Pakistan’s Vaccine Bill Could Reach $1.2 Billion Annually by 2031 Without Local Production: Health Minister

Islamabad: Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has warned that Pakistan’s annual expenditure on vaccines could rise to $1.2 billion by 2031 if local vaccine production is not initiated, placing a significant burden on the national economy.

Addressing a press conference, the minister said the Government of Pakistan currently provides 13 types of vaccines free of cost to citizens; however, none of these vaccines are manufactured locally. He noted that Pakistan, with a population of around 240 million, is the world’s fifth most populous country, with approximately 6.2 million children born each year.

Mustafa Kamal stated that the government imports vaccines with the support of international organizations at an annual cost of around $400 million. Of this amount, 49 percent is covered by international partners, while the remaining 51 percent is borne by the government, which helps keep the financial burden relatively manageable.

He cautioned that international assistance is expected to end after 2031. If Pakistan fails to develop local vaccine manufacturing capabilities by then, the annual cost could surge to $1.2 billion. “We have started working on this without waiting for 2031,” he said.

The health minister revealed that during times of conflict, vaccine supplies to Pakistan were disrupted. He added that Pakistan imports vaccines through Gavi, which previously sourced them from India. He expressed confidence that Pakistan would soon be capable of producing vaccines domestically.

Citing examples, Mustafa Kamal said Saudi Arabia has been working on vaccine development for the past 10 years, while Indonesia is producing around two million doses annually. “We are a nuclear power. If we can build JF-17 fighter jets, we can also manufacture vaccines,” he asserted.