Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Dr. Zafar Mirza has said Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan has allowed the local production of raw material of cholorquine as part of efforts to cope with coronavirus challenge.

In a statement today, he said the DRAP has also permitted clinical trials of plasma therapy for coronavirus treatment.

The Special Assistant said the drug regulatory body has also allowed the clinical trials of locally manufactured ventilators.

More than fifty companies allowed to produce sanitizers to contain the spread of the pandemic.

The companies will prepare quality sanitizers as per the directions of the World Health Organization.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 4,437 on Thursday after new infections confirmed in the country.

The worldwide number of officially confirmed fatalities from the novel coronavirus now stands at above 81,000, according to a Reuters Data.