Pakistan proposes formation of OIC Vaccine Alliance: Health minister Kamal

2026-02-09 - 09:36

ISLAMABAD – Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has proposed the establishment of an “OIC Vaccine Alliance,” calling vaccine production critically important for the entire healthcare sector and stressing the need for a joint strategy among Islamic countries. Addressing the fourth meeting of the OIC Vaccine Manufacturers Group, Mustafa Kamal said Pakistan has a population of 240 million, with an annual increase of more than six million people, making local vaccine production a major challenge. He said Pakistan has set a target to end vaccine imports and external dependence by 2030 but emphasised that instead of waiting until then, the country must immediately enhance its capacity and vaccine manufacturing capabilities. The federal minister noted that Pakistan does not lack infrastructure, citing strong institutions such as the National Institute of Health (NIH). However, he said vaccine manufacturing or procurement is not a profitable business, which is why reliable and strong partnerships are essential. Mustafa Kamal said Pakistan is seeking cooperation with countries including China, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, adding that Saudi Arabia has been working on vaccine manufacturing for the past decade. He further informed the participants that Pakistan has, for the first time, developed a National Vaccine Policy under which a single company will be allowed to manufacture only one vaccine to ensure better quality standards. Emphasising collaboration among Islamic countries, the health minister said OIC member states should benefit from each other’s experiences and begin work on the OIC Vaccine Alliance immediately on short-, medium- and long-term bases. The minister revealed that during recent Pakistan-India tensions, a vaccine shortage highlighted that the global vaccine alliance Gavi was procuring vaccines from India and supplying them to Pakistan, prompting the government to opt for permanent planning and self-reliance. He stressed that a healthy environment, a healthy nation and economic stability are directly linked to national security, making self-sufficiency in vaccine production imperative.