Making vaccines in Pakistan: the new policy, the Gavi deadline and the opportunity
Pakistan’s first vaccine policy starts with fill-and-finish and aims for full production. With Gavi support ending in 2031, the clock is running.
Vaccines are one of the clearest gaps in Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry — and one of the clearest opportunities.
The cost of importing
With help from Gavi, UNICEF and WHO, Pakistan’s vaccine import bill is about PKR 26 billion; without that help it would be almost PKR 100 billion, Profit reported in January 2026. Gavi support is due to end in 2031. In July 2026, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal warned that vaccine import costs could reach $1.2 billion by 2030.
The policy
Pakistan’s first vaccine policy sets out a staged path:
- Fill-and-finish using imported ingredients.
- Full production through technology transfer, partnerships with WHO or joint ventures.
- Exports, once WHO prequalification is achieved — which can take more than five years.
Proposed support includes a National Vaccine Alliance bringing together DRAP, manufacturers, public producers and academia; a National Vaccine Fund providing patient, risk-sharing capital; and long-term buy-back contracts in which the government shares manufacturing risk.
Early steps
Researchers at Dow University have developed a local rabies vaccine variant, and vaccine facilities were among the priorities of the Pakistan–China investment pacts signed in July 2026.
What it needs
| Need | Suppliers involved |
|---|---|
| Aseptic filling lines | Isolator and filling machinery makers |
| Cold chain | Refrigeration, logistics and monitoring |
| Quality control | Laboratories, analytical instruments |
| Regulatory readiness | Consultants, validation services |
What to watch
Profit’s analysis stresses that policy consistency and long-term capacity building will decide success. Sterile manufacturing standards are covered in our Annex 1 article.
