Islamabad: A five-member inquiry committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary on Saturday questioned Border Health Services (BHS) Pakistan officials for over five hours over allegations relating to the tender and procurement process for vaccines for Haj and Umrah pilgrims, along with claims of additional overhead charges and “manual” vaccination cards, officials familiar with the proceedings claimed.
The BHS director Dr. Abid Shah, and former directors Pardeep Kumar, Murtaza Shah and others were among those questioned, the officials said, adding that they had flown to Islamabad from Karachi on Saturday morning for the inquiry. The allegations remain unproven and are subject to the committee’s findings, they added.
The procurement process of vaccines by the BHS is also the subject of a petition in the Islamabad High Court by seven pharmaceutical and vaccine companies. They allege that the bidding for the public-private partnership contract attracted only one bidder and that eligible competitors were denied a fair opportunity to participate.
They also question whether the arrangement met the legal requirements for such a partnership and whether the necessary approvals were obtained. The court has issued notices to the respondents and sought the procurement record. The allegations remain subject to judicial determination.
The committee was constituted on the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif under a notification issued on October 16 to examine the procurement of meningococcal meningitis and influenza vaccines, vaccine prices and the financial arrangements of the contract.
The officials claimed the committee examined records which, according to them, indicated that BHS staff had charged around Rs700 to Rs1,000 as overhead in addition to the vaccine cost. They also claimed the committee examined evidence relating to “manual” vaccination cards allegedly issued to travellers in return for cash.
The officials said BHS representatives defended the procurement process, maintaining that it was transparent and in line with the relevant rules and regulations. They said BHS also maintained that the amount collected from travellers was deposited directly in the national exchequer and that certificates were issued through the National Immunisation Management System (NIMS).
The committee’s other members are the Director General of the Intelligence Bureau, the CEO of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, a representative of the Attorney General’s Office and the Managing Director of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), who also serves as secretary.
Under its terms of reference, the committee will examine the legal basis for the public-private partnership, the approvals obtained and compliance with PPRA rules. It will scrutinise bidding documents, vaccine quantities, payment terms, evaluation criteria and procurement timelines, and assess the reasonableness of vaccine prices, revenue-sharing arrangements and the protection of public interest. It will also identify responsibility for any irregularities established and recommend corrective measures.
The controversy also involves the reported collection of about Rs4,500 from Umrah pilgrims for a package of meningococcal and influenza vaccines, polio drops and certification. An earlier report in The News noted that Saudi Arabia’s published health requirements for Pakistani Umrah pilgrims mandate meningococcal and polio vaccination but do not list seasonal influenza vaccination as compulsory. Polio vaccination is also available free of charge under Pakistan’s public immunisation programmes.
The officials said the committee was expected to submit its report to the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday or Tuesday.
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