Sinopharm vaccine among world’s best, Pakistanis more
responsive to vaccination than Indians
Zubair Qureshi
Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Sunday thanked the World Health Organization (WHO) for extending support to Pakistan in the fight against coronavirus.
The government of Pakistan, Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Interior are grateful to the WHO for continuous help and guidance in fighting the pandemic, said the minister after inaugurating a coronavirus vaccination facility at CDA Medical Center G-9 Markaz Islamabad.
WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Country Head, Dr Palitha Mahipala CO MCI Shafaq Hashmi and Director General Health Islamabad Dr Hasan Orooj were also present on the occasion.
The center is top in terms of patient satisfaction ranking and has been upgraded and refurbished according to the international standards..
Sheikh Rashid though expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Imran Khan, yet he attributed the major part of this success against COVID-19 to the foresight and vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Timely decisions taken by Prime Minister Imran Khan helped Islamabad in containing coronavirus, he said adding the vaccination process in Pakistan was better as compared to other countries of the region as a large number of people were visiting vaccination centres.
Congratulating the National Command & Operation Centre (NCOC) team for ensuring smooth supply of vaccine, the minister said the NCOC ensured supply of vaccine as compared to India where notices were displayed that no vaccine was available for seven days in many cities. He said that vaccines were openly available in Pakistan.
He said that the Sinopharm vaccine was one of the best vaccines available in the world. He said that he salutes the Chinese government for cooperation with Pakistan for combating the pandemic.
Discussing the recognition of the Sinopharm vaccine in Saudi Arabia and Europe, the minister said the Prime Minister had stated in the federal cabinet meeting that he would personally talk to leaders of the concerned countries.
He said the government would soon be able to curb street crime with a new eagle squad.
He said 150 mobile eagle squads would be linked with the Safe City Project to make Islamabad a safe zone.
“These squads will keep a check on the city with the help of the Safe City,” said Rashid adding currently, eagle squads had only four mobile vans while 16 more would be added soon in the upcoming budget. He said the police was being strengthened to improve its capacity and working.