First batch graduates from Diploma in Pharmaceutical Regulatory Sciences
KARACHI: For the first time in Pakistan, 230 students have been awarded diplomas in professional Pharmaceutical Regulatory Sciences, opening new avenues to strengthen regulatory capacity and support pharmaceutical exports. Speakers at the inaugural ceremony said this milestone addresses a key obstacle to growth — a shortage of trained regulatory professionals.
The ceremony was held at the Yousufi Corner, Digital Library, Ojha Campus under the auspices of the Dow Institute Of Biological, Biochemical, And Pharmaceutical Sciences, a subsidiary of Dow University Of Health Sciences (DUHS). The chief guest was Vice Chancellor Professor Jehan Ara Hasan, who was joined by former Vice Chancellor Professor Muhammad Saeed Quraishy, Registrar Dr. Ashar Afaaq, Dr. Saadia, Dr. Sumbul Shamim, Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed, DUHS faculty members, industry experts, and the graduating diploma holders.
In her address, Prof. Jehan Ara Hasan said that DUHS is not merely a medical education institution but a complete healthcare system that continues to pioneer new paths in professional education across Pakistan.
Why this milestone matters
Speakers highlighted that while India leads the region with pharmaceutical exports worth USD 30 billion, Pakistan’s exports are expected to reach only USD 750 million this year, despite its growing pharmaceutical sector. They said trained regulatory experts are vital to close this gap by improving compliance with international and local regulatory frameworks, accelerating approvals, and enabling access to new markets.
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Industry and academia alignment
Prominent industry leaders including Saif-ur-Rehman Khattak, Sheikh Qaiser Waheed, Tauqeer-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Jafri, Sultan Ghani, and Dr. Syed Izhar Hussain also addressed the gathering. Tauqeer-ul-Haq, CEO of Santé Pharma, underlined the longstanding need for trained pharmaceutical regulatory professionals and noted that 80% of the local pharmaceutical market share is held by national companies. He said that without expertise in both international and local regulatory frameworks, Pakistan cannot expand its pharmaceutical exports.
Speakers agreed that the lack of trained regulatory professionals has long hindered Pakistan’s pharmaceutical exports. They said the graduation of this first batch of professional pharmaceutical regulatory sciences diploma holders marks a significant breakthrough for the industry and is expected to enhance sector capacity and support growth in global markets.
The event concluded with Prof. Jehan Ara Hasan presenting shields to individuals who contributed to advancing the program, while students received their diplomas.
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