Pakistan on Friday has detected the first confirmed case of a COVID-19 variant first identified in India, the federal health ministry said on Friday.

A spokesman for the Federal Ministry of Health, said in a statement that the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad shared results of whole-genome sequencing of SARS CoV-2 samples collected during the first three weeks of May 2021.
"The sequencing results confirmed detection of seven cases of B.1.351 (South African variant) and one case of B.1.617.2 (Indian variant). This is the first in-country detection of the latter strain," the statement said.
The health ministry said this was the first case of its kind in Pakistan.
Ministry further said that according to the protocols, the field epidemiology and disease surveillance division and the district health administration of Islamabad are conducting contact tracing of all positive cases.
He said that following the continuous reports of strains emerging globally, the need for guidelines, use of masks and vaccination is becoming apparent.
The World Health Organization (WHO) earlier this month named B.1.617.2 (Indian variant) a globally worrying variant.
To prevent the spread of the B.1.617 variant in Pakistan, the NCOC had last month placed India in the category C list, banning entry of passengers from the country through air and land routes.
The WHO had said that B.1.617.2 was first reported in India last year while the first type of identification was made in October 2020.
The virus later spread to other countries and several governments around the world restricted movement with India.

Mashreq Digital Bank in Pakistan, Pakistanis in Emirates can send remittances for free
- 4 گھنٹے قبل

IBO in Khuzdar, four terrorists of Fitna-tul-Hindustan killed
- 8 منٹ قبل
Pakistan’s BRICS membership likely by 2026: diplomatic sources
- 7 منٹ قبل

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan together against aggressor, forever and ever: Saudi Defense Minister
- 2 گھنٹے قبل

A Democratic senator on the fights his party has to pick
- 6 گھنٹے قبل

3 cops killed in shooting in US state of Pennsylvania
- 4 گھنٹے قبل

PM Shehbaz Sharif leaves for London after completing Saudi visit
- 43 منٹ قبل

Heavy rain in areas of Islamabad, Azad Kashmir
- 3 گھنٹے قبل

Pakistan's first, most advanced coblation treatment for cancer launched
- ایک گھنٹہ قبل

Taliban administration bans internet in Afghanistan
- ایک گھنٹہ قبل

Why is Trump suing the New York Times?
- 6 گھنٹے قبل

Joint statement on state visit of PM Shehbaz to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- 4 گھنٹے قبل