Ahsan pushes pharma industry for $10bn exports, global competitiveness

ISLAMABAD, Aug 14 (APP): Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Friday called for a one-month industry-wide consultation to identify priorities, reforms and government support needed to develop Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector into a competitive, innovation-driven and globally export-oriented industry.

Chairing a roundtable with pharmaceutical industry stakeholders, the minister said the sector must build on its record $457 million exports in FY2025, the highest in 20 years, and contribute substantially to the national ambition of achieving over $100 billion in exports by 2035.

Adviser to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan and Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal also attended the meeting.

Ahsan Iqbal said the proposed consultation should involve industry, academia and research institutions and produce a clear medium- and long-term roadmap extending to 2030 and beyond, identifying regulatory, administrative, financing, production and market-access barriers and the support required from the government.

“The question is whether, in the next 10 years, we can make Pakistan a pharmaceutical hub of the world,” he said, stressing the need to build missing links in domestic and international value chains so that “Made in Pakistan” becomes a mark of quality and trust in global markets.

He said the government’s role was to facilitate the private sector, create a conducive business environment and ensure policy continuity to enable industries to grow, innovate and compete globally.

The pharmaceutical sector recorded Rs523 billion in revenue in FY2025, up 19.4%, while the industry currently has 662 manufacturers. Its roadmap envisages increasing exports from $457 million to $2 billion, followed by $3 billion through PharmEx within three years and $10 billion within eight years.

The minister stressed that international regulatory compliance and quality standards must remain central to the export strategy. Pakistan currently has access to 52 WHO Level 2 markets, while WHO Level 3 status is targeted for April 2027, potentially opening access to more than 150 markets.

He called for identifying regulatory gaps to enable more Pakistani companies and products to enter sophisticated international markets and for diversifying export destinations.

Ahsan Iqbal also stressed reducing import dependence, noting that around 85% of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) were imported, with China supplying about 85-90% of them.

He called for greater focus on research, innovation, technology and higher-value manufacturing to strengthen the domestic value chain.

He urged stronger linkages among universities, pharmacy departments, research institutions and pharmaceutical companies, saying Pakistan’s investments in laboratories and human-resource development must translate into commercially relevant research and innovation.

The minister also called for regulatory reforms that ensure compliance and quality while facilitating industry growth, urging stakeholders to identify administrative and regulatory hurdles that restrict expansion.

He asked the industry to respond with clear priorities, measurable export targets, identified bottlenecks and practical recommendations, while assuring full government support to create a “clean runway” for the sector’s expansion into global markets.

The roundtable was part of a consultative series organised by the Planning Commission to promote Pakistan’s high-value export sectors and clusters.