ISLAMABAD: The EPI is all set to to upgrade the cold chain capacity across all levels of its supply chain to boost vaccine management and upgrade to high-performing cold chain technologies through a Cold Chain Equipment Optimisation platform. This platform will be launched in Pakistan with GAVI’s collaboration. The Government of Pakistan will provide 50 per cent of the funds through PC-1 and Provincial PC-1s. The other 50 per cent will be contributed by the Gavi Alliance. Pakistan has submitted an application to GAVI for the Cold Chain Equipment Optimisation Platform. “The Cold Chain Equipment optimisation platform will help Pakistan to improve the capacity gaps in vaccine storage and addressing equity issues through expansion of immunisation services”, said Dr. Syed Saqlain Ahmad Gilani, while commenting on the merits of this new system. The foundation to achieve increased immunisation coverage and new vaccines introduction is a robust immunisation supply chain management. The Government of Pakistan with the support of UNICEF had conducted an Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) assessment in 2014. The assessment indicated many weaknesses in the system including inadequate CCE capacities, poor temperature monitoring procedures, human resource gaps to manage the system efficiently, a lack of maintenance planning process to keep equipment functioning, equipment down-time, and poor quality data management at all levels among others.