PAKISTAN- AN INTRODUCTION

Pakistan is strategically located in South Asia connected to Central Asian republics through Afghanistan, China via Korakoram highway and South East Asian countries through sea. It is spread over a landmass of 796,095 square kilometers. It is a land of opportunities for investment due to well-developed infrastructure, skilled manpower and open Government policy.

PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR IN PAKISTAN

Pakistan meets 80% of its domestic demand of medicines from local production and 20% through imports. The pharmaceuticals market size is Rs. 70 Billion (US $ 1.2 Billion), approximately. The market for pharmaceuticals in Pakistan has been expanding at a rate of around 10 to15% since last few years.

Pakistan is also exporting its surplus drugs to a large number of countries particularly to the Asian and African regions with an expanding trade in the newly emerged Central Asian States. About a hundred million strong population of the Central Asian States, with almost no local manufacture of medicines, offers an attractive market for industries located in Pakistan.

Pakistan's large population of more than 140 million people, expanding economy including health services, individual rise in purchasing power, general awareness regarding use of new molecules of drugs, etc. provides an ideal environment for investment in this field.

Presently the pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan is producing all the major pharmaceutical dosage forms. Similarly, there are some special products e.g. immunologicals, anti-cancer drugs, certain anti-diabetics, antidotes and products manufactured from biotechnology, which are still being imported, in the finished form. These specific areas provide excellent opportunities for investment. Only few bulk pharmaceutical raw materials are being manufactured locally and most of the pharmaceutical raw materials are being imported in large quantities from different countries of the world. This sector also gives challenge to explore and avail the opportunities.

BASIC MANUFACTURE
           There are five units operating in Pakistan for the Semi Basic Manufacturing of pharmaceutical raw material and still Pakistan has the capacity to absorb the significant investment in this field.

Multi National Manufacturers
    At present 30 multinational pharmaceutical organizations are producing their products in Pakisatn.
Local Manufacturers
    411 units are invloved in local pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Drug Act
           The Pharmaceutical manufacture and trade in Pakistan is regulated through the Drug Act 1976, And the rules framed there under. This is a fairly comprehensive law. Pakistan was the first amongst the developing countries in the world to have introduced Good Manufacturing Practices as a mandatory requirement. Registrations are granted by the Central Licensing and Registration Boards. The Quality Control system at the federal and provincial levels is supported by the professionally competent drug inspectorates and laboratory services.

Pharmaceutical Sector in Pakistan