ISLAMABAD: Sixty percent of Pakistanis said they would get the COVID-19 vaccine if it became available, global leader in market research, Ipsos, said in a survey published this month.
Since the coronavirus first broke out in Pakistan in late February, the country has recorded 443,246 infections, including 2,459 new cases in the last 24 hours, and 8,905 deaths, including 73 in the last 24 hours.
Worryingly, a Gallup Pakistan poll conducted last month showed 37% of Pakistanis would not get a vaccine once one became available. The Ipsos survey said 22% Pakistanis were against vaccines in general.
“To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following: If a vaccine for COVID-19 were available, I would get it,” Ipsos asked in its survey, reporting that 60 percent respondents said they would prefer to be vaccinated.
When asked what best described why they would not prefer to be vaccinated, 34% respondents were worried about side effects, 22% were against vaccines in general, 15% believed a vaccine would not be effective and 23% said they were not at risk of the coronavirus.
The survey also said 50% Pakistanis were unaware of ongoing vaccine trials.
Countering anti-vax sentiments is a worldwide problem, but in Pakistan it is more dangerous than almost anywhere else.
Dozens of people have been killed in attacks on polio vaccination teams over the years, and the fear and mistrust that spawns such violence has made Pakistan one of two countries, including neighboring Afghanistan, where the crippling disease has still to be eradicated.
Several times every year, polio vaccination drives aim to inoculate millions of children, but in some areas they are often met with refusals from parents who believe conspiracy theories about the vaccine.
In more volatile parts of the country, militants have attacked polio immunization teams, notably after a doctor was accused of running a fake vaccination campaign to help the US Central Intelligence Agency track down Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011.
Yet the dangers of polio have been well known for decades, whereas COVID-19 is a new disease, and authorities have struggled to communicate the urgent need to stamp it out.
Cleric Qibla Ayaz, the head of the Council of Islamic Ideology, which advises the government on social and legal issues, told Reuters many of the conspiracy theories about COVID-19 were coming from Western countries, spread by social media.
"For now the majority of scholars have said the vaccine and other treatments are important... but there are always extremists as there are with polio," Ayaz said. "Given the kind of 'Westphobia' we have in Pakistan, it might be better to obtain a vaccine from Russia or China, instead of the US or UK."
60% Pakistanis say would get COVID-19 vaccine if available - global market research firm
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60% Pakistanis say would get COVID-19 vaccine if available - global market research firm
- -Ipsos survey says when asked why people would prefer not to be vaccinated, 34% were worried about side effects and 22% were against vaccines in general
- -Gallup Pakistan poll conducted last month showed 37% of Pakistanis would not get a vaccine once one became available
Police recover bodies of 2 kidnapped constables in northwest Pakistan amid surging militancy
- Constables Hameed Shah, Ashraf Dotani were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen from their homes in South Waziristan district, say police
- In separate incident, seven laborers injured in bomb blast targeting under-construction building of Rescue 1122 in northwestern Tank district
PESHAWAR: The bodies of two kidnapped constables were recovered from a deserted area in northwestern Pakistan on Monday, a police spokesperson said, as the country struggles to contain surging militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
Constables Hameed Shah and Ashraf Dotani were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in Wana town in South Waziristan district on Saturday, police spokesperson Habib Islam said. Members of the Dotani tribe chased the gunmen, trading fire with them. Three militants were killed while two, including a local tribesman and a girl, were injured during the clash.
“The martyred personnel were kidnapped two days ago from their homes in Tui Khula, a locality on the outskirts of Wana, the main town in the district,” Islam told Arab News.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the incident, but suspicion is likely to fall on the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) outfit or the Pakistani Taliban. The TTP has carried out some of the deadliest attacks against Pakistani law enforcers since 2007.
The banned unit has increased its attacks on Pakistani law enforcers since November 2022, when a fragile truce between the state and the TTP broke down. Pakistan blames neighboring Afghanistan for providing sanctuary to TTP militants, a charge Kabul vehemently denies.
