Pakistan Extends Closure Of Educational Institutions Due To Coronavirus
By Radio Mashaal March 24, 2021
Pakistani authorities say they will keep educational institutions closed for two more weeks in the capital and other areas where coronavirus infection rates are "higher."
"All educational institutions, including universities and religious seminaries would remain closed in Islamabad and 10 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and nine districts of Punjab Province until April 11," Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood tweeted on March 24.
A two-week shutdown of educational institutions was announced on March 15.
The latest decision comes as Pakistan reported more than 3,000 daily COVID-19 cases for a straight week.
Overall, the country of 220 million people has recorded more than 637,000 infections and over 13,900 COVID-19-related deaths.
Last month, Pakistan kicked off its COVID-19 vaccination campaign by inoculating frontline health workers.
Authorities on March 10 opened the drive to the general public with priority given to people over 60.
Pakistan is using China's Sinopharm vaccine, which it received as a gift from Beijing.
On March 24, Faisal Sultan, a special health adviser to the prime minister, announced additional purchase deals for Sinopharm and the vaccine produced by Chinese company CanSino Biologics.
With reporting by dpa and AP
Copyright (c) 2021. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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