Coronavirus vaccine: Pakistan to purchase 1.2m doses from China's Sinopharm

Pakistan will purchase 1.2 million doses of coronavirus vaccine from China's Sinopharm, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudry said on Thursday.

"The Cabinet Committee has decided to initially purchase 1.2 million doses of the vaccine from the Chinese company Sinopharm, which will be provided free of cost to frontline workers in the first quarter of 2021," the science minister announced on Twitter.

China approved a COVID-19 vaccine developed by an affiliate of state-backed pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm on Thursday, its first approved shot for general public use.

Fawad Chaudhry added that the private sector can also import the vaccine approved internationally.

Sources said a decision to this effect was taken Wednesday at the second meeting of the Special Cabinet Committee constituted as an oversight body for procurement of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The meeting was chaired by Minister for Planning Asad Umar and attended by Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry and Minister for Industries Hammad Azhar. The Special Assistant to PM on Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar and SAPM on Health Dr Faisal Sultan attended the meeting on the invitation.

The committee was apprised that a number of countries have pre-booked COVID-19 vaccine based on preliminary or incomplete results in order to ensure timely availability of vaccines for their populations. In some situations, vaccines were pre-booked even in development stages to ensure availability.

The committee was informed of the deliberations of an expert committee formed by DRAP which is in process of reviewing and analyzing available data from clinical studies performed so far. Of available options, data from one company has been submitted for review to the committee for a final adjudication for emergency use.

In line with global practices at present whereby emergency procurement has to be made at times with incomplete and evolving information, the committee decided to pre-book COVID-19 vaccine from Sinopharm.

It was also decided that other manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccine will continue to be engaged in for future bookings for the remaining phases of vaccination, based on further data and availability.

The committee reiterated that the private sector will also be encouraged to approach DRAP and follow the laid down procedures for emergency use authorization of any available and safe COVID-19 vaccine.

 

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NA speaker dismisses 'unverified' PML-N MNAs' resignations

The resignations submitted by two PML-N lawmakers have been declared 'fake' by National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser after the parliamentarians failed to verify them.

Murtaza Javed and Dr Mohammad Sajjad Awan had submitted their resignations on December 14 following the Pakistan Democratic Movement's (PDM) decision to resign from the Parliament in lieu of their anti-government protests.

However, the lawmakers did not verify their resignations and termed them fake. "Since the resignations could not be authenticated, they have been dismissed and no further action is required," said a statement issued by the House.

As part of its anti-government movement, the 11-party opposition alliance decided that its lawmakers in the national and provincial assemblies will hand in their resignations to their party heads by December 31.

The PDM has also demanded Prime Minister Imran Khan resign by January 31 or face intensified protests including a long march to the federal capital.

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PM Imran Khan extends fixed tax regime for construction sector till December 31, 2021

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday announced that the fixed tax regime for the construction sector has been extended to December 31, 2021.

PM Khan said that the construction industry was waiting for such a development, adding that an extension to the fixed tax regime was a 'big demand' from the industry and now it will have an extra year at its disposal.

The PM was speaking during a weekly review meeting of high-priority economic sectors along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Division and Strategic Policy Planning Moeed Yusuf.

Chief secretaries of all the four provinces also partook in the meeting via video link.

During the meeting, PM Khan directed his cabinet to implement new reforms to six sectors, including food security, construction, economy, power and electricity, and manpower.

Speaking about the incentives that the government provided to the construction industry earlier this year, PM Imran Khan said that the industry showed considerable progress as projects worth Rs186 billion were registered with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

He added that it was because of the progress of the construction industry that Pakistan was steered away from economic crisis amid the pandemic.

"There are more construction projects worth Rs116 billion which have been registered on FBR's portal and are yet to be drafted," the PM said. "Meanwhile, the approval process of projects worth 136 billion are also currently underway."

PM Imran Khan said that as per the government's plan, the economic activity generated from these construction projects in Punjab alone would be worth Rs1,500 billion, which would, in turn, create more than 25 million jobs in the province.

He also informed his cabinet members that projects worth Rs163 billion have already started in Punjab.

"Similarly, we have initiated projects in other parts of the country too, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan."

Special packages for low-cost housing

The PM said that his government also provided special packages for the salaried class to be able to purchase low-cost houses, adding that banks have been instructed to extend full support to people in this regard.

"Banks have set aside Rs378 billion for the construction sector," the PM said. "For low-cost houses, banks will lend loans on 5% to 7% interest rates, and in the first phase, 0.1 million houses will be constructed along with a grant of Rs0.3 million."

The PM added that in bigger cities of the country, the government is working on master plans under which problems of sewerage and water supply will be addressed.

Shedding light on other developmental projects in the country, the premier said that the process of digitalisation of land-related data will be completed in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad by August 2021.

The PM also said that the fixed tax regime for the construction sector will be expanded until December 2021.

"The progress in the construction industry has also led to an increase in the sales of cement, barring, and other related equipment."

'Smart lockdown exceptionally beneficial for the country'

Prime Minister Imran Khan also said that his government devised careful strategies to save the country from the economic crisis brought about by the coronavirus lockdown.

"During the first wave of the pandemic, the government saved the citizens from unemployment and starvation," the PM said, adding that the strategy of imposing a 'smart lockdown' turned out to be exceptionally beneficial for the country."

