PM Shehbaz orders 48-hour probe into Hajj and Umrah vaccine contract after cost jump and court challenge

Key takeaways

• Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an inquiry into how Border Health Services (BHS) Pakistan bought meningococcal meningitis and influenza vaccination services for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and overseas job seekers.
• A five-member committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary has 48 hours to report, under a PM Office notification dated 16 October.
• Dawn reports allegations that the cost has risen from about Rs1,250 per dose per person under the old system to about Rs4,500 per pilgrim under the new public-private partnership (PPP).
• Seven pharmaceutical companies have challenged the tender in the Islamabad High Court, alleging procurement rules were broken and the tender drew only one bidder.
• Health Minister Mustafa Kamal and BHS say all rules were followed. None of the allegations has been proven.

Who is on the committee

The Cabinet Division will support the panel, which can add members if needed. The News and ProPakistani report it was due to hold its first meeting in Islamabad on Saturday morning.

What the panel will examine

According to Dawn and The News, the committee will look at:

• why the PPP route was chosen, its legal basis and whether required approvals were taken;
• the bidding documents, including vaccine quantities, payment terms and evaluation criteria;
• whether timelines, complaint procedures and publication rules under PPRA were followed;
• whether vaccine prices and revenue-sharing were reasonable and protected the public interest;
• who is responsible if irregularities are found, and how to fix them.

The court challenge

The petitioners told the Islamabad High Court that the tender, opened on 2 July 2026, was advertised in only one newspaper instead of on the PPRA website and in at least two national dailies, Dawn reports. They also question how the deal could be both a "private partner" selection and an open competitive tender. The court has issued notices to the health ministry, PPRA, the PPP Authority, the religious affairs ministry and the private company that won the contract.

The petitioning firms are Gesundheit Concerns, Amson Vaccines and Pharma, Immuno Well, Hoffmann Human Health Pakistan, Hospital Services and Sales, 3A Diagnostics and Immunonet Pharma. The allegations remain for the court to decide.

Why it matters for pilgrims

Meningitis and flu vaccination is part of the health process that pilgrims and many overseas workers go through before travel, so the cost and handling of this contract affect large numbers of people. The inquiry does not change any travel requirement; travellers should follow the latest official instructions from BHS and the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

What happens next

• The committee's report to the prime minister was due within 48 hours of the 16 October notification.
• The Islamabad High Court case continues, with the government and BHS expected to file replies.
• Any change to the contract or the fee charged to pilgrims would need an official announcement.

This article is news reporting and is not medical advice.