Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry, has shared a list of sub-standard hand sanitizers sold in Pakistan. He informed that these hand sanitizers do not meet international standards hence they are useless in protecting people from coronavirus.
The list includes 23 brands of hand sanitizers available in the markets. “Dear all! As per Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) sample testing following 23 brands of Sanitizers are not in conformity with WHO standards, we have advised health departments to remove these brands from stores,” wrote Fawad Chaudhry in a tweet.
Hand sanitizers from various brands had flooded the markets in Pakistan since the outbreak of the pandemic. WHO had released an advisory globally to keep the hands clean either through washing it frequently with soap or using hand sanitizers when outdoor.
Dear all! As per PSQCA sample testing following 23 brands of Sanitizers are not in comformity with WHO standards, we have advised health departments to remove these brands from stores. pic.twitter.com/Aj5gbSgIsD
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 3, 2020
Social media users appreciated the proactive role of Fawad Chaudhry in fighting the coronavirus pandemic in Pakistan.
The intent of sharing the list was to make people aware of mediocre and sub-standard hand sanitizers in the market to avoid harm to skin or hands.
Earlier, Fawad Chaudhry informed that his ministry has constituted a task force under the leadership of Dr Ata-ur-Rehman in order to develop an indigenous immunization vaccine for coronavirus in Pakistan.
Taking to Twitter, Chaudhry informed that the ‘Scientific task force on COVID-19 will coordinate with all the international researching bodies on coronavirus.
The Scientific Task Force would report directly to the Ministry of Science and Technology. Pakistan looks forward to playing its part in the global research for coronavirus vaccines, says Fawad Chaudhry.
He further added that the Ministry of Science and Technology will also develop a Science Data Research Foundation to ascertain the answers to important questions on COVID-19.
However, Fawad Chaudhry has been appearing in interviews at national and international media channels, explaining the initiatives of the Ministry of Science and Technology to fight the pandemic.
Read more: Fawad Chaudhry leads Pakistan in a global fight against coronavirus
In his latest interview with Arab News and Hum News, he informed that Pakistan has developed hand sanitizers that are easily available at utility stores.