A senior delegation from Saudi Arabia has arrived in Pakistan to move forward with plans for setting up local vaccine manufacturing. The visit is part of Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen its immunization system and reduce reliance on imported vaccines.
According to the Ministry of National Health Services, the delegation includes eleven members and represents a major step in improving health sector cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The focus of the visit is on vaccine production, pharmaceutical development, and industrial collaboration.
The visit follows several meetings held over the past seven months between Pakistan’s Health Minister, Syed Mustafa Kamal, and his Saudi counterpart. Discussions also involved Saudi Arabia’s minister of industry. These talks explored investment opportunities, technical support, and the possibility of producing vaccines within Pakistan.
Both countries have appointed focal persons to stay in regular contact and ensure that progress continues smoothly. Authorities believe this coordination will help turn discussions into practical results.
Pakistan currently runs large immunization campaigns to protect people from diseases such as polio, measles, rubella, and hepatitis. However, the country depends fully on imported vaccines to carry out these programs. Health experts say this dependence makes the system costly and vulnerable to supply delays.
Local vaccine production is being seen as a long-term solution. For a country with a population of over 240 million, producing vaccines at home could improve availability, lower costs, and strengthen health security.
The visiting Saudi delegation is expected to hold meetings with Pakistani officials and health experts during their stay. These talks will focus on technical planning, investment models, and timelines for setting up production facilities.
Officials from both sides have expressed optimism about the partnership. They believe joint efforts in vaccine manufacturing will benefit public health and further strengthen the long-standing relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.