ISLAMABAD: King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) donated medical equipment worth $1.5 million on Tuesday to support Pakistan’s coronavirus response as a third wave of the disease sweeps the South Asian country.
Pakistan on Monday recorded 5,445 new infections and 137 coronavirus-related deaths, government data showed. The nation of 220 million has recorded 766,882 infections and 16,453 deaths since the beginning of the outbreak in February last year.
Saudi Arabia's envoy to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, hands over medical equipment worth $1.5 million to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in Islamabad on April 20, 2021. (Photo courtesy: Saudi Embassy)
The equipment, including 46 ventilators, face masks and protective gear, was handed over to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) by Saudi Arabia’s to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki.
“On the directive of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques to provide aid to combat the coronavirus in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, KSA is donating several medical items and equipment worth $1.5 million,” KSRelief said in a statement.
“This medical aid will help National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of Pakistan combat this pandemic.”
Pakistan’s planning minister, Asad Umar, who also heads a federal body overseeing the country’s pandemic response, said on Monday that Pakistani hospitals were filing up fast as coronavirus cases rose and oxygen supplies were “under stress.”
According to official data, 4,494 coronavirus patients in Pakistan are currently in critical condition.
