Pakistan is interested in stationing production of the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine on its territory, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told reporters on Monday.
Earlier in February, Pakistan's Medicines Control Authority approved the use of the Russia-made vaccine against coronavirus Sputnik V.
"We are keen to attract investment to Pakistan, and with the opportunity to produce the Sputnik vaccine in Pakistan, we were more than happy to implement it," he said, responding to a question from RIA Novosti.
The Pakistani Foreign Minister noted that the first batch of vaccines purchased from Moscow would be given to "frontline workers" - doctors and military medics.
"We are pleased with the registration (of the Sputnik V vaccine - ed). Russia has done a wonderful job of helping the world fight the pandemic, and certainly, the Sputnik vaccine is a step forward in this direction. There are other vaccines, but they are no longer competing but cooperating because Pakistan has a large population in need of vaccination," the Minister emphasized.
Pakistan became the 22nd country to approve the Sputnik V vaccine. The vaccine is registered in Pakistan under an emergency use authorization based on data from Sputnik V clinical trials in Russia.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Zuma \ TASS
Based on materials from RIA Novosti