ISLAMABAD: Leading vaccine manufacturers on Monday gathered in the federal capital with an aim to advance vaccine self-reliance and strengthen health security across the Islamic world. They attended the meeting of the OIC Vaccine Manufacturers Group (VMG) at the OIC-Comstech Secretariat.

The inaugural session was attended by Minister of Health Syed Mustafa Kamal as chief guest, along with Assistant Secretary-General (Science and Technology), OIC Aftab Ahmad Khokher and Prof Dr Mohammad Iqbal Choudhary, coordinator general, OIC-Comstech.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) National Institutes of Health (NIH) Dr. M. Salman, senior representatives of the OIC General Secretariat, WHO, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), SESRIC, SMIIC, vaccine manufacturers, regulators, development partners and experts from OIC member states were also present on the occasion.

Welcoming the participants, Prof Dr Mohammad Iqbal Choudhary said hosting the fourth meeting of the VMG at a critical global juncture reflected the strong commitment of OIC-member states to advance collective health security.

He emphasised that the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent global supply disruptions clearly demonstrated that vaccine self-reliance was no longer an option but a strategic necessity, particularly for OIC countries facing high disease burdens and rapidly growing populations.

Mustafa Kamal informed participants that Pakistan was currently using 13 imported vaccines, and shared that the country aimed to develop indigenous vaccine production capacity by 2030, in collaboration with OIC member states.

Aftab Ahmad Khokher reaffirmed the strong support of the OIC General Secretariat for the Vaccine Manufacturers Group. He emphasised that strengthening vaccine manufacturing capabilities within OIC member states was central to the organisation’s broader science, technology and development agenda.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2026