The Pakistan Armed Forces have donated a batch of COVID-19 delivered by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) to frontline healthcare workers honouring their devotion for the cause, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.
ISPR Director General Major General Babar Iftikhar said healthcare workers across Pakistan are fighting the pandemic and they are ‘real heroes’.
“It has been decided to contribute complete Chinese vaccine donation in the national drive to be administered to front line healthcare workers across Pakistan who are real heroes fighting against pandemic and saving precious lives,” DG ISPR said.
The Army's Spokesperson said, “The Pakistan Army is deeply grateful to China.”
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Sunday delivered a batch of COVID-19 vaccines to the Pakistani army at their request, according to an official statement from the PLA. It marks the first time the PLA has provided COVID-19 vaccines to a foreign army, said the statement.
On February 1, a special Pakistan Air Force plane carrying 500,000 doses of Chinese vaccines developed by Sinopharm landed at the Islamabad airport. It's the first batch of donated vaccines provided by the Chinese government to another country.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi thanked China's donation in the handover ceremony, saying "once again you have demonstrated that our friendship is an all-weather tested friendship."