Latest news with #PPMA
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Local pharma industry: Govt urged to create conducive environment
ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) has urged the government to create conducive environment for the local pharma industry so that it can enhance exports, create more jobs, and better serve the country. The pharma industry presented their demands to the Federal Minister for National Health Services and Regulations, Syed Mustafa Kamal, during a meeting here on Wednesday. Both the sides deliberated on key matters related to the pharmaceutical sector, including amendments in drug rules, indigenous production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), and the expansion of export opportunities particularly in the context of bilateral collaboration with Afghanistan. During the meeting, the minister emphasised the government's commitment to fostering the local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and reiterated the strategic importance of domestic API production. 'We must work jointly to ensure local production of APIs, not only to reduce reliance on imports and save valuable foreign exchange reserves, but also to unlock the export potential of our pharmaceutical products,' the minister stated. To advance this vision, the federal minister directed the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) to develop a comprehensive concept note on the establishment of a Naphtha Cracker facility. This initiative aims to promote self-sufficiency in the production of essential raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, the minister reaffirmed the government's resolve to eradicate the menace of counterfeit medicines from the market. 'We are introducing a modern trace and track system whereby a unique bar code will be printed on every medicine. This system will allow patients to verify the authenticity and retail price of any medicine using their mobile phones,' the minister added. The PPMA chairman highlighted that Pakistan's pharmaceutical exports currently stood over $450 million, but with government backing, this figure could cross $2 billion dollars within next two years. The minister acknowledged the immense potential for pharmaceutical exports, particularly in markets across South-West Asia and Central Asia. He encouraged the PPMA to submit a comprehensive proposal to enhance exports, assuring them that the ministry would provide the necessary support. The meeting concluded with a mutual understanding to strengthen public-private partnerships, streamline regulatory frameworks, and jointly pursue strategic initiatives to enhance pharmaceutical manufacturing, ensure medicine quality, and promote exports. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Jam Kamal unveils new pharma export council
Listen to article Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan has reaffirmed the government's resolve to boost pharmaceutical exports, announcing the near-operational launch of PharmEx Pakistan — a new Pharma Export Promotion Council — under the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). "The pharmaceutical sector has huge export potential, and PharmEx Pakistan is just one or two steps away from becoming operational," the minister said on Wednesday, while praising the industry's rapid growth. He assured continued government support to help the sector meet international export targets. Speaking during a presentation by Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Association (PPMA) Chairman Touqeerul Haq, the commerce minister also expressed optimism about trade with Afghanistan, noting that "with every passing day, our relations are growing stronger and more streamlined — pharmaceutical exports will rise accordingly." Haq briefed the commerce minister on PharmEx Pakistan, a new public-private initiative designed to manage and promote pharmaceutical exports. He credited the minister's swift action on urgent issues for preventing significant financial losses in the sector and projected that PharmEx Pakistan could help raise exports from $700 million to $3 billion. The push builds on steady sectoral growth. According to industry figures, pharmaceutical exports climbed from $270 million in 2020-21 to $355 million in 2024-25. PharmEx Pakistan is expected to improve regulatory compliance, expand international market access, and enhance global visibility for Pakistani pharmaceutical products. To further aid exporters, the commerce minister announced a dedicated Exporter Facilitation Desk within the ministry to address time-sensitive matters requiring direct government intervention. Separately, the federal minister for national health services met with a PPMA delegation to discuss critical sector issues, including amendments to drug rules, local production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), and enhanced bilateral trade with Afghanistan. He stressed the importance of fostering the local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and reiterated the strategic importance of domestic API production. The minister directed the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) to develop a concept note on establishing a Naphtha Cracker facility, a key step toward self-sufficiency in pharmaceutical raw materials. To ensure drug quality, the health minister also announced a new trace and track system using barcodes for medicine verification via mobile phones.
