Pak aims to be pharma hub

May 8, 2007: The government of Pakistan is taking steps to position the Islamic republic as the manufacturing and export hub of high quality pharmaceutical products. Regulations and procedures relevant for this end have been improved to bring them in line with the best international practices.

The government has taken initiatives including the establishment of an Intellectual Property Rights Organisation of Pakistan. Strict enforcement of laws and streamlining of drugs and patents registration process have brought about significant improvement in the pharmaceutical industry and Pakistan is poised to increase the export of drugs.

Plans to establish the Drugs Regulatory Authority have been finalised and its establishment will bring improvement in the pharmaceutical sector. The prime minister Mr Shaukat Aziz asked the Ministry of Health to come up with a complete plan to initiate (R&D) activities in the country.

Recently, chairing a meeting to review pharmaceutical industry growth in Islamabad, Mr Aziz emphasised on effective intellectual property rights organisation has an important role in the establishment and expansion of industries and manufacturing of products having internationally competitive quality.

He wanted the Health Ministry and pharmaceutical industry to work together for capacity building to promote research at the local level to attract funds for research that are available globally. He emphasised the need to promote high quality medical research in the country and said the industry and academia need to join hands to develop a culture of research and capacity for it in the country. Macro-economic stability and sustainability of the growth momentum have increased the investment potential of Pakistan, he remarked.

 

BY OUR PHARMA CORRESPONDENT