Over 1.3 million people vaccinated against Covid-19: Asad Umar

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar on Tuesday said that over 1.3 million people have been vaccinated across the country for the Covid-19 pandemic.

The minister elaborated that since the detection of the British variant of the virus in Pakistan, cases have increased significantly and brought about the pandemic's third wave.

"Sixty to seventy thousand vaccines are currently being administered on a daily basis and it is our effort to enhance it to one hundred and fifty thousand to two hundred thousand after Eid-ul-Fitr", he stated.

Umar added that 0.9 million vaccines were available in the country as of now and that if the country received vaccine doses as per commitments, the vaccination will be opened for all the Pakistanis after Eidul Fitr.

The planning minister also reassured that the cabinet had approved a budget of $150 million to procure vaccines for the people, however, he highlighted that many people were not implementing the required SOP's to help mitigate the spread of the virus.

The minister said the authorities may clamp down further in the days to come to try and stop the spread of the virus.

Stressing that the third wave could be controlled, he said cases will reduce if people started following Covid-19 SOPs and taking extra precautions during Ramazan.