New Delhi, April 16 -- Pakistan is facing a major challenge as a growing number of cases and slow vaccination drive carried out by the Imran Khan government, the South Asian nation has been forced to allow the private sector to import and sell vaccines.

With hospital beds filling up fast and the government vaccination program progressing slowly due to delayed deliveries and limited supplies, the country is witnessing a massive challenge to protect its people against the virus which is ravaging the nation.

Initial sales of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine in the first weekend of April caused a frenzy, with crowds rushing to vaccination centers and queuing for hours for their shot, reports CNN.

Several centers sold out in days. Others that ...