ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar has announced a number of measures to ensure vaccination of people against COVID-19 in high-risk sectors.
Briefing the media persons along with Special Assistant on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan, the minister said lockdown in a city is not the solution but rather vaccination is the only solution to get rid of the pandemic.
The Sindh government is proactively taking steps to curb spread of the coronavirus but when the lockdown restrictions ease then the virus rapidly spreads. He said the roper enforcement and compliance of the SOPs could help in success against the pandemic
He assured every possible cooperation to the government of Sindh for implementation of the Standard Operating procedures (SOPs) in the province including deployment of military troops and Rangers.
The NCOC chief said the vaccination drive is ongoing across Pakistan and they have set a new record of by administering over 850,000 vaccine shots in a day.
“Punjab made a vaccination record yesterday and inoculated around 500,000 people, which is maximum record in a day for the province. Sindh administered 169,000 vaccines which is also the maximum record for the province,” he said. “We are eyeing to attain the target of one million vaccination in the country in a day,” he said.
Vaccination deadline by Aug 31
Umar said only those people will be allowed to travel by air from the 1st of August who would have taken at least one vaccination shot. The minister said we cannot put the lives of students in danger. Therefore, the teachers will have to get themselves vaccinated before 1st of August to continue their responsibilities in the educational institutions.
He said those transporting the students to schools and colleges will have to get the vaccination shots by August 31. He that students aged eighteen and above will also have to receive the vaccination jab.
Asad Umar said the deadline of August 31 for vaccination has also been set for the public sector employees, law enforcement agencies, transport sector and the staff working in hotels, restaurants, wedding halls and banks.
He said these steps have been taken to protect the lives and livelihoods of the people. He said the world recognizes Pakistan’s efforts for dealing with the pandemic.
In his remarks on the occasion, Special Assistant on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan voiced concerns over increase in the number of Covid-19 cases. Resultantly, he said the burden on hospitals especially in Karachi is increasing. He asked the people to observe the health guidelines to check the spread of the pandemic.
