Pakistan has taken a definitive step toward health security and industrial self-reliance. The federal government finalised the framework for the National Vaccine Policy.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production, Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan, chaired a high-level meeting in Islamabad. Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Mr. Mustafa Kamal, co-chaired the session.
Key officials, including the Federal Secretary for the Ministry of National Health Services and the Chairman of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), attended the meeting. They held detailed deliberations on the policy’s implementation framework. Consequently, the briefing for the Prime Minister is now complete.
Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan announced that the policy is ready for presentation to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. He emphasised that this initiative aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision.
Furthermore, the policy aims to initiate local vaccine manufacturing within Pakistan. This move ensures sustainable capacity building across both health and industrial sectors. Mr. Khan noted that this policy serves as a milestone for the country’s pharmaceutical industry. It guarantees local production and significantly reduces reliance on foreign imports.
The policy promises long-term public benefits. Specifically, it focuses on affordability, accessibility, and national preparedness against future health emergencies.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal termed the policy a “critical need of the time”. He stated that it will effectively end Pakistan’s dependence on external sources for essential vaccines. Moreover, he assured that all manufacturing under this policy will strictly follow international standards and global best practices.
The National Vaccine Policy will be presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for final approval in the coming days. Implementation will follow immediately after.