ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal government has terminated a contract to supply meningitis and influenza vaccines to Umrah pilgrims and arrested three officials over alleged irregularities in its procurement, a senior health official said this week.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered a high-level inquiry into the awarding of a contract to a private company for the vaccines in July this year. Separately, seven pharmaceutical companies approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC), alleging that procurement rules were violated in awarding the contract. The case remains pending before the high court.
The matter concerns the Border Health Services, a federal government department operating under the national health ministry that is responsible for protecting the public’s health at the country’s entry points, including airports, seaports, and land crossings.
A procurement committee for the vaccines was constituted by the health ministry on May 9. However, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Border Health Services formed a separate committee on June 10 and proceeded with procuring the vaccines before subsequently approaching the health ministry for approval. The health ministry received the case for ex-post facto approval on September 16, the official said, adding that the department was directed to comply with all required procurement procedures.
“Yes, the contract has been terminated and three officials have been arrested,” the official said on Thursday, adding that the Border Health Services would issue a fresh tender for meningitis and influenza vaccines for travelers within a month.
“Some procedures were not followed by the Border Health Services under the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and the Public Private Partnership Act.”
The official said the Border Health Services had its own annual budget of approximately Rs933 million ($3.37 million) and exercised administrative and financial authority over its procurement decisions. However, the ministry had instructed the department to observe the relevant rules and formalities.
The inquiry ordered by Prime Minister Sharif also raised questions over vaccine prices. According to information shared by the official, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) set a price of Rs1,356 ($4.90) for the meningitis vaccine. However, the procurement price was reportedly around Rs2,350 ($8.48).
The Border Health Services issued a notification on September 7, 2026, requiring Umrah pilgrims to get vaccinated. The requirement raised questions among travel operators over whether the Saudi government had made the vaccines mandatory for Umrah pilgrims.
“We have not received any request from Saudi authorities regarding mandatory meningitis vaccination for Umrah pilgrims,” Mushtaq Ahmad, chief executive officer of Waqar-e-Madina travel agency, said.
He said meningitis vaccination requirements for Hajj pilgrims are separate from those for Umrah.
According to a letter posted on the Saudi Ministry of Health website, all individuals intending to perform Umrah are required to be vaccinated for meningitis before traveling to Saudi Arabia.
Meningitis is a potentially life-threatening disease that can progress rapidly, making vaccination an important public health measure to contain it.
The health ministry official said the ministry’s review had called for the procurement of vaccines to be conducted again with greater transparency. A fresh tender is expected to provide an opportunity to restart the process in accordance with the rules that are in place, he added.