A Vaccine Independence Movement for Pakistan

Pakistan faces a weak public health future. With over seven million births annually and a population growth rate of 2.55%, we face a looming threat — and a rare opportunity — in the form of vaccine self-reliance. The clock is ticking: by 2031, Pakistan will graduate from GAVI support, losing access to subsidized vaccines currently valued at PKR 26 billion per year. Without local production, this cost could skyrocket to PKR 100 billion annually — nearly four times our current federal health budget. This isn’t just a fiscal crisis; it’s a strategic vulnerability. Pakistan produces virtually no antigens for vaccines under its Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). We lack seed banks, local manufacturing capabilities, and advanced regulatory systems. Our universities have yet to play a meaningful role in the kind of innovation that powers pharmaceutical giants. This is not underdevelopment — it is a surrender of national health autonomy. The global vaccine landscape offers clear lessons. Some countries, through robust government support and regulation, became the pharmacy of the world. Some developed a globally competitive biomedical hub through integrated research and investment, while others leveraged public-private partnerships to create excellent biotech capabilities. Pakistan can do the same. The key lies in what experts call the Triple Helix model an active, coordinated partnership between the state, academic institutions, and the private sector. Each has a vital role to play. The government must lead with vision and resolve. It should declare vaccine self-sufficiency a national security priority, develop a national strategy, and provide seed funding to build domestic capacity. Institutions such as the National Institute of Health, NIBGE, ICCBS, and universities like Karachi University and Dow University must be tasked with targeted vaccine development. Seed banks, technology transfer centers, and pilot manufacturing labs must be funded and operationalized within the next two years. Equally critical is regulatory reform. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan must achieve WHO Level 3 status and adopt a “regulatory sandbox” model — collaborative spaces where academia, industry, and regulators work together to fast-track approvals and develop clear standards for the 13 core EPI vaccines. Without streamlined pathways from lab to market, even the most promising discoveries will stagnate. Our universities must embrace their role as innovation hubs. With the right support, biotechnology departments can develop recombinant vaccines, while institutions with BSL-III labs can focus on live attenuated strains. Curricula need realignment with industry demands. Technology transfer offices should help researchers commercialize breakthroughs. Pakistan’s young, educated population is its biggest asset — we must equip them to lead in pharmaceutical science. The private sector, for its part, must commit to building GMP-compliant facilities, investing in R&D, and collaborating with universities. Domestic firms already active in biopharmaceutical manufacturing should be incentivized to enter vaccine production, helping establish secure supply chains and scalable distribution systems. We propose a six-year roadmap: two years to build regulatory and institutional frameworks, two years for infrastructure development and capacity building, and two years to scale up production and establish distribution networks. The long-term payoff is immense — thousands of new jobs, billions saved on imports, and eventual export potential to neighboring countries. This is a defining moment. If we act now, Pakistan can emerge as a regional pharmaceutical leader. If we delay, we risk being left vulnerable to external supply shocks, geopolitical pressure, and preventable disease outbreaks. The establishment of national and provincial coordination committees must be our first step. What follows is a matter of political will, strategic investment, and national commitment. The choice before us is stark: continue as passive recipients of foreign aid, or seize control of our health future. Vaccine independence is not a dream — it is a necessity. The time to act is now.