Pakistan on Sunday has received a special consignment of 1.55 million doses of the Sinovac coronavirus amid rumors of a shortage in the country.

The National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) — the country's nerve center for unified efforts against coronavirus — in a statement said:

"The vaccine doses arrive via a special PIA plane and are part of the planned contracted quantity Pakistan procured from China."

It further added that another consignment of 2.5 million doses of vaccine doses will be reaching Pakistan from China sometime during the next week, followed by another consignment of 2-3 million doses.

NCOC, in its statement, said that China, as a "time-tested friend of Pakistan" has taken special measures to ensure an uninterrupted supply of vaccines to Pakistan.

Earlier Geo News had reported that most cities in Punjab and Sindh are facing a shortage of vaccines. Keeping the situation in view, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had decided to keep the vaccination centers across Sindh closed today (Sunday).

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination Dr Faisal Sultan, while responding to the news of vaccine shortage had said that Pakistan is expecting a steady supply of dosses and any pressure in the system and local distribution issues will be eased by Monday or Tuesday.