The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Industry meets around 70% of the country's demand of finished dosage forms and 4% of active ingredients.

1. Research by Tazeen Azeem
The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Industry meets around 70% of the country's Demand
The Pharmaceutical Industry in Pakistan has grown during the last few decades, almost entirely in the formulations space. At the time of the independence in 1947, there were few production units in the country. Currently Pakistan has about 400 low technology, large volume, pharmaceutical formulation units mainly running on Chinese equipment, including those operated by 25 multinationals present in the country. The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Industry meets around 70% of the country's demand of finished dosage forms and 4% of active ingredients. Specialized finished dosage forms such as soft gelatin capsules, parenteral fat emulsions and metered dose inhalers continue to be imported. There are only a few bulk drug active ingredient producers and Pakistan mainly depends on imports of bulk drugs for it's formulation needs resulting in frequent drug shortages. Political disturbances and allegations of under-invoicing add to the uncertainty of imports and clashes with the customs and tax authorities are common.
The Pakistan Pharma Industry is one of the still developing sectors within the country's fragile economy. The value of pharmaceuticals sold nationwide exceeded US$1.4 B in 2007 and US$2.3 B in 2012. The value of medicines sold is expected to exceed US$3.2 B by 2014.As of 2013, the total export value of Pakistani-manufactured medicines around the world stood at $500 million.Many different companies sell a diverse range of drugs and pharmaceutical products.
PAKISTAN PHARMACEUTICALS & HEALTHCARE REPORT 2014
Pakistan remains one of the least attractive markets in the Asia Pacific region to pharmaceutical and healthcare investment. The lack of government support for pharmaceutical research and development, and an ineffective regulatory regime, will continue to deter multinational firms over the long term. Note that, with the non-communicable disease burden - particularly that of diabetes - set to rise, considerable investment in healthcare will be required to bring standards in line with the rest of the region.