Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has denied corruption allegations over vaccine procurement for Umrah pilgrims, saying not a single rupee of public money was lost. He spoke at a press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday after a week of controversy.
What the Minister Said on Vaccine Procurement
Kamal said Rs183.055 million collected from applicants is deposited in a NADRA account and that the company concerned has not received any payment. He said the financial loss, if any, was borne by the vaccine supplier and not the government.
He rejected social media claims of a Rs10 billion scandal, saying the inquiry committee’s report contains no such figure. The ministry will upload the inquiry report on its website for transparency.
| Point | Minister’s position |
|---|---|
| Public money lost | None |
| Amount collected from applicants | Rs183.055 million, held in NADRA account |
| Payment to the company | Not yet made |
| Rs10 billion claim | Rejected; not in inquiry report |
Inquiry Findings on the Vaccine Procurement Process
The minister said Border Health Services (BHS) approached the ministry about vaccination requirements for people travelling abroad for Umrah. According to the inquiry, BHS officials bypassed the Ministry of National Health Services, violated Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and sidelined the ministry’s procurement committee.
The Prime Minister formed a high-powered committee to examine the matter after the issue reached court. Kamal said the government has implemented all of its recommendations and will form a new procurement committee under the prescribed procedure. He added that the Prime Minister’s Office directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to act, and that the officials concerned were arrested.
Why the Row Matters
The vaccines in question were meant for pilgrims travelling abroad for Umrah, who need certain vaccinations before travel. Mustafa Kamal said BHS began the procurement without informing the federal health minister or the ministry, and that the arrangement incorrectly applied a public-private partnership framework alongside procurement rules. A company also approached the court over the matter, which led the Prime Minister to form the inquiry committee.
Opposition Demand
Pakistan Peoples Party leader Qadir Khan Mandokhail had earlier demanded Kamal’s resignation over the alleged irregularities.
What Happens Next
Once the inquiry report is on the ministry’s website, the public and opposition will be able to check its findings, and the new procurement committee is expected to handle future vaccine purchases for travellers.
Follow the TaazaTaren channel for the latest updates.
