Pakistan close to achieve WHO Level 3 certification for pharma exports to 150 countries
Pakistan is set to achieve WHO Level 3 certification, which will expand its pharmaceutical exports to over 150 countries and attract foreign investment.
- Pakistan close to achieve WHO Level 3 certification.
- Expanding pharmaceutical export access to over 150 countries.
- New MOUs with Chinese firms for local API and vaccine production.
Federal Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal said on Tuesday Pakistan was close to achieve the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Level 3 certification in the upcoming months, which would enable the local pharmaceutical firms to expand their exports.
“Pakistan is making efforts to achieve WHO Level 3 certification within the coming months, which would significantly expand pharmaceutical export access from the current 51 countries to more than 150 international markets,” he was quoted saying in a press statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce.
The minister said that at a conference organised to ink 10 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) in Islamabad between Pakistani and Chinese pharmaceutical companies for local manufacturing API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) for medicines, establishing collaboration for vaccine production locally, transfer of technology, and attracting both foreign and domestic investment into the country.
Last year, Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) reported that at least 8 local pharmaceutical firms had won prestigious international recognition for producing quality medicine of global standards, including WHO prequalification, PIC/S recognition, and MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) accreditation in recent times.
The prequalification achievements have opened doors for local pharma firms to expand Pakistan’s exports to the regulated high-end world markets including the United States (US), Europe and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
“Another 10 to 15 companies are expected to receive such global certifications over the next one to two years,” PPMA former chairman Tauqeer Ul Haq said the other day.
Pakistan’s pharmaceutical exports growth hit a two-decade high of 34% in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, securing the fifth position among the fastest-growing export categories in the country with sales of the locally produced medicines rising to $457 million in overseas markets in FY25.
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