ISLAMABAD: Asad Umar, planning minister and head of Pakistan’s central pandemic response body, the NCOC, said on Tuesday the capital had become the first city in Pakistan with a population of over one million whose 50 percent eligible population had received at least one coronavirus vaccine jab.
According to a government portal, only around 6 million people across Pakistan have gotten both jabs in a population of 220 million.
“Islamabad has become the first city in Pak with a population of 1 million or more to get 50 percent of its eligible population vaccinated with at least one dose,” Umar said on Twitter. “Peshawar and pindi 35 percent, faislabad 28 percent, lahore/gujranwala /sialkot/sargodha 27 percent, karachi 26 percent, hyderabad 25 percent.”
Islamabad has become the first city in Pak with a population of 1 million or more to get 50% of its eligible population vaccinated with at least one dose. Peshawar and pindi 35%, faislabad 28%, lahore/gujranwala /sialkot/sargodha 27%, karachi 26%, hyderabad 25%.
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) August 3, 2021
In a separate tweet, Umar said the target to administer one million vaccine doses in a day was crossed yesterday, Monday.
“Happy to report that the target we had set for 1 million vaccinations in a day was crossed yesterday with 10 lakh 72 thousand vaccinations.”
Happy to report that the target we had set for 1 million vaccinations in a day was crossed yesterday with 10 lakh 72 thousand vaccinations. All federating entities contributed with punjab, sind, kp and Islamabad all doing record numbers. Amazing performance by all involved
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) August 3, 2021
On Monday, Umar announced new coronavirus restrictions, including that indoor dining at restaurants would be banned and markets would be closed two days a week.
Pakistan reported 3,582 new infections in the last 24 hours, with 67 deaths. Cases had steadily declined in May and June but are now rising once more. The government of Prime Minister Imran Khan is opposed to imposing a complete nationwide lockdown due to its economic side effects and has preferred smart, localized lockdowns in disease hotspots and a focus on implementation of social distancing rules and other health guidelines.
“We have to protect the health of the people as well as their jobs,” Umar said in a statement on Monday, announcing that market hours would be reduced from 10 to 8 p.m. and shops would remain closed two days a week.
“It has been decided to close indoor dining, takeaway facility will be available 24 hours a day,” the planning minister said, adding that offices and public transportation would function at 50 percent capacity.
The restrictions would apply in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Lahore, Islamabad and Multan until August 31, Umar said.
