A five-member committee formed to probe the Hajj and Umrah vaccine procurement held its first meeting on Saturday. The committee must submit its report within 48 hours.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had ordered the inquiry after questions were raised about the purchase of vaccines for pilgrims. The committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary.
At the heart of the probe is a Rs4,500-per-pilgrim vaccine package awarded to a company called BHS. Seven pharmaceutical companies have challenged the award in the Islamabad High Court, claiming the process was unfair.
The committee will examine how the contract was awarded, whether proper procedures were followed, and if public money was wasted. It will also look into the pricing of the vaccine package.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah. Saudi rules require pilgrims to be vaccinated against certain diseases before travel.
The government says it wants full transparency in the matter. The committee’s report, due on Monday, is expected to decide the fate of the contract.
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