The majority of medicines that had disappeared from the market over the past two years are now back in production and available at retail outlets, the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) said.
Around 80 percent or 200 medicines went out of production after regulated retail prices fell below manufacturing costs, resulting in widespread shortages, according to a news daily. The affected products included medicines used to treat tuberculosis, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and mental health conditions.
Former PPMA chairman Tauqeer Ul Haq said supply conditions began to normalise after the government deregulated prices of non-essential medicines in February 2024. Of the nearly 200 medicines that had disappeared, around 160 are now available in domestic markets, while the remaining 40 are expected to return within three to four months.
He said the government, which continues to regulate prices of essential life-saving medicines, also approved price increases for around 100 essential drugs over the past 22 months to bring prices above production cost levels, helping restore supply.
Industry representatives said production costs rose sharply due to rupee depreciation and higher import costs for raw materials, compounded by the disruption of imports from India.
According to PPMA, the restoration of supply has also reduced counterfeit medicines and black-market activity.
Haq said Pakistan has around 700 pharmaceutical companies, including about 10 multinational firms, many of which have invested in resuming and expanding production over the past two years.
He added that pharmaceutical exports grew 34 percent in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, reaching $457 million and marking the sector’s strongest growth in two decades. Export growth is expected to continue as more firms obtain international certifications, including PIC/S and World Health Organization approvals.
