Days after several Gulf and Middle Eastern countries refused to acknowledge the Sinoharm vaccine certificate, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan took up the matter with the leaders of those countries. Saudi Arabia is among the few countries that don't recognize vaccination certificates of Chinese vaccines despite the fact that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has now registered at least two Chinese-manufactured vaccines — Sinopharm and Sinovac.

Hundreds of thousands of Pakistan usually take up jobs in these countries and send back significant remittances, which supports its economy. Also, thousands of Pakistanis are also waiting for the Haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. 

The policy of not accepting Sinopharm vaccination certification could significantly harm Pakistan.

On Saturday, Sheikh Rashid, the country’s interior minister, informed that Imran Khan had talked to the leaders of these countries to resolve the matter. Khan is personally monitoring the issue, Rashid informed after a cabinet meeting on Saturday. 

Earlier, the Pakistan Medical Association had urged the WHO to intervene in the matter. 

Meanwhile, Asad Omar, the country’s federal planning minister, also criticized the policy of seeking certificates of selective vaccines. “If every country makes it mandatory for visitors to be inoculated by their choice of vaccine (brands), the entire world would suffer,” he was quoted as saying by Dawn. 

(SAM)