Government Sets $30 Billion Target for Pakistan’s Pharmaceutical Exports: Mustafa Kamal
KARACHI: Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal announced that the government has set an ambitious target to boost Pakistan’s pharmaceutical and medical equipment exports to **$30 billion** in the coming years.
Speaking at the **Health Asia 2025 Exhibition** held at the Karachi Expo Center — attended by hundreds of companies and institutions from 50 countries — Kamal said Pakistan is moving rapidly toward modernization in the healthcare sector, with the **pharmaceutical industry poised to become the backbone of the national economy.**
He said both federal and provincial governments are showing unprecedented support for the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. “Pakistan currently imports vaccines worth $500 million, and 99.99% of them previously came from a hostile country,” he noted, adding that after the conflict, that country stopped supplying medicines and vaccines to Pakistan.
Highlighting the country’s medical capacity, Kamal said Pakistan produces **22,000 doctors every year**, renowned globally for their skills. He emphasized plans to expand this number and revamp the Nursing Council to help meet the global demand for **2.5 million nurses.**
On **health insurance**, the minister said a national health insurance scheme worth Rs210 billion could ensure medical coverage for every citizen, potentially eliminating the need for government hospitals within a decade. “Healthcare costs are driving people into poverty. We’re working to reverse that trend through universal health insurance,” he said.
Addressing misconceptions about vaccines, Mustafa Kamal clarified that vaccines have **no link to population control.** He stated that cervical cancer vaccines are being administered in 150 countries, and it’s unfortunate that Pakistan faces objections now that the vaccine has finally been introduced after 20 years. “Vaccination is essential for protecting people from serious diseases,” he added.
