The Government of Pakistan has asked the pharmaceutical industry to prepare a one month roadmap outlining its priorities, challenges and growth potential for 2030 and beyond as the country seeks to expand high value exports and establish itself as a competitive global pharmaceutical hub. Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal called on industry stakeholders to work with the government on a practical strategy that can support the sector’s expansion and contribute towards the national target of exceeding $100 billion in exports by 2035.
Iqbal made the remarks while chairing a roundtable conference with pharmaceutical industry representatives and other stakeholders in Islamabad. The meeting was attended by Adviser to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan and Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal, along with representatives from the pharmaceutical sector, academia and research institutions. The session was organised to move the discussion beyond conventional consultation and develop practical measures for improving the competitiveness and export capacity of Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry.
Pakistan’s pharmaceutical exports reached a 20 year high of $457 million in FY2025 after recording 34% growth, providing the sector with a stronger base for future expansion. Iqbal said the industry should use this performance as a starting point rather than treating it as an end target. He asked pharmaceutical companies to assess how much they can contribute to the country’s wider export ambitions and identify the regulatory, administrative, financing, production and international market access barriers limiting their ability to expand.
The government wants the pharmaceutical industry to determine whether Pakistan can become a major pharmaceutical hub over the next decade. Iqbal called for stronger domestic and international value chains so that products manufactured in Pakistan can gain greater recognition for quality and reliability in international markets. The proposed roadmap is expected to identify the policies, reforms and government support required to allow pharmaceutical manufacturers to compete more effectively in global markets.
As part of the next phase, the pharmaceutical industry has been asked to conduct an internal consultation and workshop over the coming month. The exercise is expected to involve relevant industry stakeholders and focus on identifying sector priorities, barriers, available opportunities and growth potential. The resulting medium and long term roadmap will cover 2030 and the years beyond and will be prepared in consultation with the Ministry of Planning.
The pharmaceutical sector recorded revenue of Rs523 billion in FY2025, representing an increase of 19.4%, while 662 manufacturers are currently operating in the country. The export roadmap discussed during the roundtable sets out a progression from the current $457 million export level towards a $2 billion industry target, followed by a $3 billion target through PharmEx within three years and $10 billion within eight years.
Iqbal said achieving these targets will require the industry to establish clear priorities and determine the specific steps needed to increase international sales. He also emphasised that regulatory compliance and internationally recognised quality standards must remain central to Pakistan’s pharmaceutical export strategy.
Pakistan currently has access to 52 WHO Level 2 markets, while the country is targeting WHO Level 3 status by April 2027. Achieving the higher status could potentially provide access to more than 150 markets. Eight Pakistani pharmaceutical companies currently hold approvals from WHO, PIC/S or MHRA, while another 10 to 15 companies are expected to secure international approvals by 2028. The government has asked the industry to identify regulatory gaps that may be preventing additional Pakistani manufacturers from entering regulated international markets.
Another major issue identified during the roundtable was Pakistan’s dependence on imported active pharmaceutical ingredients, or APIs. Around 85% of APIs used by the domestic pharmaceutical industry are imported, with China accounting for approximately 85% to 90% of Pakistan’s API supplies. The government has therefore called for greater attention to domestic production, research, technology and higher value manufacturing to strengthen the pharmaceutical supply chain and reduce dependence on imported inputs.
The planning minister also stressed the need for closer cooperation between universities, pharmacy departments, research institutions and pharmaceutical companies. Pakistan has invested substantially in universities, laboratories and human resource development, but these resources need stronger connections with industrial requirements. Research laboratories, according to the government’s approach, should contribute to new knowledge and commercially relevant research that can support the development of the country’s pharmaceutical industry.
Regulatory reform was also highlighted as an important part of the proposed strategy. Iqbal said regulation must continue to protect quality and maintain necessary standards while also allowing the industry to expand. Pharmaceutical companies have been asked to identify administrative and regulatory obstacles that are restricting growth so that the government can consider measures to address them.
The government has positioned the proposed one month consultation as an opportunity for the pharmaceutical sector to present measurable export targets, clear priorities and specific recommendations. The resulting 2030 and beyond roadmap is expected to align industry requirements with government policies and institutional support.
The initiative forms part of a broader consultative programme organised by the Planning Commission of Pakistan to promote high value export sectors and industrial clusters. By building on the pharmaceutical sector’s $457 million export performance in FY2025, the government aims to increase international market access, strengthen domestic capabilities and support the broader objective of developing Pakistan into a competitive pharmaceutical hub while contributing to the country’s ambition of surpassing $100 billion in exports by 2035.
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