Formation of PharmEx Pakistan – Too Late, Too Little? – Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #1123

Formation of PharmEx Pakistan – Too Late, Too Little? – Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #1123

Dear Colleagues! This is Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #1123 for Pharma Veterans. Pharma Veterans Blogs are published by Asrar Qureshi on its dedicated site https://pharmaveterans.com. Please email to pharmaveterans2017@gmail.com  for publishing your contributions here.

PPMA Delegation in Meeting with Minister of Commerce

Preamble

The Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan has finally rose up to the idea of supporting pharmaceutical export from Pakistan. Jam Kamal Khan, Minister of Commerce reaffirmed the government’s resolve to boost pharmaceutical export and announced the near-operational launch of PharmEx Pakistan – a new Pharma Export Promotion Council – under the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan.

Formation of PharmEx Pakistan

From the news, it shows that Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) Chairman Mr. Touqeerul Haq made a presentation during a meeting in which delegations from PPMA and Ministry/TDAP were present. He briefed that PharmEx will be a public-private initiative designed to manage and export 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.

I reviewed several newspapers but was unable to find the scope and Terms of Reference (ToRs) of PharmEx Pakistan. What will the private sector do and what will be expected from the government? It is still under discussion it seems. However, chairman PPMA’s highlighting the Afghanistan market only shows that the industry still does not want to compete internationally on merit. It does not augur well for any effort to boost pharmaceutical export. 

The claim of reaching export figure of US$ 3 billion is also not new. In fact, previously it was projected to reach US$ 5 billion in five years. If I remember correctly, it did touch around US$ 500 million in its highest days but came back swiftly as the international regulatory landscape changed.

We shall be able to discuss more as more information becomes available. At this stage, a comparison with India is in order who have built a formidable export volume of over US$ 25 billion annually. In addition, about 70% of their export is to highly regulated markets.

Pharmaceutical Exports from India

India has become a global pharmaceutical leader, earning the title of ‘Pharmacy of the World’, with a legacy of providing affordable, high quality generic drugs and vaccines. India ranks third globally in terms of pharmaceutical production volume but stands at number fourteen in production value, which speaks of the lower cost and affordability.

Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil) India

Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil) is an organization established by the Indian government to promote exports of pharmaceuticals, herbal products, and medical devices from India. The council was set up in the year 2004, under the aegis of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to enhance India’s exports of pharmaceutical products and to showcase the country’s strengths in the pharmaceutical sector to the global market.

Pharmexcil is a non-profit organization set up to promote exports of pharmaceutical products, herbal products, and medical devices from India. It is governed by a board of directors appointed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The council has around 5,000 members, including manufacturers, exporters, and service providers in the pharmaceutical industry.

Objectives of Pharmexcil

The primary objective of Pharmexcil is to promote and facilitate the export of pharmaceutical products, herbal products, and medical devices from India. The council aims to enhance India’s export competitiveness in the global pharmaceutical market by providing various support services to exporters, such as market intelligence, export promotion, and trade facilitation. Pharmexcil also works towards strengthening the domestic pharmaceutical industry by providing support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the sector.

Functions of Pharmexcil

Pharmexcil undertakes various activities and initiatives to promote exports of pharmaceutical products from India. Some of the key functions of the council are:

Export Promotion – Pharmexcil promotes exports of pharmaceutical products, herbal products, and medical devices from India by organizing trade fairs, exhibitions, and buyer-seller meets. The council also participates in various international events and trade shows to showcase Indian pharmaceutical products to the global market.

Market Intelligence – Pharmexcil provides market intelligence and information to its members on the latest developments, trends, and regulatory changes in the global pharmaceutical market. The council also conducts market research studies to identify new markets and opportunities for Indian pharmaceutical exporters.

Trade Facilitation – Pharmexcil provides various trade facilitation services to its members, such as assistance in obtaining export licenses, import-export code numbers, and other regulatory approvals. The council also provides guidance and support to its members in resolving trade-related issues and disputes.

Quality Control – Pharmexcil promotes and ensures the quality of Indian pharmaceutical products through its quality control program. The council has established a quality control laboratory to test and certify the quality of pharmaceutical products manufactured in India. The council also provides training and certification programs to enhance the skills and knowledge of quality control professionals in the industry.

Initiatives Taken by Pharmexcil

Pharmexcil has taken various initiatives to promote exports of pharmaceutical products from India. Some of the key initiatives taken by the council are:

International Trade Fairs and Exhibitions – Pharmexcil organizes and participates in various international trade fairs and exhibitions to showcase Indian pharmaceutical products to the global market. The council also organizes buyer-seller meets and trade delegations to promote business partnerships and collaborations between Indian and foreign companies.

Market Development Assistance Scheme (MDA) – Pharmexcil provides financial assistance to its members under the Market Development Assistance (MDA) scheme to participate in international trade fairs and exhibitions. The MDA scheme aims to promote exports of pharmaceutical products from India by providing financial support to SMEs in the industry.

International Regulatory Affairs – Pharmexcil provides guidance and support to its members in complying with international regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical products. The council has established a regulatory affairs cell to provide information and assistance to its members on various regulatory issues, such as registration requirements, labeling, and packaging regulations.

Promotion of Herbal Products – Pharmexcil has also taken initiatives to promote exports of herbal products from India. The council has set up a separate division for herbal products and has undertaken various activities to promote the export of herbal products, such as organizing exhibitions and trade fairs, providing market intelligence, and conducting training programs.

Skill Development – Pharmexcil has also taken initiatives to enhance the skills and knowledge of professionals in the pharmaceutical industry. The council has established a skill development program to provide training and certification programs to pharmaceutical professionals in areas such as quality control, regulatory affairs, and research and development

Sum Up

The formation of PharmEx Pakistan is a good initiative and a step in the right direction. If the industry and the government are serious in export business, the model of Pharmexcil India may be followed, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel.

Concluded.

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