing media about the decisions taken in PDM meeting held at the PML-N secretariat in Islamabad, Fazl had said that PDM will hold a pubic rally at any cost in Lahore on December 13 (Sunday).

    “Opposition lawmakers from national and provincial assemblies will submit resignations to their respective party heads by December 31,” said Fazl while addressing a press conference along with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz.

  • COVID-19 vaccines to be administered in three phases: sources

    COVID-19 vaccines to be administered in three phases: sources

    ISLAMABAD: The federal government has finalised the plan for initiating COVID-19 vaccination drive in three phases which is likely to be commenced from March 2021, citing sources, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

    Sources closer to the health ministry told ARY News that the coronavirus vaccination drive will be run in three phases across the country from March 2021.

    In the first phase, 10 million people will be administered COVID-19 vaccines including 0.5 million frontline essential health workers and 9.5 million population over 65 years of age.

    Read: NCOC approves COVID-19 vaccine administration plan: sources

    In the second phase, all health workers and population over 65 years of age will be administered the vaccines, sources said.

    A defined proportion of the remaining population will be given COVID-19 vaccines in the third phase of the forthcoming drive. The continuation of the drive will be made on the quantity of the available COVID-19 vaccines during the third phase, sources added.

    Read: Russia offers Pakistan its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine

    Earlier on Monday, it emerged that a special cabinet committee, headed by Federal Minister Asad Umar, had been constituted for procurement of the COVID-19 vaccine.

    The five-member committee of the federal cabinet includes Fawad Chaudhry, Hammad Azhar, Sania Nishtar and Dr Faisal Sultan as other four members, according to sources. The special cabinet committee will function as an oversight body for procurement of the COVID-19 vaccine, sources said.

    Read: COVID-19 vaccine likely to be available in Pakistan in Feb: Faisal Sultan

    The committee’s decision will be final and it won’t require an endorsement from the federal cabinet, sources told ARY News. The objective of formation of a special committee is to ensure transparency in procurement of the vaccine, sources further said.

    The health ministry had finalised a comprehensive strategy for administering of the expected COVID-19 vaccine across the country.

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) had approved the ‘Vaccine Administration Plan’, the comprehensive strategy prepared by the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) of the health ministry.

  • Russia offers Pakistan its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine

    Russia offers Pakistan its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine

    ISLAMABAD: With countries world over scrambling to buy coronavirus vaccines that have been found to be effective at preventing the infection, Russia has offered to supply its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine to Pakistan.

    Although the shot has not finished its final trials, the country started distributing vaccinations Saturday last.

    Also Read: Britain gets ready for roll-out of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine this week

    Sources told ARY News that Russia has offered to sell its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine to Pakistan as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received a letter to this effect along with data on the vaccine’s clinical research and trials from the Russian Embassy in Islamabad.

    They said the ministry has apprised the National Health Services (NHS) on the vaccine on offer.

    Also Read: Russia rolls out Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine to most exposed groups

    According to a clinical report that seeks to compare the vaccine candidate with other potential Covid-19 vaccines, Sputnik developed in Russia is 95per cent effective and cheaper than other vaccines.

    Besides, the report said the Russian vaccine doesn’t need onerous storage requirements like the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that needs to be kept at -70C (-94F) and only lasts five days in a regular fridge.

    Read: Russia says Sputnik COVID-19 vaccine to cost under $20

    It said Russia’s Direct Investment Fund bankrolled the development of the vaccine that is now being administered to Russian troops. The vaccine was registered in August 2020 with its limited use starting in November.

  • Pakistan decides to contact World Bank for COVID-19 vaccine funding

    Pakistan decides to contact World Bank for COVID-19 vaccine funding

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to contact the World Bank for COVID-19 vaccine funding, ARY News reported on Saturday, citing sources.

    Pakistan will seek $153mn from the WB for advance purchases of the COVID-19 vaccines. The request will be formally made by the Economic Coordination Division, said the sources.

    In this context, the Health ministry has penned a letter to the Economic Coordination Division advising it to seek funds from the WB for advance purchases of the coronavirus vaccines.

    The funds will be requested under Credit Funding Act 6590. The letter further said that initial talks have been done with the World Bank for the funds via video link.

    After the approval of the grant from the WB, Pakistan will purchase the COVID-19 vaccines in advance for its citizens, said the sources.

    Read more: ECC approves supplementary grant to purchase COVID-19 vaccines: sources

    Pakistan is also in direct contact with the COVID-19 vaccine producer firms and also using GAVI platform for the anti-covid vaccines.

    It is to be noted that the ECC has already approved a supplementary grant for the advance purchases of the vaccines.

    Pakistan has planned to vaccinate health workers and senior citizens in the first phase in a bid to save them from the deadly pandemic.

  • NCOC approves COVID-19 vaccine administration plan: sources

    NCOC approves COVID-19 vaccine administration plan: sources

    ISLAMABAD: The health ministry has finalised a comprehensive strategy for administering of the expected COVID-19 vaccine across the country, citing sources, ARY News reported on Thursday.

    Sources told ARY News that the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has approved the ‘Vaccine Administration Plan’, the comprehensive strategy prepared by the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) of the health ministry.

