Key Points
- Pakistan’s pharmaceutical exports surged 34% in FY2025, marking the sector’s strongest growth in nearly two decades.
- Pharma exports reached around $457 million, making it Pakistan’s fifth fastest-growing export sector.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is moving closer to securing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Level 3 certification, a milestone officials say could dramatically boost the country’s pharmaceutical exports and strengthen its position in regulated international markets.
According to Federal Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal, Pakistan was expected to achieve the certification within the coming months, enabling local pharmaceutical manufacturers to expand exports from the current access of around 51 countries to more than 150 markets worldwide.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce, the minister described the development as a major step towards integrating Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector into the global healthcare supply chain and increasing the country’s export footprint in high-value markets.
The remarks were made during a conference held in Islamabad where Pakistani and Chinese pharmaceutical companies signed 10 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) aimed at deepening industrial cooperation.
The agreements cover local production of active pharmaceutical ingredients F(APIs), collaboration in vaccine manufacturing, technology transfer initiatives and investment opportunities intended to strengthen domestic pharmaceutical capacity.
Officials believe the partnerships will reduce Pakistan’s reliance on imported raw materials while helping local firms meet increasingly stringent international regulatory standards.
Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry has shown notable progress in recent years, particularly in obtaining internationally recognised certifications.
The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) reported last year that at least eight Pakistani pharmaceutical companies had secured prestigious global accreditations, including WHO prequalification, PIC/S recognition and approval from the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
These certifications have enabled Pakistani firms to access regulated and highly competitive markets, including the United States, Europe and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, where demand for quality-assured medicines continues to rise.
Former PPMA chairman Tauqeer Ul Haq recently said that another 10 to 15 Pakistani pharmaceutical companies were expected to achieve similar international certifications within the next one to two years, reflecting growing confidence in the sector’s manufacturing standards and regulatory compliance.
The industry’s export performance has also strengthened considerably. Pakistan’s pharmaceutical exports recorded their highest growth in nearly two decades during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.
Exports rose by 34%, reaching approximately $457 million, making pharmaceuticals the country’s fifth fastest-growing export category during the period.
Industry experts say the anticipated WHO Level 3 certification could further accelerate this momentum by enhancing international confidence in Pakistan’s regulatory framework and opening new opportunities for local manufacturers in advanced healthcare markets.
The government has increasingly prioritised the pharmaceutical sector as part of broader efforts to diversify exports, attract foreign investment and promote high-value manufacturing industries capable of competing internationally.
