Anti-coronavirus spraying drone acquired: Fawad Chaudhry

Federal minister says soon to have own COVID-19 testing kits and ventilators

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has said that Pakistan has acquired the facility to conduct anti-coronavirus spray through drones and had manufactured its own COVID-19 testing kits and ventilators.

“The National University of Science and Technology (Nust) has developed the samples of coronavirus testing kits, drone spray and ventilators,” he said during his visit to Islamabad campus of Nust on Sunday.

He reviewed the samples of coronavirus testing kits, ventilators, sanitizers and drone spray at the campus.

Speaking on the occasion, Chaudhry said that the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) had received 48 designs of the ventilators of which two had been sent to the Drug Regulation Authority of Pakistan (Drap).



“The clinical trial of testing kits developed at Nust will start from Monday (today),” he said.

“The coronavirus testing kits will be available within two to three days and we will be able to manufacture 150,000 kits within the next few weeks,” he added.

Chaudhry noted that the varsity had developed a remote-controlled drone which would be used to spray disinfectant at the quarantine camp.

He expressed the hope that Pakistan would soon be able to export ventilators.

The federal minister said that they had picked up 60 to 70 different sanitizers from the market, but unfortunately most of them were found to be fake the list of which was being sent to the Ministry of Health.

He said the premier had been requested to exercise discretionary powers in this regard.

Responding to a question, Chaudhry said that the decision to extend the lockdown will be taken after reviewing the number of COVID-19 patients on April 15.

He expressed his concern over the maltreatment with the coronavirus patients and urged police officials and medical staff to treat them kindly.

Chaudhry said the situation was in control and the government was performing well.

“There is no particular cure for coronavirus until now and it is better to adopt precautionary measures [to stem the spread of virus],” he said.

“Ninety percent of the hospitals have been provided with all necessary equipment,” he added.