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Centralised fund: pharma sector urges govt to let it utilise 1% of profit on in-house R&D activities
While the government is striving hard to boost exports to achieve sustainable economic growth, the pharmaceutical manufacturers have proposed the authorities concerned to let them utilise 1% of their profit for in-house research and development (R&D) to develop products for exports instead continuing to contribute the profit to the government centralised fund. Tauqeer Ul Haq, Chairman, Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Association (PPMA), said: 'The Central Research Fund (CRF) - is not being utilised purposefully for the sectoral R&D, but for administrative purposes.' While Pakistan's traditional export sectors; such as textiles, carpets, leather, and sports goods have long benefited from preferential treatment in the form of subsidies, rebates, and policy incentives, one high-potential sector has quietly been making strides with minimal state support: the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. Price deregulation improves access to medicines, helps stabilise industry Over the past few years, pharmaceutical exports from Pakistan have expanded steadily into key international markets including Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, South America, South East Asia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and beyond. Industry officials believe this performance can be more effective if the sector is provided some government support in terms of export incentives and targeted funding for innovation. They say the pharmaceutical industry presents an untapped opportunity for strategic growth, but a significant policy bottleneck is holding it back. At the center of this concern is the mandatory 1% contribution from net profits that all pharmaceutical manufacturers in the country are required to deposit into the CRF. Originally introduced to foster research and development, the current utilisation of the CRF has come under industry-wide scrutiny. According to stakeholders, the majority of the fund is directed toward administrative and infrastructural spending—such as laboratory upgrades, pharmacovigilance systems, poison control centers, antimicrobial surveillance cells, and digital record-keeping—rather than supporting core, product-focused R&D. While such infrastructure is important for maintaining regulatory standards, it does not drive the innovation or international competitiveness needed to grow exports, attract investment, or promote technology transfer. The sector is now urging the government to allow pharmaceutical companies to invest this 1% directly into their own R&D programmes—a shift that they believe can help transform the industry's trajectory. How will this policy revision benefit the pharma industry? The pharma sector argues that if they are allowed to utilise 1% of their profit for in-house R&D, it will lead to: 1) Targeted investment in product innovation, with direct outcomes in terms of market-ready formulations and technology adaptation. 2) Facilitation of technology transfer for advanced biotech and complex pharmaceutical products, enabling large-scale import substitution and a competitive edge in global markets. 3) Strengthening of public-private R&D partnerships, including collaboration with universities and academic research centers. 4) Development of Contract Research Organisations (CROs) and WHO-accredited laboratories within Pakistan to conduct clinical trials and bioequivalence studies—services currently being outsourced to India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Jordan, and others. 5) Capacity building for global regulatory compliance, including preparation for Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) certifications and approvals from WHO, PICS, ANVISA, US-FDA, UK-MHRA, EMA, and Health Canada. These accreditations are critical for entry into high-value markets and are already being secured by competitors in India, China, Turkey, and Bangladesh. In the last 12 months, the pharmaceutical sector has managed to expand its exports while meeting domestic healthcare needs, which the sector says can improve further with government support. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
PPMA urges govt to prioritize tariff reforms & SME support in budget
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Plastic Manufacturers Association (PPMA), representing over 300 plastic manufacturers nationwide, has formally submitted its recommendations for the Federal Budget 2025–26 to the Federal Minister for Finance & Revenue, Muhammad Aurangzeb, as well as to other relevant ministries. The proposals emphasize critical tariff rationalization, harmonization of SME definitions, improved access to finance, and streamlined tax compliance to foster inclusive industrial growth and enhance competitiveness. In its submission, PPMA called for the removal of customs duties on raw materials not produced locally while advocating for a rationalized duty structure to protect domestic inputs. The association highlighted discrepancies in SME definitions used by government bodies, urging alignment to reflect current economic realities and expand SME access to supportive policies. Addressing tax compliance challenges, PPMA recommended exempting