Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar, who also heads the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), a body that oversees the Covid-19 operations in Pakistan, announced on Friday that Pakistan successfully achieved the target of vaccinating 70million people by year’s end that some people thought was impossible.

Read more: Covid-19 vaccinations in Pakistan crosses 15-crore mark, claims Asad Umar

“…the goal of complete vaccination of 70 million people by the end of 2021 has been achieved,” announced the minister on the last day of 2021.

Lauding his team at the NCOC, he said, “I am grateful for the tireless work of the NCOC team, the federation, especially provincial administrations and the health teams.”

Advertisement

الحمد للہ 2021 کے اختتام تک 7 کروڑ لوگوں کی مکمل ویکسینیشن کا ہدف پورا کر لیا گیا. میں NCOC کی انتھک محنت کرنے والی ٹیم، وفاق اور صوبوں کی انتظامیہ اور صحت کی ٹیموں کا خصوصی تور پر شکر گزار ہوں . ان تمام لوگوں کی بے پناہ محنت سے ایک ہدف جس کو لوگ ناممکن سمجھ رہے تھے، حاصل ہوا pic.twitter.com/omRimvWe9g

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) December 31, 2021

“The hard work of all these people achieved a goal that people thought was impossible.”

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry also congratulated Pakistan and Umar on the big achievement.

Today, Pakistan achieved the target of 70 million fully vaccinated individuals, said the NCOC on Twitter.

Vaccine Statistics:
Vaccine administered across Pakistan in last 24 hours: 1,599,380
Total vaccines administered till now: 156,623,021
Today Pakistan achieved target of 70 M fully vaccinated individuals! 🇵🇰

— NCOC (@OfficialNcoc) December 31, 2021

According to Umar, amongst the federating units, Islamabad leads with 77 % fully vaccinated. Punjab was at 51 %, Gilgit Baltistan at 46 %, Azad Jammu and Kashmir at 45 %, Balochistan at 42 %, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 41%, and Sindh at 37 %.

“Of the total eligible population, 46% is fully vaccinated, and 63% has received at least one dose.”

Amongst the Federating units Islamabad leads with 77 % fully vaccinated. Punjab is at 51 %, GB 46 %, AJK 45 %, balochistan 42 %, KP 41%, and sind at 37 %. Of the total eligible population 46 % is fully vaccinated and 63 % has recieved atleast one dose.

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) December 31, 2021

In a bid to make the massive vaccination drive possible, the minister added, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government procured vaccines worth nearly Rs 250 billion.

Advertisement

To make this massive vaccination drive possible, the Federal Government has procured vaccines worth nearly Rs. 250 Billion. 100% of vaccine procurement done by the federal government, which has provided free vaccines to all citizens regardless of which province they live in.

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) December 31, 2021

“100% of vaccine procurement done by the federal government, which has provided free vaccines to all citizens  regardless of which province they live in.”

Meanwhile, the NCOC also announced that all vaccination centres across the country will remain closed on the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) and will resume work on January 3, 2022 (Monday).

Read more: More than half of students between 12-18 years vaccinated with one dose: Asad Umar

On December 29,  the National Institute of Health (NIH) had confirmed a total of 79 cases of Omicron across the country, claiming that it has also isolated the patients and initiated contact tracing to control the spread of the variant.