    The responsibility for storage and transportation of the COVID-19 vaccine to the administration sites was given to the dedicated team of EPI, whereas, it will also train administration staff besides ascertaining their proficiency level before deputation, according to the letter obtained by ARY News.

    Special security arrangements will be made for the safe transportation of coronavirus vaccine, it stated.

    Read: Criminal organisations to target Covid vaccines, Interpol warns countries

    The relevant authorities will devise a security standard operating procedures (SOPs) for vaccine transportation with the consultation of EPI personnel, whereas, local police and other law enforcement agencies will also be taken on board for timely preparation and information.

    Health Ministry Pakistan

    National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) will prepare a management system for EPI for mobilisation, vaccination and subsequent maintenance of records of the immunisation plan.

    A mobile app will be developed as well to updated and secure the immunisation records to the central database of NADRA.

    Notification

    Before the implementation of COVID-19 ‘Vaccine Immunisation Plan’, the government will unveil a ‘clear, effective communication strategy’ prepared by the health ministry.

    Read: When and which COVID-19 vaccines are likely to be available in Asia

    Earlier, the federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan had approved funds to purchase the Covid-19 vaccine.

    The cabinet meeting had approved $150mn to procure an anti-Covid vaccine. The health workers and people above 60 years of age will get the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine in the first stage.

    vaccine

    Briefing media about the decisions taken in the federal cabinet meeting regarding the anti-Covid vaccines, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan had said that the cabinet has approved funds for the advance purchases of COVID-19 vaccines.

    Read: Govt okays procurement of Covid-19 vaccine

    “Frontline workers will be given first doses of coronavirus vaccine in the first stage,” said SAPM Faisal, adding that elderly people will be vaccinated in the second stage while the common public will receive the first dose of vaccine in the third stage whenever it becomes available.

    The government hopes to procure Covid-19 vaccine in the first quarter of 2021, SAPM Dr Faisal Sultan told the media.

    He further said that govt the cabinet meeting has approved a major reduction in prices of Remdesivir injection used to treat COVID-19 patients. “Govt has fixed price up to Rs5000 for a Remdesivir injection” he added. Earlier, the federal cabinet had fixed its price up to Rs10,873 on June 16.

  • Pakistan’s COVID-19 positivity rate reaches 7.1%

    Pakistan’s COVID-19 positivity rate reaches 7.1%

    ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has said on Sunday that Pakistan’s COVID-19 positivity ratio has reached 7.1 per cent.

    A meeting of the NCOC was held with Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar in the chair to review the situation of coronavirus cases and implementation on the SOPs across the country.

    The forum was informed that the highest test positivity rate was recorded at 24.85 per cent in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), followed by Hyderabad at 22.18%, and Karachi at 18.96 %.

    Read more: Pakistan records 3,113 COVID-19 cases, 54 deaths in 24 hours: NCOC

    There are a total of 2,186 critically ill Covid-19 patients across the country but the number of such patients is increasing sharply, the NCOC was informed.

    Asad Umar earlier on Saturday had said protecting the masses from the pandemic is the government’s foremost priority. All-out efforts are being made to contain the spread of the virus with round-the-clock monitoring of the Covid situation, he had added.

    He had stressed the need for people to play an individual and collective role to stem the virus spread, lauding enforcement of SOPs at mosques across the country.

  • Govt to seek international donors’ help to buy COVID vaccines

    Govt to seek international donors’ help to buy COVID vaccines

    ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to approach international donors for financial assistance to purchase COVID-19 vaccines, ARY News reported, citing sources.

    The government will contact the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and UNICEF for funding for the bulk-buying of doses of the vaccine. The health ministry will approach the multilateral donors through the Economic Affairs Division.

    Also Read: Oxford’s COVID-19 vaccine can be 90% effective, results show

    It will negotiate with them for financial assistance or a loan with no strings attached, the sources said, adding the health ministry has begun working on a coherent plan for the purpose.

    On November 20, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had approved a technical supplementary grant worth $150 million for the advance purchase of coronavirus vaccines.

    Also Read: G20 leaders pledge to fund fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines

    Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh approved the grant while chairing a session of the ECC wherein a six-point agenda, including funds allocation for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, came under discussion.

  • Pakistan locally develops modern device to diagnose coronavirus

    Pakistan locally develops modern device to diagnose coronavirus

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has locally developed a modern device to diagnose coronavirus within a minute, confirmed CEO Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Dr. Asim Rauf Saturday, ARY News reported.

    The invention is being regarded as a major breakthrough for Pakistan in its fight against the pandemic. The device has been approved by the DRAP.

    As per details, the device is capable of diagnosing the deadly disease within a minute through the lungs. The device has been named COVID Rapid Artificial Intelligence Detection.

    Dr Asim said that the device has been purely developed at the domestic level and has been approved under the DRAP Act 2012.

    He said that the device will be helpful for Pakistan in the war against COVID-19 as it can detect the infection within a minute.

    Read more: DRAP approves locally developed coronavirus testing kits

    CEO DRAP said that the device that was developed by National Electronics Complex Pakistan, will be available in the market soon.

    Only a few countries are using COVID technology, Dr Rauf said and added that Pakistan will export the device to other countries to help them in fighting the pandemic.

    Earlier this year, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) had approved the country’s first-ever locally developed testing kits for coronavirus detection.

    The kits had been developed by the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST).