Pakistan’s Pharmaceutical Exports Reach 20-Year High of $457 Million: Ahsan Iqbal
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal has said that Pakistan’s pharmaceutical exports have reached a 20-year high of $457 million, stressing the need for the industry to play a significant role in achieving the country’s ambitious export targets.
Addressing a roundtable conference in Islamabad on facilitating pharmaceutical exports under the Uraan Pakistan initiative, Ahsan Iqbal said the pharmaceutical industry must determine its contribution toward the target of achieving more than $100 billion in exports by 2035.
He directed the pharmaceutical industry to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for 2030 and beyond following a month-long consultation process.
“Our goal is to transform Pakistan into a global pharmaceutical hub,” the minister said, stressing that the country needed to secure a prominent position in the international pharmaceutical market.
Ahsan Iqbal said collaboration between the government and private sector could make Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry globally competitive. He added that policy continuity and a business-friendly environment were essential for the sustainable growth of the sector.
The federal minister also called for reducing the industry’s reliance on imported inputs and increasing domestic production capacity.
He noted that approximately 85% of pharmaceutical raw materials are currently imported, stressing the need to strengthen the local pharmaceutical value chain and enhance domestic manufacturing capabilities.
