Sputnik; Pakistani companies seek permission to manufacture Russian Covid-19 vaccine

According to details, Mr. Ruslan Aliev who is a Deputy Trade Representative at Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Karachi has confirmed that two Pakistani companies have sought permission to manufacture Russian vaccine and both applications have been sent to the Investment Division.

He further said that he was not aware of the existing price of Russian vaccine, but at the outset the price would change.

On January 25, Pakistan authorized the emergency use of Russia's Sputnik V, making it the third anti-Covid-19 vaccine after Oxford University-AstraZeneca and Chinese Sinopharm approved by the country against the deadly coronavirus.

In February, the drive kick-started with healthcare workers being administered the jab in the first phase.

On March 10, the vaccination drive for 60 above began across Pakistan. The senior citizens are being administered the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine.

On March 30, the government opened coronavirus vaccination registration for people who are 50 and above.

Pakistan's coronavirus tally on Friday reached 678,165 with the detection of 5,234 new cases in the last 24 hours, with authorities linking the uptick in numbers to the third wave of the deadly outbreak across the country.

The total number of confirmed cases reached to 678,165.

As many as 607,205 patients have recovered from the disease with 3,384 critical cases.