The Saudi Arabian government has assured Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah of approving Chinese coronavirus vaccines so that Pakistanis could go to the Kingdom for the purpose of Hajj and Umrah.
The development came on Friday as the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had a meeting with the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia in Pakistan, Nawaf Saeed A Al Malkiy, along with the Consul General of the Kingdom Bandar Al Dayal and a delegation of King Salman Relief Organisation at the Chief Minister’s House.
As some countries ease Covid-19 travel restrictions, Saudi Arabia and the European Union have barred travelers who have been vaccinated with Chinese vaccines, leaving out the biggest groups of foreign visitors in the regions.
Last week, Saudi Arabia updated its travel restrictions, which included requirements to take Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson in order to enter the country, leaving out China’s five vaccines including the widely used Sinovac and Sinopharm.
After the announcement, Pakistan’s foreign ministry on Sunday asked the kingdom to include Chinese vaccines to its list, as those vaccines are widely used in the country.
Malaysia also echoed similar concerns as its government sought to discuss the issue with Saudi Arabia.
Read more: Why Pfizer vaccine is not for Pakistan?
The visiting diplomat had brought a delegation of doctors of King Salman Medical Centre with him to set up a week-long medical camp in Karachi and Shikarpur.
The Saudi doctors would check eye and heart patients and would perform surgeries if required. Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho said that an eye surgery could be performed at the camp but open-heart surgery could only be performed at the relevant operation theatre.
“We have a cardiac hospital in Sukkur, Tando Mohamad Khan, and in Karachi where open-heart surgeries can be performed easily.”
The chief minister directed Dr Pechuho and the Secretary of health to hold a separate meeting with the Saudi Arabian doctors and make a proper plan for their camps and provide the necessary facilities and security.
The chief minister presented Ajraks and Sindhi caps to the visiting guests and thanked them for their support and cooperation.