ISLAMABAD: A Senate committee on Thursday expressed serious concern over the alleged manufacture and sale of animal vaccines in Pakistan without the required licences, questioning the regulatory status of vaccines being administered to livestock.

The issue came under discussion during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research, where members questioned Director General Livestock, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr Ejaz, over the matter.

Committee member Senator Aimal Wali Khan questioned whether animal vaccines were being administered without a licence and sought clarification from the livestock authorities.

The KP Livestock DG shifted responsibility for the licensing issue to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), saying that vaccines had been produced in the country even before the establishment of DRAP.

He said the department had been applying for a licence since 2019, but DRAP had not yet issued the required licence.

Senator Aimal Wali Khan expressed serious concern over the issue, stressing that the livestock sector was a sensitive matter as the livelihoods of a large number of poor people were dependent on animals.

“Cows, buffaloes, goats and sheep are kept by ordinary people,” he said, questioning the administration of vaccines to such animals without the necessary licensing.

The senator further questioned whether the animals were actually being administered vaccines or merely being given water if the products were being used without regulatory approval.

The committee sought clarification from the relevant authorities regarding the licensing, manufacture, sale and administration of animal vaccines in the country.