*ISLAMABAD: **Pakistan acquires advanced technologies to fight novelcoronavirus.*
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has said thatPakistan has acquired the facility to conduct anti-coronavirus spraythrough drones and had manufactured its own COVID-19 testing kits andventilators.
“The National University of Science and Technology (Nust) has developed thesamples of coronavirus testing kits, drone spray and ventilators,” he saidduring his visit to Islamabad campus of Nust on Sunday.
He reviewed the samples of coronavirus testing kits, ventilators,sanitizers and drone spray at the campus.
Speaking on the occasion, Chaudhry said that the Pakistan EngineeringCouncil (PEC) had received 48 designs of the ventilators of which two hadbeen sent to the Drug Regulation Authority of Pakistan (Drap).
“The clinical trial of testing kits developed at Nust will start fromMonday (today),” he said.
“The coronavirus testing kits will be available within two to three daysand we will be able to manufacture 150,000 kits within the next few weeks,”he added.
Chaudhry noted that the varsity had developed a remote-controlled dronewhich would be used to spray disinfectant at the quarantine camp.
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He expressed the hope that Pakistan would soon be able to exportventilators.
The federal minister said that they had picked up 60 to 70 differentsanitizers from the market, but unfortunately most of them were found to befake the list of which was being sent to the Ministry of Health.
He said the premier had been requested to exercise discretionary powers inthis regard.
Responding to a question, Chaudhry said that the decision to extend thelockdown will be taken after reviewing the number of COVID-19 patients onApril 15.
He expressed his concern over the maltreatment with the coronaviruspatients and urged police officials and medical staff to treat them kindly.
Chaudhry said the situation was in control and the government wasperforming well.
