Vaccine imports could cost $1.2b

Minister warns import reliance may strain economy after 2031

ISLAMABAD:

Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has warned that Pakistan could face an annual vaccine bill of up to $1.2 billion by 2031 if domestic manufacturing is not established, calling the current reliance on imported vaccines a looming economic burden.

Addressing a press conference, Kamal said the government currently provides 13 types of vaccines free of charge to citizens, yet none are produced locally. Pakistan, with a population of approximately 240 million, is the world's fifth most populous country and records around 6.2 million births every year, significantly increasing vaccine demand.

At present, he said, Pakistan imports all vaccines with the support of international organisations, at an annual cost of about $400 million. Of this amount, 49% is covered by international partners, while the government bears the remaining 51%, keeping the immediate financial pressure relatively manageable.

However, Kamal cautioned that international assistance is scheduled to end after 2031. "If Pakistan fails to develop its own vaccine production capacity by then, annual costs are projected to rise sharply to $1.2 billion, placing heavy strain on the national economy," he warned.

"We procure vaccines through GAVI, which used to come from India," Kamal said, referring to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization. During and after the May 2025 conflict with India, he added, this arrival has stopped.

He said the government has already begun preparatory work rather than waiting for donor support to lapse. He said Pakistan aims to achieve self-sufficiency in vaccine production in the near future.

Drawing comparisons with regional and international examples, he noted that Saudi Arabia has been working on vaccine development for the past decade, while Indonesia is already producing two million doses annually.