Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal proposed the establishment of an “OIC Vaccine Alliance” for Islamic countries, stressing that vaccine production holds critical importance for the entire health sector and requires a coordinated strategy among member states.
Addressing the fourth meeting of the OIC Vaccine Manufacturers Group, Mustafa Kamal said Pakistan, with a population of 240 million and an annual increase of over six million people, faces significant challenges in local vaccine production.
He noted that Pakistan aims to eliminate vaccine imports and external dependence by 2030. However, he emphasized the need to immediately enhance domestic production capacity instead of waiting until 2030.
The health minister said Pakistan has sufficient infrastructure, including strong institutions such as the National Institute of Health, but vaccine production and distribution are not commercially profitable ventures, which necessitates reliable and strong partnerships.
Mustafa Kamal highlighted ongoing collaborations with China, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, adding that Saudi Arabia has been engaged in vaccine production for the past ten years.
He also announced that Pakistan has prepared its first National Vaccine Policy, under which each company will be allowed to produce only a single vaccine to improve quality standards.
The minister urged Islamic countries to learn from each other’s experiences and said the OIC Vaccine Alliance would begin working immediately on short-term, medium-term, and long-term initiatives.
Revealing a recent challenge, Mustafa Kamal said that during the recent Pakistan-India tensions, vaccine shortages forced the global organization Gavi to procure vaccines from India for supply to Pakistan, highlighting the need for permanent domestic planning.
He emphasized that a healthy environment, a healthy population, and economic stability are directly linked to national security, making self-sufficiency in vaccines essential for Pakistan.
