ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday said Pakistan will start manufacturing UK standards ventilators locally after quality clearance process was completed by the Drug Regulatory Authority Pakistan (DRAP).

In a tweet, he said more designs of ventilators were received by the Engineering Council and DRAP and they have decided to manufacture UK standards ventilators. He said details were available in this regard on DRAP website. He said as soon as quality clearance procedure would complete, manufacturing would begin.

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These ventilators would be for ventilatory support for COVID-19 patients in lCUs and other healthcare facilities developed for the purpose. Ideally, it would also be able to function as a broader function ventilator which could support a patient through a number of days, when more advanced ventilator support becomes necessary.

Pakistan Engineering Council took an initiative to formulate a committee with the approval of the government of Pakistan to search, formulate or adopt such Acceptance Test Procedure to facilitate indigenous development of rapidly manufactured mechanical ventilators and their regulatory approvals.

You can find more details about the ventilators on this link: https://www.dra.gov.pk/docs/Guidance%20Document%20of%20Technical%20committee%20constituted%20by%20PEC%20to%20prepare%20Fast%20Track%20Acceptance%20Test%20Procedure%20for%20Locally%20Developed%20MechanicalVentilators%20for%20COVID-19%20Pandemic.pdf