Islamabad: Three officials of Border Health Services-Pakistan (BHS-P), arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in connection with alleged irregularities in a Rs2.445 billion vaccine procurement contract, have been remanded in FIA custody for seven days, but the federal health ministry has neither issued formal suspension orders nor publicly commented on the case despite repeated requests for its position.
Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal and the official spokesperson of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination have not responded to repeated requests for comments on the arrests, the alleged procurement irregularities and the administrative status of the officials.
The arrested officials include BHS-P Director Dr Abid Hussain Shah, former director Dr Pardeep Kumar and medical officer Dr Syed Ghulam Murtaza Shah, who were produced before Judicial Magistrate Shaista Kundi in Islamabad on October 21.
The magistrate granted the FIA seven days’ physical remand for further investigation and directed that the suspects be produced before the court again on October 28. The FIA had sought 14 days’ custody to recover original procurement records, investigate alleged collusion and identify other individuals potentially involved in the procurement process.
The absence of formal suspension orders has raised questions about compliance with the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020, which specifically address the suspension of government employees arrested and imprisoned in connection with criminal offences.
Under Rule 5, a civil servant charged with a criminal offence and committed to prison is considered under suspension from the date of arrest without requiring formal approval from the competent authority. The rules also empower the competent authority to suspend an official for an initial period of up to 120 days, extendable through a written order.
Although the rules provide for automatic suspension in specified circumstances, the ministry has not publicly clarified whether the arrested officials are being treated as suspended, whether they retain any administrative responsibilities or who has been assigned their duties during their detention.
According to FIA documents, FIR No. 61/2026 concerns alleged financial irregularities and manipulation of procurement procedures in awarding a five-year contract for meningococcal ACWY and influenza vaccines to M/s Pharma Connect for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
Investigators alleged that the contract was awarded without a market survey or comparative price assessment, with the procurement price fixed at Rs3,475 per vaccination package against a combined maximum retail price of Rs2,660 notified by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
The FIA estimated that the difference of Rs815 per vaccination could result in approximately Rs2.445 billion in excess expenditure over the five-year contract period. The figure represents a projected financial impact cited by investigators, not a loss established by a court.
The agency alleged that Dr Pardeep Kumar superseded an earlier procurement committee, assumed its chairmanship and approved bidding documents without essential evaluation criteria. Dr Ghulam Murtaza Shah allegedly facilitated the contractor’s selection, while Dr Abid Hussain Shah subsequently sought retrospective approval of the procurement proceedings.
The controversy had earlier prompted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to constitute a five-member inquiry committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary to examine the procurement process and allegations of irregularities in vaccination arrangements for pilgrims.
The committee, comprising representatives of the Intelligence Bureau, DRAP, the Attorney General’s Office and the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, also examined the Rs4,500 vaccination package charged to pilgrims, administrative overheads and the issuance of manual vaccination certificates.
Separately, seven pharmaceutical companies had challenged the procurement process before the Islamabad High Court, questioning the tender arrangements and award of the contract.
The arrests also led to a temporary suspension of vaccination services at the BHS-P centre in Karachi, raising concerns about arrangements for pilgrims requiring vaccination certificates before international travel.
Despite the criminal proceedings, the health ministry has not announced any departmental inquiry or publicly explained what administrative measures have been taken following the arrests.
The allegations against the three officials remain under investigation and have not been established by a court.
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