Pharmaceutical Industry In Pakistan

Manufacturing Sector:

The manufacturing is the most important sub-sector of the industrial sector comprising 65.4% share in the overall industrial sector. Growth of manufacturing registers at 3.17% compared to the growth of 4.46% last year.

The Economic Survey 2013-14 shows that the growth of 5.55% has been registered in the manufacturing during nine months of current fiscal compared to the growth of 4.53% in same period last year. Manufacturing is the most important sub-sector of industrial sector containing 64.92 percent share in the overall industrial sector. “The government has planned and implemented comprehensive policy measures on fast track to revive the economy, as a result industrial sector started revival and recorded remarkable

At the time of independence in 1947, there was hardly any pharma industry in the country. Now Pakistan counts close to 430 pharmaceutical companies, including those operated by 25 multinationals present in the country, over 90% of which are national companies. The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Industry meets around 70% of the country's demand of Finished Medicine. Although Pakistan's pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors are expanding and evolving rapidly, about half the population has no access to modern medicines. Clearly this presents an opportunity, but much more work needs to be done by the government and industry's stakeholders. The value of pharmaceuticals sold in 2007 exceeded US $1.4bn, which equates to per capita consumption of less than US $10 per year and value of medicines sold is expected to exceed US $2.3 B by

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan imports around three times more pharmaceuticals than it exports. While imports come from all over the world, exports mainly go to a small number of African countries. The market is evenly split between national and multinational companies. Private spending accounts for 65% of total healthcare expenditure sourced through out-of pocket payments, international aid and religious or charitable institutions. Pharmaceutical spending accounts for less than 1% of the country's GDP, comparable to levels in some neighboring countries but above that in some of the South Asian countries. The forecast period is likely to witness the marginal strengthening of the generics sector, albeit more in terms of volumes than values. The share of generics is also likely to increase further as major drugs come off-patent in the near term, to the likely benefit of the generics-dominated local industry.

The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Industry is a success story, providing high quality essential drugs at affordable prices to Millions. Technologically, strong and self reliant National Pharmaceutical Industry is not only playing a key role in promoting and sustaining development in the vital field of medicine within the country, but is also well set to take on the international