Islamabad: Pakistan’s pharmaceutical exports have reached a 20-year high of $457 million in FY2025, reflecting a 34% growth. This milestone has prompted Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal to urge the pharmaceutical industry to collaborate with the government to transform Pakistan into a competitive and innovation-driven pharmaceutical hub with a global export orientation.
According to Press Information Department, Minister Ahsan Iqbal chaired a roundtable conference in Islamabad with industry experts and stakeholders, where he emphasized the need to surpass incremental growth and aim for $100 billion-plus exports by 2035. The conference, attended by Adviser to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production Division Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan and Federal Minister for Health Mr. Mustafa Kamal, underscored the importance of addressing regulatory, administrative, and market-access barriers to achieve this vision.
The Minister called for a one-month industry consultation to identify priorities, challenges, and growth potential, and to create a roadmap for the pharmaceutical sector extending to 2030 and beyond. This roadmap aims to outline the necessary policies, reforms, and government support for sustainable growth. The government intends to facilitate the private sector and ensure a conducive business environment for innovation and global competitiveness.
The pharmaceutical sector, which recorded PKR 523 billion in revenue for FY2025, has set a target to grow from $457 million in exports to $10 billion within eight years. Compliance with international regulatory standards is central to this strategy, with Pakistan targeting WHO Level 3 status by April 2027 to access over 150 markets. The Minister highlighted the need to reduce import dependence, strengthen domestic capabilities, and foster partnerships between academia and industry to enhance research and innovation.
The consultations aim to build on the current export milestone by removing bottlenecks, diversifying markets, and developing Pakistan into a global pharmaceutical hub, contributing to the nation’s export ambitions. The dialogue is part of a broader effort by the Planning Commission of Pakistan to promote high-value export sectors.