ISLAMABAD: Government will launch its Covid-19 vaccination drive next week, starting with front-line health workers, a government minister said on Wednesday.

"God willing, the vaccination of front-line health workers will start next week," Asad Umar, said in a tweet. China has pledged to donate 500,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine made by the Chinese firm SinoPharm. Two government sources said the first batch would be flown in on Saturday. Health Minister Faisal Sultan has said Pakistan could get "in the range of tens of millions" of vaccine doses under an agreement with China's Cansino Biologics Inc.