Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan chaired a high-level meeting on local manufacturing of vaccines, marking a major step toward health security and industrial self-reliance in Pakistan. The meeting was co-chaired by Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Mustafa Kamal.
The meeting was attended by the federal secretary of the Ministry of National Health Services and the chairman of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan. Detailed deliberations were held on the formulation and implementation framework of the National Vaccine Policy.
Participants were informed that the briefing for the prime minister on the National Vaccine Policy has been finalized and that the policy is now fully prepared for approval.
Speaking on the occasion, Haroon Akhtar Khan said the National Vaccine Policy is complete and ready to be presented to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. He said that, in line with the prime minister’s vision, the policy will initiate local vaccine manufacturing in Pakistan, ensuring sustainable capacity building in both the health and industrial sectors.
He added that the policy will guarantee local production of vaccines, reduce reliance on imports, and serve as a milestone for Pakistan’s public health system and pharmaceutical industry. According to him, the policy is expected to deliver long-term public benefits, including improved affordability and accessibility of vaccines, as well as enhanced national preparedness against future health emergencies.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal described the National Vaccine Policy as a critical need of the time, saying it would help end Pakistan’s dependence on external sources for essential vaccines. He assured that vaccine manufacturing under the policy would be carried out in accordance with international standards and global best practices.
The meeting concluded with the announcement that the National Vaccine Policy will be presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the coming days for approval and onward implementation.
