Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Asad Umar said on Thursday that it was not possible to lift restrictions on public mobility and businesses unless people were vaccinated against the coronavirus pandemic, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Talking to the media after inaugurating a vaccination centre at a shopping mall in Lahore, Asad Umar said the government wanted to lift the restrictions, and if that was to happen, the vaccination drive would have to be accelerated. “At the same time record increase has been witnessed in people’s tendency to receive the jab,” he admitted.

He informed that Pfizer vaccine would be administered to people on a priority basis. “First of all, Pakistanis planning to travel abroad would receive the jab,” he explained.

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The minister said not great rush of people was being witnessed at coronavirus vaccination centers these days due to an increase in their numbers.

He said as per the decision taken by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), chambers of commerce would also be engaged in the vaccination drive.

Asad told the media that welfare organisations were fully cooperating with the government in this regard.

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He added that schoolteachers were also being vaccinated against the pandemic. “Coronavirus is not Pakistan-specific issue. In fact the entire world is confronting it,” the minister said, and added that most of the vaccine was being exported from China.

Meanwhile, in a tweet, Asad Umar said, “The acceleration of vaccination drive in the country being made possible by huge investment by the federal govt. So far the procurement of vaccine has reached nearly quarter of a billion dollars. Much more to be spent next year for the vaccines procurement.”

https://twitter.com/Asad_Umar/status/1400316325616971777