Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered a high-level inquiry into the controversial procurement of vaccines for Haj and Umrah pilgrims by Border Health Services (BHS) Pakistan amid allegations of irregularities in awarding the contract, questionable pricing and collection of charges for an influenza vaccine not mandatory for Umrah pilgrims.
The five-member committee, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, has been directed to investigate the procurement process, financial arrangements and compliance with relevant laws and submit its findings to the Prime Minister within 48 hours.
Officials said the committee would hold its first meeting in Islamabad on Saturday morning to record statements from relevant officials, examine procurement documents and review the circumstances surrounding the award of the contract.
According to a notification issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on October 16, the committee includes the Director General of the Intelligence Bureau, Chief Executive Officer of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), a representative of the Attorney General’s Office and Managing Director of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA).
The PPRA managing director will also serve as the committee’s secretary.
The Prime Minister’s intervention comes after seven pharmaceutical and vaccine companies challenged the award of the vaccination contract in the Islamabad High Court, raising questions about transparency, competition and compliance with procurement regulations.
The petitioners have alleged that the procurement process effectively resulted in a single-bidder arrangement, depriving other eligible companies of a fair opportunity to compete for the contract.
They have also questioned the legal basis of awarding the contract through a public-private partnership arrangement and whether the mandatory approvals and procedures were followed.
The allegations have not been established by a court, and the legal challenge remains pending.
The controversy has also brought into question the reported collection of approximately Rs4,500 from Umrah pilgrims for a vaccination package that includes meningococcal meningitis and influenza vaccines, polio drops and vaccination certification.
Saudi Arabia’s published health requirements for Pakistani Umrah pilgrims make meningococcal meningitis and polio vaccination mandatory but do not require seasonal influenza vaccination.
The inclusion of influenza vaccination in the package has therefore raised questions about the justification for charging pilgrims for a vaccine that is not compulsory under Saudi requirements.
Questions have also been raised about the pricing of the package, particularly as polio vaccination is available free of charge through Pakistan’s public immunisation programmes.
Under its terms of reference, the inquiry committee will examine why the public-private partnership model was adopted, whether the required approvals were obtained and whether the procurement complied with PPRA rules.
It will scrutinise bidding documents, evaluation criteria, vaccine quantities, prices, payment terms, revenue-sharing arrangements and the financial implications of the contract.
The committee has also been asked to determine whether the arrangement adequately protected public interest and whether the prices charged were reasonable.
Importantly, the committee will identify responsibility for any irregularities established during the inquiry and recommend corrective measures.
The Prime Minister’s decision places the procurement arrangement under formal scrutiny, although neither the notification nor the pending court proceedings establish wrongdoing by BHS officials or the private contractor.
Officials said the committee would submit its findings and recommendations to the Prime Minister after examining the relevant record and explanations from the parties concerned.