Millions of Pakistanis threatened with cell phone cut-off if they don't get a COVID vaccine

Islamabad — Pakistan's most populous province, Punjab, has decided to combat residents' COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy by threatening to block cell phone service to anyone who refuses inoculation. The decision to issue the threat came out of a meeting last week, led by provincial Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid, as officials scrambled for ways to boost the province's dismal vaccination rate. 

Rashid said protecting citizens from the coronavirus was the main priority for the Punjab government, and "only a vaccine can end the COVID-19 pandemic."  The provincial government had hoped to be vaccinating 420,000 people per day, with the goal being to inoculate most of its population of 67 million by the end of the year. But only about 52,000 people per day have been coming forward to get a shot.