Over five years, Pakistan plans to export $30 billion worth of pharmaceuticals.
At the 4th Pharma Export Summit & Awards (PESA 2025) and the 8th Pakistan Pharma Summit in Islamabad on Wednesday, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal pledged complete government support for the pharmaceutical industry and set a daring $30 billion export target over the next five years.
The commitment comes as the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) reports that the country’s pharmaceutical sector is expanding rapidly, with exports increasing by 35% over the previous 12 months to around $500 million.
Through digitization, technology transfer, and regulatory reform, the industry—which already manufactures over 90% of the nation’s medications domestically—is now seeking to scale up to international standards and enter new markets like Afghanistan.
“This is a difficult goal, but it is attainable with dedication and hard work,” Syed Mustafa Kamal, Minister for National Health Services, said the summit. “Let’s proceed and put in endless effort to reach this goal.”
Given that some nations make over $300 billion from pharmaceutical exports, he said Pakistan should set greater goals.
The $475 million sum as of right now is a positive move, but it’s not enough. “We need to think more broadly,” Kamal stated.
According to the minister, the government is embracing digitization and expediting clearances in order to remove bureaucratic obstacles.
He claimed that approvals that once took months or even years are now completed in a matter of weeks.
In order to provide healthcare and medications directly to communities, Kamal also revealed plans to equip Basic Health Units in Karachi and Islamabad with telemedicine capabilities.
The minister urged business to localize production of vaccinations, pointing out that 95% of Pakistan’s supply is still imported, primarily from nearby nations.
The development of domestic vaccine production capacities is desperately needed. “This challenge requires the pharmaceutical industry to rise to the occasion,” he stated.
The need for independence and worldwide competitiveness was echoed by business executives.
Tauqeer ul Haq, the chairman of the PPMA, stated that exports to Afghanistan alone may amount to $500 million per year, but cautioned that 90% of raw materials are imported.
He advocated for PharmEx, an independent trade organization, to address industry issues and increase exports.
“In the past, export procedures presented us with major challenges. He praised the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) for its reforms, saying, “Now, export registrations are being granted within a week, which is a major step forward.”
Dr. Sheikh Kaiser Waheed, a former chairman of the PPMA, stated that if government changes were supported, the $30 billion goal was achievable.
“Although we currently manufacture over 90% of the nation’s medications in-house, the real challenge lies in competing internationally on innovation, quality, and trust — not just price,” he stated.