LAHORE-
The Punjab government’s contract for vaccines with the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (Unicef) was declared null and void by Lahore High Court, a private channel reports on Wednesday.
The court issued its verdict after hearing petition filed by a citizen named Tipu Sultan.
The petitioner stated that the contract between the provincial government and Unicef the contract was in effect before any notices were printed in newspapers to invite tender. He added that no quality checks had been carried out on the vaccines.
He further stated that the contract worth Rs1.27 billion for vaccine to fight diseases like hepatitis, polio etc. did not fit the general criteria. Moreover no other contenders had been approached before finalizing the deal.
The contract risks the health of children who will be vaccinated as no quality checks have been carried out on the vaccines, he added.
LHC’s Justice Ayesha A. Malik, after the hearing, declared the contract void and ordered the provincial government to publish an advertisement in newspapers inviting offers from competent vaccine manufacturing companies.
The judge ruled that all the standard procedures in this regard should be observed in the future and preservation methods for vaccines should also be considered.
