Key Takeaways
- The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested three officials of BHS-P over an alleged Rs. 2.445 billion irregularity.
- The officials are Muhammad Abid Hussain Shah, Pardeep Kumar, and Syed Ghulam Murtaza Shah.
- The arrests were made on October 20, 2026, in connection with FIR No. 61/2026.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested three officials of BHS-P in connection with an alleged Rs. 2.445 billion irregularity in a five-year contract for meningococcal meningitis and influenza vaccines, sources told ProPakistani.
The officials arrested are Muhammad Abid Hussain Shah, Director BHS-P; Pardeep Kumar, former Director BHS-P; and Syed Ghulam Murtaza Shah, Medical Officer/FP IHR at BHS-P.
According to FIA’s remand application, the five-year contract was allegedly awarded on the basis of a single bid without a market survey, independent cost estimates, or a comparative price assessment.
The contract set the price at Rs. 3,475 per complete vaccination, while the combined maximum retail prices notified by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) for the vaccines were stated to be Rs. 2,660.
The difference of Rs. 815 per vaccination was enough to raise suspicion, and sources estimated the potential excess cost over the five-year period at around Rs. 2.445 billion.
The FIA alleges that former Director Pardeep Kumar replaced a previously notified procurement committee, took over as its chairman, and approved bidding documents that lacked essential contractual details.
Syed Ghulam Murtaza Shah is accused of facilitating the contractor’s participation and selection, while Muhammad Abid Hussain Shah reportedly submitted a note on September 14, 2026, for ratification of the procurement process after it had taken place.
The committee’s formation is being studied, and the preparation and approval of bidding documents, the contractor’s selection, and the subsequent request for ratification are also under investigation.
After the arrests, FIA sought 14 days of physical remand from a judicial magistrate in Islamabad to recover procurement records, examine official correspondence, and verify payments under the contract.
The agency also wants to compare evidence with witness statements and determine the actual financial impact of the agreement. They are examining alleged coordination between the accused and the contractor.
The case has also drawn government attention. The prime minister has ordered an inquiry and constituted a committee to examine the matter. The allegations remain under investigation today.
