KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested three serving and former officials of Border Health Services-Pakistan (BHS-P) in connection with alleged irregularities in a five-year vaccine procurement contract involving a projected financial impact of Rs2.445 billion, triggering serious questions about corruption, questionable vaccination charges, financial accountability and the management of international travellers' vaccination services at airports across Pakistan.
The arrests come amid reports of FIA action against Border Health Services facilities, including the closure of the international travellers' vaccination counter at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport, while implementation of designated mandatory vaccination and pre-departure health verification requirements for Umrah pilgrims has been postponed until November 20, 2026.
According to media reports citing FIA proceedings, the arrested officials include Dr. Muhammad Abid Hussain Shah, Director of Border Health Services-Pakistan; Dr. Pardeep Kumar, former Director; and Dr. Syed Ghulam Murtaza Shah, Medical Officer and focal person associated with international vaccination services.
The FIA's Anti-Corruption Circle in Islamabad has registered FIR No. 61/2026 over alleged procurement irregularities, procedural violations and suspected misuse of authority in awarding the controversial vaccination contract.
The arrested officials were produced before Judicial Magistrate Shaista Kundi in Islamabad, who granted seven days of physical remand for further investigation.
During a visit to the International Travellers Vaccination Centre at the Federal Government Civil Dispensary near Star Gate, Karachi Airport, this correspondent personally examined the situation surrounding vaccination services and made inquiries regarding the reported FIA action.
Individuals present at the facility informed Health Matters Media that Dr. Syed Murtaza and several other Border Health Services personnel had been taken into FIA custody. The visit also brought to light serious concerns regarding the administration of vaccination services, the collection of charges from international passengers and uncertainty surrounding the enforcement of mandatory vaccination requirements.
Reports of FIA action at the dispensary have also emerged, although the precise circumstances of any search or raid conducted inside the facility, including any records seized, could not be independently established during the visit.
Health Matters Media subsequently attempted to contact the FIA Public Relations Officer by telephone to obtain official details regarding the arrests, investigation and action against the vaccination facilities. However, the call remained unanswered.
According to allegations reported from the FIA investigation, the controversy centres on a five-year public-private partnership contract awarded to M/s Pharma Connect for the provision of meningococcal meningitis and influenza vaccination services to international travellers.
Investigators have reportedly alleged that the contract was awarded following a procurement process involving a single bidder, without adequate market surveys, independent cost estimates or comparative price assessments.
The contracted rate was reportedly fixed at Rs3,475 per complete vaccination, compared with a combined maximum retail price of Rs2,660 for the relevant vaccines notified by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
The difference of Rs815 per vaccination reportedly formed the basis of an estimated Rs2.445 billion potential financial impact over the five-year contract period.
However, the amount represents a projected financial impact cited in the allegations, rather than an independently established loss of public funds.
The FIA has reportedly accused former Director Dr. Pardeep Kumar of making irregular changes to the procurement process, while Dr. Syed Ghulam Murtaza Shah allegedly facilitated the contractor's selection. Director Dr. Abid Hussain Shah is alleged to have sought retrospective approval of procurement proceedings.
These allegations remain under investigation and have not been established by a court.
The controversy has also raised serious questions about the vaccination fees charged to international passengers at Karachi, Peshawar and other airports.
According to information received by Health Matters Media, passengers were reportedly being charged between Rs4,500 and Rs7,000 for vaccination-related services, prompting concerns about approved fee structures, payment collection procedures and financial transparency.
Border Health Services had previously publicised charges of Rs2,785 for meningitis vaccination and Rs1,720 for influenza vaccination, while polio vaccination was to be provided free of charge.
The combined announced fee for meningitis and influenza vaccination was therefore Rs4,505.
However, the existence of an announced fee structure does not establish whether all collections were authorised, properly recorded or deposited into designated accounts.
Sources also alleged that technical problems involving NADRA-linked registration systems were cited as justification for collecting cash payments from passengers.
These claims require verification through official records, financial audits and the ongoing investigation.
