Pakistan’s health ministry will issue a fresh tender for meningococcal meningitis and influenza vaccines within a month. It has abolished the Border Health Services (BHS) vaccination arrangement following an inquiry into procurement irregularities.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal confirmed the suspension of the existing process for religious pilgrims and overseas job seekers. He said authorities had arrested all BHS officials involved in issuing the unauthorised tender without ministry oversight.
Pilgrims must now arrange mandatory vaccinations through travel agents until the ministry’s central procurement committee issues the replacement tender.
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“I can assure that they will be fixed for keeping the ministry in the dark,” Mr Kamal said. “I am carrying a good reputation and have remained clean throughout my career. So I will not tolerate any attempt to defame me.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the inquiry after allegations that the contract raised vaccination costs to approximately Rs4,500 per pilgrim. The previous arrangement charged around Rs1,250 per dose. Seven companies also challenged alleged bidding irregularities in the Islamabad High Court.
The Cabinet Division secretary chaired the five-member panel examining the contract’s legal basis, rationale and approvals. Members included the Intelligence Bureau director general and Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan chief executive. The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority managing director and an Attorney General’s Office representative also served.
Inquiry documents showed that BHS officials created parallel committees, bypassing federal oversight.
On May 9, the ministry established a six-member procurement committee under BHS Director Dr Mir Muhammad Hassan Builo. The federal director general of health headed its grievance committee.
On June 10, BHS independently formed another procurement committee under Dr Pardeep Kumar. It also appointed Dr Shahbaz Ahmed Hashmi to lead a separate redressal committee, then floated the tender.
An anonymous senior ministry official alleged officials had concealed the process.
“The major violation was that the PPRA rules were followed for a public-private partnership. In fact, Public Private Partnership Authority rules should have been applied for the tender,” the official explained.
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“As per the agreement, the private company had to procure the vaccine, and the amount had to be deposited in a National Database and Registration Authority account. Nadra would then cut its charges and distribute the share between BHS and the private company. The positive thing was that not a single rupee had to be spent from the exchequer.”
The official attributed the Rs1,250 rate in 2026 to cheaper stock. Meningitis vaccination charges stood at Rs2,555 in 2025, Rs2,244 in 2024, Rs2,476 in 2023 and Rs2,550 in 2022. Influenza vaccination cost Rs1,426 in 2025 and Rs1,670 in 2024.
Another official urged the seven petitioners to supply vaccines at their cited Rs1,250 rate when bidding reopens. He put the vaccine’s maximum retail price near Rs1,300, against historical charges exceeding Rs2,000. He linked uncoordinated procurement to fake vaccination certificates, difficulties for pilgrims and government embarrassment.
Saudi health guidance requires Umrah travellers to comply with vaccination and health-certificate requirements, underscoring the importance of valid documentation.
