LAHORE: Pakistan may face a country-wide shortage of life-saving vaccines due to government’s failure to fulfil its international co-financing liabilities for the procurement of the vaccines to safeguard lives of millions of children from seven lethal preventable diseases. In the related ‘embarrassing setback’, Pakistan has yet again defaulted on meeting its global commitment and may lose a valuable global donation of Rs11.68bn.
‘If Pakistan remains in default for more than a year, the GAVI, an international immunization financing institution, may suspend support for vaccine(s) in question until the co-financing arrears are paid in full,’ Dr Rana Muhammad Saf dar, the national programme manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunization Ministry of NHSRC, Islamabad, said in his report submitted to the Lahore High Court a couple of days ago.
Lahore to host India Show
LAHORE: To provide greater momentum to the two countries’ plan of a deeper bilateral economic relationship, the second edition of the “India Show” is being organised in Pakistan’s Lahore from February 14-16.
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), in collaboration with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Trade Development Authority (TDA), will be organising the three-day event that is meant to help the region realise its potential in terms of trade and development.
“Regional trade is hostage to India and Pakistan tension,” said South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Chamber of Commerce President.
Blast kills two Afghan soldiers
Kabul: At least two Afghan soldiers were killed in a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) explosion in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan.
According to authorities in eastern Ghazni province, a convoy of the army was hit by a car bomb near a military check post, the Afghan Khaama press said yesterday.
Deputy Provincial Governor, Mohammad Ali Ahmadi said preliminary reports suggested at least one soldier was injured.
He said two suicide bombers were also killed. The incident took place after the bombers rammed a vehicle packed with explosives in Qarabagh district.
The Taliban claimed responsibility and said several Afghan army soldiers and policemen were killed or injured.
Ghazni is among the volatile provinces in eastern Afghanistan where Taliban are openly operating in various districts, and frequently carry out attacks against the Afghan security forces and government officials.
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