The central questions now confronting the federal authorities are whether the amounts collected from travellers were consistent with approved government rates, whether proper receipts were issued, where the payments were deposited and whether any individuals or private entities benefited unlawfully.
The procurement controversy has also raised questions about the oversight responsibilities of the federal Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination.
Documents concerning the procurement process show that a committee was constituted under the chairmanship of former BHS Director Dr. Pardeep Kumar to finalise the public-private partnership tender for meningococcal meningitis and influenza vaccination services.
The committee included representatives of DRAP and other health institutions and was responsible for reviewing technical and financial evaluation reports before submitting recommendations to the competent authority.
The FIA investigation must now determine whether procurement rules were followed, whether the contract was competitively awarded and whether appropriate financial safeguards were established.
Meanwhile, vaccination operations at Karachi Airport have been disrupted following the controversy.
According to an official circular issued on October 21, 2026, by Airport Health Officer Dr. Sara Saeed, implementation of designated meningitis, influenza and polio vaccination requirements, along with mandatory pre-departure health verification for Umrah pilgrims travelling through Karachi International Airport, has been deferred until November 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
This is not the first postponement. An earlier circular dated September 23 had extended the implementation deadline to October 10, 2026.
The repeated deferrals have raised serious questions about administrative preparedness, the availability of vaccination services and the effectiveness of federal oversight.
If vaccination requirements were considered essential for international travel and public health protection, why has their enforcement been repeatedly postponed?
Were the delays caused by operational shortcomings, procurement disputes, technical failures or the ongoing investigation?
And what arrangements have been made for thousands of intending pilgrims who require vaccination certificates before travelling abroad?
The latest postponement does not constitute a blanket exemption from vaccination requirements for all international passengers. It concerns designated enforcement and verification arrangements for Umrah pilgrims departing Karachi Airport. Vaccination and entry requirements imposed by Saudi Arabia and other destination countries remain separately applicable.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier ordered an inquiry into the controversial vaccine procurement arrangement.
A five-member committee headed by the Secretary of the Cabinet Division was constituted to examine the procurement process, with representation from relevant federal institutions, including the Intelligence Bureau, DRAP, the Attorney General's Office and the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority.
The FIA arrests have now brought the controversy into the criminal justice system, with investigators examining the procurement process, contractual arrangements, financial implications and the possible involvement of additional individuals.
The federal health ministry must explain how a vaccination programme intended to protect international travellers became the subject of allegations involving billions of rupees.
The ministry must also disclose the approved vaccination rates, the total amount collected from passengers, the terms of the private contractor's agreement and the measures being taken to ensure uninterrupted and transparent vaccination services.
Equally important is the need to examine the role of officials responsible for monitoring the vaccination centres and supervising financial transactions.
Passengers should not be left paying substantial charges without transparent information about the services provided, the applicable rates and the legal status of their vaccination certificates.
The FIA must also clarify the nature and extent of its action at Karachi Airport and the Federal Government Civil Dispensary, including whether any official records, financial documents or other evidence were recovered during its investigation.
Health Matters Media also contacted the Karachi-based Public Relations Officer of Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal to obtain the minister's official position on the FIA arrests, alleged procurement irregularities, vaccination fee collections and repeated postponement of mandatory vaccination enforcement. However, no response had been received from the minister's office at the time of filing this report. The minister's version will be incorporated into the continuing coverage whenever it becomes available.
The allegations against the arrested officials remain unproven, and their detention does not establish criminal guilt. All individuals and entities named in the investigation are entitled to due process and an opportunity to respond.
With three officials under arrest, a multibillion-rupee procurement contract under investigation, vaccination facilities facing disruption and enforcement requirements repeatedly postponed, the controversy has become a serious test of accountability within Pakistan's federal public health administration.
The government must ensure a transparent investigation, accountability wherever wrongdoing is established, recovery of any proven financial losses and restoration of public confidence in vaccination services.
Health Matters Media will continue pursuing the matter, including the allegations concerning vaccination fee collections, the FIA's action at Karachi Airport and the responsibilities of federal health authorities, while seeking official responses from all concerned parties.
