Federal Minister for National Health Syed Mustafa Kamal on Wednesday announced that the federal cabinet approved Pakistan’s first-ever National Vaccine Policy, paving the way for local vaccine production in the country.

The approval was granted during a meeting of the federal cabinet held in Islamabad, with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in the chair.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister termed the development a major milestone in strengthening Pakistan’s healthcare system. He noted that the country had, until now, lacked a comprehensive national policy on vaccines, adding that the newly approved framework was developed through extensive consultations with key stakeholders to ensure a robust and sustainable approach.

Kamal highlighted the role of 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 (DRAP) in shaping the policy.

He emphasised that establishing local vaccine production capacity had become essential for the country, describing the initiative as a significant step towards achieving self-reliance in the health sector.

The federal cabinet also approved the formation of a special committee under the supervision of DRAP to determine vaccine prices and ensure quality standards.

The policy aims to reduce reliance on imported vaccines, conserve foreign exchange, and make Pakistan self-sufficient in vaccine production.

Pakistan, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation, has, over the past five decades, provided life-saving vaccines to 160 million children and 130 million mothers.

Earlier this year, the World Health Organisation’s vaccines chief, Kate O’Brien, said that vaccines have saved 154 million lives globally over the past 50 years, noting that more than 30 diseases can be prevented through immunisation.