In a separate incident, seven laborers were injured in the northwestern Tank district on Monday when a bomb blast targeted the under construction building of a prominent rescue emergency service, police said.
Tank police spokesperson Younas Khan said the explosion struck an under-construction Rescue 1122 building located in Wazirabad area in Tank.
Rescue 1122 teams responded quickly, shifting the injured to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital for medical treatment, Khan said. Following the incident, a large contingent of police and security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace those responsible for the blast, he said.
Pakistan parliament adopts unanimous resolution against Israel’s ‘heinous wave of atrocities’ in Gaza
- Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presents resolution seeking immediate Gaza ceasefire, resumption of aid to Palestinians
- Gaza’s health ministry says at least 1,574 Palestinians have been killed since Mar. 18 when Israel resumed military attacks
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Assembly on Monday adopted a unanimous resolution condemning Israel’s “heinous wave of atrocities” in Gaza, expressing solidarity with Palestinian citizens and demanding an immediate ceasefire in the territory, state-run media reported.
Gaza’s health ministry said on Sunday that at least 1,574 Palestinians have been killed since Mar. 18 when a shaky ceasefire between Hamas and Israel broke down, taking the overall death toll since the war began in October 2023 to 50,944.
The resolution was moved by Pakistan’s Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar during a session of the lower house of parliament. The resolution noted that the latest Israeli offensive has resulted in the killing of over 1500 Palestinians, rebuking the destruction of complete civil infrastructure in Gaza including houses, hospitals, schools and places of worship.
“The National Assembly on Monday adopted a unanimous resolution, once again strongly condemning the ongoing heinous wave of atrocities by the Zionist Israeli regime in Gaza,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
The National Assembly expressed “unwavering solidarity” with the people of Palestine, reaffirming their inalienable right to self-determination and an independent motherland.
The resolution also expressed dismay at the international community’s failure to halt Israeli aggression, calling urgently for an immediate, permanent and comprehensive ceasefire. It also demanded uninterrupted and sustainable humanitarian assistance to besieged and beleaguered Palestinians in the territory.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the entire Pakistani nation stands united when it comes to Palestine. He pointed out that Pakistan has a unique distinction on its passport, which does not allow its holders to travel to Israel.
Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, has frequently criticized the Jewish state for its military operations in Gaza. Islamabad has also called for the resumption of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory and the need for a revival of negotiations leading to a two-state solution.
Islamabad consistently calls for an independent Palestinian state along the pre-1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Pakistan to vaccinate over 45 million children against polio in nationwide campaign in April
- Over 400,000 volunteers to participate in nationwide polio drive from Apr. 21-27, says health minister
- Stresses cooperation among federal, provincial governments and global partners to eliminate polio
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will vaccinate over 45 million children against poliovirus in April in its second nationwide campaign against the disease this year, Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said on Monday, as Islamabad intensifies efforts to rid the country of the infection.
Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure and multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine — along with completing the routine immunization schedule for children under five — are crucial to building immunity against the virus.
Pakistan, which has reported six polio cases so far in 2025, has planned three major vaccination campaigns in the first half of the year, with additional rounds scheduled for April and May.
“The second national polio campaign of the year is scheduled from Apr. 21 to 27 nationwide,” Kamal said while chairing a high-level meeting on polio eradication, which was attended by provincial health ministers.
“Over 400,000 trained polio workers will participate, aiming to administer polio vaccination drops to over 45 million children.”
Kamal lamented that Karachi’s sewage samples continued to test positive for poliovirus. The minister directed authorities to formulate a strategy for the nationwide polio campaign, highlighting that a “coordinated approach” was essential to completely eradicate the disease.
The minister stressed the importance of cooperation among federal and provincial governments, as well as international partners, to ensure the success of polio eradication efforts.
Pakistan’s polio program, launched in 1994, has faced persistent challenges including vaccine misinformation and resistance from some religious hard-liners who claim immunization is a foreign conspiracy to sterilize Muslim children or a guise for Western espionage. Militant groups have also repeatedly targeted and killed polio vaccination workers.
