Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry tweeted on Wednesday that hand sanitizers made by PCSIR (Ministry of S&T) with WHO-approved standards are now available at a mass level. He said that all provincial governments are advised to contact PCSIR in provincial headquarters for mass supplies and they will also be made available in utility stores.
Speaking exclusively to The Current, Chaudhry said, “We have made these hand sanitisers as per WHO [World Health Organisation ] standards. Their cost is Rs 350 per 250ml bottle. They are available at all regional headquarters and we have informed all provincial governments that if they need these for their hospitals, they can pick them up from PCSIR.”
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Chaudhry further shared another major breakthrough is in the offing.
”NUST has made a testing kit for coronavirus so we are trying to get its commercial production started in the next 10-15 days. There were some legal matters, which we have cleared now. Expression of Interest will be with us in a day or two. Cost of this kit will be then reduced to Rs 800-1,000. Right now, private testing costs about Rs 8,000 so it will be cut down manifold. This will be a huge breakthrough,” Chaudhry told The Current.
This announcement comes at a time when hand sanitisers are not readily available in the markets or are being sold at high prices.
