Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Malik, Pakistan’s Minister of State, issued a stark warning regarding the severe dependency of Islamic nations on a handful of countries for essential vaccines, highlighting that over 70 percent of global production is concentrated in fewer than ten nations.
Addressing the ‘Way Forward’ session of the 4th Meeting of the OIC Vaccine Manufacturers Group, held at the Al-Khwarizmi Conference Room of the OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat, Dr. Malik underscored that vaccines are fundamental public goods central to health security and sustainable development, according to a statement today.
He pointed to critical lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed persistent vulnerabilities within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) region. These weaknesses span antigen production, access to technology, regulatory maturity, and the resilience of supply chains, leaving many low- and middle-income member countries reliant on external suppliers.
While acknowledging existing vaccine production capacity in nations such as Indonesia, Trkiye, Iran, and Egypt, the minister stressed that capabilities across the OIC bloc remain fragmented and demand coordinated action.
Dr. Malik identified the SESRIC mapping study as a foundational tool to properly assess manufacturing potential, regulatory readiness, and demand across member states. He stated this would enable evidence-based collaboration, technology transfer, and targeted investment.
Sharing Pakistan”s approach, he informed participants that vaccine manufacturing has been declared a strategic national priority. This is being supported by a comprehensive National Vaccine Policy, regulatory strengthening, fiscal incentives, Special Economic Zones, and long-term public procurement commitments.
Pakistan’s strategy, he added, focuses on public-private partnerships along with government-to-government and business-to-business cooperation. He also mentioned proposed initiatives like a National Vaccine Fund and a National Vaccine Alliance designed to mobilise investment and de-risk projects.
The minister noted significant progress toward achieving WHO Maturity Level 3 for Pakistan’s drug regulatory authority, with support from WHO EMRO. He also spoke of efforts to establish WHO-compliant and prequalified vaccine manufacturing facilities in the country.
Furthermore, Dr. Malik revealed that the Asian Development Bank has conditionally expressed its readiness to provide up to USD 250 million in soft financing for viable vaccine manufacturing ventures.
Concluding his address, he called for an implementation-focused roadmap with clear timelines and shared responsibility, urging OIC Member States to strengthen collaboration to build a resilient, self-reliant, and future-ready vaccine manufacturing ecosystem.