ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is stepping up efforts to position itself as a competitive global player in pharmaceutical exports with the creation of PharmEx Pakistan — a specialized export promotion council under the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). The initiative, revealed by Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, seeks to multiply current export volumes and foster stronger trade relationships, especially with neighboring Afghanistan.
“PharmEx Pakistan is just one or two steps away from becoming fully operational,” said Minister Khan. “The pharmaceutical sector has immense export potential, and we’re committed to removing bottlenecks and unlocking new markets.”
The initiative aligns with Pakistan’s long-term vision of diversifying exports beyond textiles and agriculture. Current pharma exports stand at around USD 700 million, with a roadmap now in place to scale this figure significantly over the next few years.
PPMA’s strategic role
The move is driven by strong collaboration between public and private stakeholders. Chairman of the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Association (PPMA), Tauqeer Ul Haq, gave a detailed presentation on the council’s objectives and potential impact. He emphasized that PharmEx Pakistan will act as the central platform for regulatory streamlining, international marketing, and sector-specific policy support.
“This council is a game-changer,” said Haq. “With strategic government backing and focused industry input, we believe Pakistan can emerge as a serious contender in global pharma supply chains.”
Haq also credited the Minister’s swift action on pressing industry issues, which he said helped avert major financial disruptions and restore exporter confidence.
Regional trade, local production push
The government is placing particular focus on regional markets. Minister Khan noted that improving bilateral ties with Afghanistan could significantly boost Pakistan’s pharmaceutical exports in the short term. To ensure smoother transactions, the Commerce Ministry will set up an Exporter Facilitation Desk, aimed at addressing urgent matters and accelerating issue resolution.
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Separately, Federal Health Minister also held discussions with the PPMA delegation to explore enhanced local production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). A major highlight was the proposed establishment of a Naphtha Cracker facility—a long-needed move to reduce reliance on imported raw materials.
To promote drug quality and transparency, a trace-and-track system using mobile-verifiable barcodes is also being introduced.
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