Pakistan to launch first national vaccine policy to cut 95pc import dependence

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is preparing to launch its first-ever National Vaccine Policy to kickstart local vaccine manufacturing and reduce its 95 percent reliance on imported vaccines.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan announced this while chairing a high-level meeting on Thursday.

The meeting of the Prime Minister’s Committee on Incentivizing Local Manufacturing of Vaccines, held at the Ministry of National Health Services, discussed policy formulation, existing hurdles, and strategies to ensure national health security and economic resilience through vaccine self-sufficiency.

Haroon Akhtar said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed all-out efforts to promote indigenous vaccine production, terming it “vital for Pakistan’s health security and economic stability.” He said the new policy would outline incentives for private manufacturers, strengthen institutional coordination, and pave the way for international technology transfer and investment partnerships.

“Local vaccine production will not only cut our import bill but also make Pakistan self-reliant in public health emergencies,” he said, adding that the move would spur industrial growth, job creation, and technological innovation in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors.

The meeting reviewed Pakistan’s heavy dependence on donor-backed imports—mainly from Gavi and UNICEF—and discussed establishing a Pakistan Vaccine Manufacturers Alliance (PVMA), modeled after Egypt, to coordinate efforts across government, private, and international stakeholders.