In 2024, Pakistan reported an alarming 74 polio cases. Along with Afghanistan, it remains one of the only two countries where polio is still endemic.
Pakistan, Morocco kick off joint counterterror exercise to promote military ties
- Exercise’s third edition aimed at refining professional skills of both armies, says Pakistan military’s media wing
- Pakistan enjoys cordial relations and cooperation in trade, defense and other sectors with various Arab nations
ISLAMABAD: The armies of Pakistan and Morocco kicked off the third edition of their joint bilateral military exercise on Monday, the Pakistani military’s media wing said, stressing that the drill was aimed at enhancing professional skills of their soldiers and promoting defense relations between the two countries.
Pakistan enjoys cordial ties and strong defense relations with Arab countries, which often causes them both to engage in frequent training exercises, defense production collaborations and counter-terrorism intelligence sharing.
“Opening Ceremony of 3rd Pak-Morocco Joint Bilateral Military Exercise-2025 was held between the Armies of Pakistan and Morocco in counter terrorism domain at Special Operations School, Cherat,” the Inter-Services Public Relations, (ISPR) the army’s media wing, said in a statement.
Cherat is a hill station located northwestern Pakistan’s Nowshera district.
Pakistan’s Special Services Group and the Moroccan Army’s special forces are taking part in the exercise, the statement confirmed.
“The exercise is aimed at refining professional skills through joint training and harnessing historic military to military relations among the friendly countries,” the ISPR said.
The bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Morocco is marked by cordial ties and historic fraternity, according to Pakistan’s foreign office.
In November last year, Moroccan Air Force Inspector Major General Mohammed Gadih expressed his interest in collaborating with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in the aerospace sector.
During his visit, the Pakistani air chief reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing military ties with Morocco through joint training programs, including those at the basic and tactical levels, for Moroccan Air Force personnel.
Pakistan Navy inducts offshore patrol vessel with advanced stealth features and weapons in fleet
- PNS Yamama’s induction to enhance navy’s seaward defense, protect sea lines of communication, says Pakistan Navy
- Offshore patrol vessel to ensure protection of maritime infrastructure, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy inducted a fourth offshore patrol vessel (OPV) named PNS Yamama in its fleet on Monday, describing it as a ship equipped with modern stealth features and sophisticated weapons that enables it to function in a multi-threat environment.
PNS Yamama was constructed at the Damen Shipyard in Romania. The multi-purpose ship is equipped with modern stealth features, the latest command and control systems, and sophisticated weapons and sensors, the navy said in a statement. A ceremony to officially induct the OPV was held at the Jinnah Naval Base in the southwestern town of Ormara in the presence of government officials, local dignitaries and senior Pakistan Navy officers.
“As the fourth in the series, the induction of this state-of-the-art ship significantly enhances Pakistan Navy’s capability to ensure seaward defense, protect sea lines of communication and maintain order at sea,” the statement said.
The development highlights Pakistan Navy’s enhanced reach on the western seaboard, providing flexibility in its fleet operations, enhancing maritime security and its ability to contribute to regional peace and stability, it added.
PNS Yamama’s induction would also ensure protection of vital maritime infrastructure, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar Chinese infrastructure project that connects Pakistan’s Gwadar city to China’s Xinjiang province.
Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf highlighted the precarious geo-strategic environment in the Indian Ocean, stressing the need for a potent naval force to counter emerging traditional and non-traditional challenges, the statement said.
“He reiterated that the addition of PNS Yamama to the PN fleet would significantly enhance Pakistan Navy’s capability to safeguard the maritime frontiers of Pakistan and reinforce its commitment to ensuring safety and security in international waters,” it said.
Besides inducting various warships in its fleet, Pakistan Navy has held several joint exercises with friendly nations in recent years in a bid to enhance joint operational capabilities and strengthen regional security.
