Islamabad: Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal has announced that the government is working diligently to ensure local production of vaccines in Pakistan before 2030. During an event in Islamabad, he highlighted the current reliance on imported vaccines, stating that all thirteen vaccines administered to children are sourced from abroad. The government currently covers 51 percent of the cost, with the remaining 49 percent funded by donors.
According to Radio Pakistan, Mustafa Kamal emphasized that Pakistan is actively seeking collaboration with countries such as Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and China to initiate local vaccine production. He noted that Pakistan has the capacity to produce the raw materials needed for these vaccines and expressed optimism that this capability will eventually enable the country to export vaccines.
Mustafa Kamal also mentioned that the government is considering both government-to-government and business-to-business collaborations to realize the objectives of local vaccine production. He reiterated the importance of such partnerships in achieving self-sufficiency in vaccine manufacturing.