KARACHI: Over 90 percent of Pakistan's total drug production is being met by local pharmaceutical companies, healthcare experts and officials revealed during a national workshop held at the University of Karachi.
The workshop, titled “The Role of Regulators, Pharma Industry, and Academia in Promoting Quality Healthcare Products”, was jointly organized by the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). It brought together prominent health officials, pharmaceutical leaders, and academics.
Sindh Health Secretary Rehan Iqbal Baloch emphasized the need for essential medicines to be produced locally and pledged the provincial government’s support for the industry and academia.
Chairman of the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA), Tauqeer Ul Haq, stated that over 700 pharmaceutical units in Pakistan are producing 90% of the country’s drug supply, contributing to 70% of the domestic market and 52% of national exports.
Speakers including Prof. Dr. Atta-ur Rahman, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Raza Shah, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, and Ms. Nadira Panjwani highlighted the importance of collaboration between regulators, industry, and academia to promote innovation, safety, and quality in healthcare products.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by DRAP Director Dr. Saif-ur-Rahman Khatak.
