Pakistan denies preparing COVID-19 vaccine with China, as cases cross 12,000

Pakistan on Saturday clarified that vaccine was being prepared after reports emerged that country was on verge of developing it with help of China even as coronavirus cases climbed to 12,644. Advisor on Health Zafar Mirza in his daily media briefing said that currently re was coronavirus vaccine in Pakistan and work of any kind was going on for its development.

"Let me clarify that while re are several initiatives to develop vaccines across world, re is such initiative in Pakistan at moment", he said. But he said that a Chinese company developing a vaccine contacted Pakistan and offered it to become a part of clinical trials. We have asked for more information from m, Mirza said.

He said that a similar offer was made by a company in Japan and Pakistan asked for specific details. Mirza said that 79 per cent of all coronavirus cases in Pakistan were locally transmitted. It is w fair to say that our outbreak is w mostly of local transmission, he said.

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Imran Khan tests negative

Imran Khan tested negative for vel coronavirus. This comes a day after it emerged that Faisal Edhi with whom Khan had interacted on April 15 had been confirmed as a positive COVID-19 patient. Khan's test report was confirmed by Dr.Zafar Mirza, Special Assistant to Pakistan PM on Health. Earlier, reports indicated that Imran Khan's family members also tested negative for vel Coronavirus. 

Faisal Edhi had presented a cheque worth 1 crore Pakistani rupees to Khan in Islamabad in his capacity as head of Edhi Foundation, which is country's largest charity foundation. Reportedly, he developed COVID-19 symptoms soon after visiting Islamabad. Though se symptoms subsided after 4 days, he insisted on getting tested as he had been on ground working with vel Coronavirus patients. Currently, he is in isolation at a hospital in Islamabad.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan tests negative for vel Coronavirus

COVID-19 crisis in Pakistan

Ministry of National Health Services reported that Pakistan's coronavirus tally touched 12,644, as government asked people to follow official guidelines while visiting mosques in Ramadan. It said that three patients died on Saturday, taking total death toll to 256. Ar 2,755 recovered from disease. largest province of Punjab reported 5,378 cases, Sindh 4,232, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 1,793, Balochistan 656, Gilgit-Baltistan 307, Islamabad 223 and Kashmir 55 cases. So far 138,147 tests were done including 6,780 during last 24 hours, according to data issued by ministry. It also said that 785 patients were diagsed during last 24 hours.  Imran Khan government on Friday extended lockdown till May 9.

'y were abiding': Imran Khan's rival Bhutto says Pak PM blundered Ramzan Covid lockdown

Imran Khan has been panned by opposition for his inconsistent stance on enforcement of a lockdown. In March, he ruled out possibility of imposing a lockdown in Pakistan. Ackwledging Pakistan’s dire ecomic condition, Khan stated his government did t have capacity to take care of 25% of population which is under poverty line if a lockdown was implemented. However, Pakistan government later imposed a lockdown and extended it till April 30. 

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