July 3, Islamabad (Online)-A handing/taking over signing ceremony of anti-Malaria drugs worth Rs8.25 million, donated by the Chinese government to the Government of Pakistan was held here Tuesday at the Ministry of Health.

An agreement to this effect was signed by Secretary Health, Mr. Khushnood Akhtar Lashari on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, and Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui on behalf the Chinese government.

Minister for Health Muhammad Nasir Khan on the occasion said that that donation has come at a time when Pakistan faced with one of the worst floods of its history.

These floods, he said, have affected particularly those areas in which this medicine is most needed and hence will go a long way is saving many lives.

Khushnood Lashari thanked the people and government of China for donating the anti-malaria medicine "Artesunate plus Sulfadoxine Pyrimethamine Tablets (ARTECOSPE)" comprising 110,000 courses for malaria treatment.

The Chinese Ambassador said that the donation is a gesture of his government to express its friendly sentiments in the need of the hour.

This medicine is in line with the latest National Malaria treatment policy and is accepted internationally as one of the best first line treatments against the lethal form malaria.

The medicine is being distributed free of cost to the far-flung areas of Balochistan, Sindh, NWFP, FATA where malaria is very high.