Overview
- The federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, approved the country’s first National Vaccine Policy on Wednesday.
- The plan assigns the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan to lead a committee that will set prices and enforce quality standards for locally made vaccines.
- Officials say the policy aims to cut vaccine imports, save foreign exchange, and reach self-sufficiency before Pakistan must fully fund immunisation by 2030–31.
- Pakistan now pays about 51% of its vaccine costs, with partners including Gavi, WHO, UNICEF and the Gates Foundation covering the rest at concessional rates.
- Talks on manufacturing partnerships, including with Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, are in progress as industry seeks firm government purchase guarantees to justify new plants.