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NA speaker dismisses 'unverified' PML-N MNAs' resignations

The resignations submitted by two PML-N lawmakers have been declared 'fake' by National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser after the parliamentarians failed to verify them.

Murtaza Javed and Dr Mohammad Sajjad Awan had submitted their resignations on December 14 following the Pakistan Democratic Movement's (PDM) decision to resign from the Parliament in lieu of their anti-government protests.

However, the lawmakers did not verify their resignations and termed them fake. "Since the resignations could not be authenticated, they have been dismissed and no further action is required," said a statement issued by the House.

As part of its anti-government movement, the 11-party opposition alliance decided that its lawmakers in the national and provincial assemblies will hand in their resignations to their party heads by December 31.

The PDM has also demanded Prime Minister Imran Khan resign by January 31 or face intensified protests including a long march to the federal capital.

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PM Imran Khan extends fixed tax regime for construction sector till December 31, 2021

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday announced that the fixed tax regime for the construction sector has been extended to December 31, 2021.

PM Khan said that the construction industry was waiting for such a development, adding that an extension to the fixed tax regime was a 'big demand' from the industry and now it will have an extra year at its disposal.

The PM was speaking during a weekly review meeting of high-priority economic sectors along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Division and Strategic Policy Planning Moeed Yusuf.

Chief secretaries of all the four provinces also partook in the meeting via video link.

During the meeting, PM Khan directed his cabinet to implement new reforms to six sectors, including food security, construction, economy, power and electricity, and manpower.

Speaking about the incentives that the government provided to the construction industry earlier this year, PM Imran Khan said that the industry showed considerable progress as projects worth Rs186 billion were registered with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

He added that it was because of the progress of the construction industry that Pakistan was steered away from economic crisis amid the pandemic.

"There are more construction projects worth Rs116 billion which have been registered on FBR's portal and are yet to be drafted," the PM said. "Meanwhile, the approval process of projects worth 136 billion are also currently underway."

PM Imran Khan said that as per the government's plan, the economic activity generated from these construction projects in Punjab alone would be worth Rs1,500 billion, which would, in turn, create more than 25 million jobs in the province.

He also informed his cabinet members that projects worth Rs163 billion have already started in Punjab.

"Similarly, we have initiated projects in other parts of the country too, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan."

Special packages for low-cost housing

The PM said that his government also provided special packages for the salaried class to be able to purchase low-cost houses, adding that banks have been instructed to extend full support to people in this regard.

"Banks have set aside Rs378 billion for the construction sector," the PM said. "For low-cost houses, banks will lend loans on 5% to 7% interest rates, and in the first phase, 0.1 million houses will be constructed along with a grant of Rs0.3 million."

The PM added that in bigger cities of the country, the government is working on master plans under which problems of sewerage and water supply will be addressed.

Shedding light on other developmental projects in the country, the premier said that the process of digitalisation of land-related data will be completed in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad by August 2021.

The PM also said that the fixed tax regime for the construction sector will be expanded until December 2021.

"The progress in the construction industry has also led to an increase in the sales of cement, barring, and other related equipment."

'Smart lockdown exceptionally beneficial for the country'

Prime Minister Imran Khan also said that his government devised careful strategies to save the country from the economic crisis brought about by the coronavirus lockdown.

"During the first wave of the pandemic, the government saved the citizens from unemployment and starvation," the PM said, adding that the strategy of imposing a 'smart lockdown' turned out to be exceptionally beneficial for the country."

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CJP takes notice of vandalism at Karak Hindu shrine

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) on Thursday took notice of a tragic incident of vandalism at the shrine of a Hindu saint in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Karak district.

Dr. Ramesh Kumar, MNA and Patron in Chief Pakistan Hindu Council, called on the chief justice at the Supreme Court’s Karachi registry and raised the issue of “desecration/burning of shrine of Hindu saint Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj” by a mob in Karak on Wednesday, according to a statement issued by the SC.

CJP Ahmed showed grave concern over the tragic incident and informed the member of Parliament that he has already taken cognizance of the matter and has fixed it before a bench for hearing on Jan 5 (Tuesday).

The country’s top adjudicator issued directions to the one-man commission on minorities rights, KPK chief secretary and IGP to visit the site of the shrine and submit a report on Monday.

According to reports, a mob set on fire the shrine of the Hindu saint and demolished several of its parts in Teri area of Karak.

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New year Night: Islamabad police have finalised a comprehensive security plan

The Islamabad police have finalised a comprehensive security plan on eve of New Year night in the federal capital, on Thursday.

Around 2000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure foolproof security and keep a vigilant eye during possible celebrations on New Year night.

Police contingent deployed at important places, shopping centres, main markets for the safety of public on the eve of New Year night.

DIG Operations Waqar Uddin directed strict action against those involved in one-wheeling, racing, fireworks and aerial firing. The SSP (Traffic) would ensure all measures for smooth traffic flow in the city while traffic police will also coordinate with the city police to maintain law and order and control traffic on the occasion.

He has appealed the citizens to demonstrate responsibility in their attitude and act like a member of civilized society.

Meanwhile, Sindh police have warned revellers against indulging in celebratory aerial firing on New Year’s Eve to avoid untoward incidents.

Additional Inspector General (AIG) Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon, while talking to ARY News, said an attempted murder case will be registered against those found resorting to aerial firing.

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