small and medium manufacturers from complex filing requirements introduced recently, proposing a phased, size-based compliance system to ease burdens on SMEs. Financing remains a significant hurdle, with PPMA advocating for subsidized working capital loans at 6% markup and flexible repayment terms. The association also urged reforms in collateral requirements, suggesting machinery-based financing and the creation of an online portal to enhance transparency and tracking of subsidized credit. To further strengthen SME creditworthiness, PPMA proposed establishing a publicly accessible electronic credit rating platform modelled on international best practices. Additionally, PPMA recommended incentives for land acquisition and infrastructure development within Special Economic Zones and industrial parks, including subsidized land and long-term financing options. Syed Nabeel Hashmi, Chairman PPMA, stated, 'The plastic manufacturing sector is a vital driver of industrial growth and employment in Pakistan. Our recommendations are designed to create a more enabling environment for SMEs, promote fair competition, and unlock new opportunities for innovation and export. We look forward to working closely with the government to ensure that the upcoming budget delivers meaningful support for sustainable economic progress.' He reaffirmed PPMA's commitment to collaborating with the government to support sustainable economic development. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
PPMA says price deregulation helps restore medicine availability
KARACHI: The government's decision to deregulate prices of non-essential medicines has helped restore the availability of critical drugs across Pakistan, ending months of shortages that had severely impacted public health, experts and industry officials said on Monday. 'The policy shift has addressed critical supply gaps. Medicines that had vanished due to unviable prices are now back, offering relief to patients who were left at the mercy of black markets or counterfeits,' said Tauqeer-ul-Haq, Chairman of the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA), while speaking to reporters here. For years, pharmaceutical firms were unable to produce dozens of drugs— ranging from painkillers to psychiatric treatments— because of outdated price controls. 'When a tablet priced at Rs3 can't be produced at cost, it disappears. Deregulation allowed us to price it at Rs6 and bring it back to patients,' Haq explained. 'The most expensive medicine is the one that isn't available.' Under the new framework, pharmaceutical companies can adjust prices of non-essential medicines in line with inflation and production costs. However, essential and life-saving drugs— more than 460 in number— remain under strict price regulation. This hybrid model mirrors international best practices, allowing market forces to stabilize supply while keeping vital medicines affordable. According to the PPMA chairman, the impact has been swift. Local manufacturers have resumed production, and multinational firms are reconsidering their plans to exit the market. 'The intent is not to increase prices indiscriminately, but to ensure sustainable production and eliminate dangerous alternatives,' he said. The resolution of long-pending hardship cases, some delayed for over three years, has also contributed to the supply revival. With bureaucratic hurdles removed, medicines like insulin, antibiotics, and cardiac treatments are once again accessible to patients. Industry data supports these developments. IQVIA reports that Pakistan's pharmaceutical market crossed the Rs1.049trillion mark by March 2025, reflecting 20.62 percent growth in rupee value. While the surge is largely attributed to price adjustments and the reintroduction of long-unavailable drugs, experts estimate, actual organic growth— excluding one- time recoveries—stands at 15 to 16 percent, indicating market stabilisation. Beyond restoring availability, the policy shift is expected to attract investment in local Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) manufacturing, reducing Pakistan's 90 percent reliance on imports. Public-private partnerships, including ventures under CPEC, are being explored to build domestic resilience and reduce exposure to global supply shocks. The industry also foresees job creation, particularly for young pharmacists, technicians, and quality assurance professionals. Improved pricing structures are expected to support infrastructure upgrades and pave the way for international certifications—potentially boosting Pakistan's $700 million pharma exports. While concerns over rising prices remain, experts and industry leaders argue that the broader gains—improved availability, reduced counterfeit risk and production sustainability—far outweigh the short-term impact. 'This isn't just about business,' Haq emphasized. 'It's a public health imperative.' Clinical pharmacists and pharmacologists also noted that deregulation has helped restore the supply of previously unavailable medicines, with patients finally gaining access to treatments that had vanished due to price constraints. They added that shortages have eased noticeably in recent months, and the availability of genuine medicines has reduced reliance on unsafe alternatives. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
