ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has finalised the National Vaccine Policy (NVP) to become a self-reliant nation in vaccine production. The policy provides a high-level framework to guide decision-making, regulatory reform, infrastructure development, and public-private collaboration. It aligns with Pakistan’s broader health and industrial goals and positions the country to contribute meaningfully to regional and global vaccine equity. This was announced here on Wednesday during a high-level inter-ministry meeting jointly chaired by the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, and Federal Minister for National Health Services and Regulations, Mustafa Kamal. According to the official draft of the policy available with Business Recorder , currently, the total value of vaccines imported in Pakistan is approximately USD 340 million for the financial year (FY) 2024-25 (at the subsidized rates for GAVI, UNICEF, etc, valuing USD 510 million). The imported vaccines include those distributed by the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI), such as the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine against tuberculosis, the bivalent oral polio vaccine (BOPV), tetanus-diphtheria vaccine, pentavalent vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, rotavirus, inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), measles, rubella and typhoid (MRT) vaccine, as well as those supplied to the private market, such as flu and meningitis vaccines. The meeting announced that the national vaccination policy announced in 2023 is now fully prepared and will be forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for final approval. The meeting was attended by the Federal Secretary, Ministry of National Health Services, and the Chairman, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). Detailed deliberations were held on the formulation and implementation framework of the National Vaccine Policy. Haroon Akhtar Khan emphasized that, in line with the Prime Minister’s vision, the policy will initiate local vaccine manufacturing in Pakistan, ensuring sustainable capacity building in the health and industrial sectors. He further noted that the National Vaccine 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. The policy, he added, will deliver long-term benefits for the public, including affordability, accessibility, and national preparedness against future health emergencies. Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal termed the National Vaccine Policy a critical need of the time, stating that it will help end Pakistan’s dependence on external sources for essential vaccines. He assured that vaccine manufacturing under this policy will 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. Pakistan is the fifth most populous country in the world, with an estimated population of 255 million, of whom 64 percent younger than 30 years of age, and an estimated seven million births annually. More than 80 percent children in Pakistan are vaccinated on key routine childhood immunizations (Vaccine Investment Pitchbook, 2025). Pakistan’s immunization program has traditionally relied on imported vaccines and donor-supported procurement mechanisms (Federal Directorate of Immunization, 2025). The expenditure is expected to grow further as the country has already introduced human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in 2025, and there is significant potential for future vaccine introductions due to increasing demand from the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) and national vaccination initiatives. There is also a need to strengthen the national immunization programme by introducing vaccines for endemic diseases and those causing frequent outbreaks, such as malaria and dengue. Pakistan has a well-established pharmaceutical ecosystem with over 650 manufacturing units fulfilling the needs of 70 percent local market by the production of simpler chemicals (oral solids/liquids), setting a strong foundation. The pharmaceutical industry of Pakistan has achieved 100 percent year-over-year growth in exports, having established a supply chain in over 60 countries and preferential trade access through GSP+ (EU, UK), CPEC (China), ECO, OIC, SAFTA, etc. The current pharmaceutical ecosystem provides an enabling environment with enabling policies (e.g., Pharma Export Strategy) and a strong manufacturing base, including various WHO pre-qualified products and manufacturing plants having GMP certificates from PIC/s approved regulatory authorities (Vaccine Investment Pitchbook, 2025). Copyright Business Recorder, 2026