ISLAMABAD: A high-level ministerial meeting on Friday asked provinces and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA ) to give their assessment report about demand for locally manufactured N95 masks so that the government could export them.

Two months ago, the local industry in Faisalabad also started manufacturing the masks.

“We are now producing personal protective equipment (PPE) including N95 masks, gloves, face shields, gowns, shoes cover for local hospitals, and are even exporting to other countries,” Fawad Chaudhry told the meeting.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, Federal Minister for Industries Hammad Azhar and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood.

The ministerial meeting was held in the Ministry of Commerce and showed satisfaction over the PPE stock situation in the country and its production and export.

Many countries interested in Pakistan-made PPE, minister says

Pakistan has received export orders worth $100 million for its domestically manufactured personal protective equipment (PPE) from around the world, particularly from Europe.

The minister for science and technology Fawad Chaudhry said many countries had shown their interest in made-in-Pakistan Covid-19 fighting equipment. Pakistan is expected to receive orders worth $500 million for such equipment by the end of this year.

Earlier this month the Federal Cabinet had approved exports of PPE. However, doctors and healthcare workers complained about shortages of protective gear including face masks, gloves, and overalls in local hospitals.

However, Fawad Chaudhry maintains that these are big achievements, especially when until two months ago, Pakistan did not manufacture corona fighting gear domestically, which will help cut Pakistan’s import bill.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Imran Khan visited the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) at Haripur to inaugurate first ever ventilators production facility.

The Ministry of Science and Technology had initially received 57 designs for ventilators, but it finalized four designs.

After approval, NRTC started working on one design and began developing the ventilators.

The Heavy Mechanical Complex is developing ventilators from the second design. Pakistan Association of Auto Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAPAAM), is developing ventilators based on three different designs.

As Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the production unit, he handed over the first batch of ‘SafeVent SP100’ portable ventilators to the National Disaster Management Authority.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2020