The first batch of China's CanSino COVID-19 vaccines that the Pakistani government purchased in bulk has arrived in Pakistan, CanSino Biologics Inc. said on Thursday.

The vaccines arrived on Tuesday and will be packaged locally to support Pakistan's fight against COVID-19, the company told Xinhua.

Special Assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Health Faisal Sultan said on Monday that the local production of the single-dose CanSino COVID-19 vaccine is about to commence in the country to facilitate its vaccination drive.

The start of the local production of the CanSino vaccine will gradually make Pakistan largely self-sufficient in meeting its COVID-19 vaccine needs, Sultan told local media.