ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has approved Pakistan’s first-ever National Vaccine Policy, marking a major step toward strengthening the country’s healthcare system and enabling local vaccine production, officials said on Wednesday.
Federal Minister for National Health Syed Mustafa Kamal described the approval as a significant milestone, noting that Pakistan previously did not have a comprehensive national framework governing vaccine development and distribution. He said the new policy has been formulated after extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders to ensure a structured and sustainable approach.
According to the statement, the policy aims to build long-term capacity for vaccine production within the country, reducing reliance on imports and improving preparedness for public health needs.
The minister highlighted that key contributions to the policy formulation were made by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, Minister of State for Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan.
He stressed that developing domestic vaccine manufacturing capability has become increasingly important for Pakistan, adding that the initiative represents a significant move toward greater self-reliance in the health sector and improved national health security.