ISLAMABAD
The two-day 14th Pak Pharma and Healthcare Expo on Wednesday started at the Pak-China Friendship Centre. The international conference on “Pharma Export Way Forward – Opportunities and Challenges” was organized by Prime event Management.
While addressing to the participants, Chairman Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) North Arshad Mehmood said that Pakistan would become Nigeria if ease of pharma business was not ensured in the pharmaceutical sector, fearing that the country would be left with no choice but to import medicines worth $20 billion every year.
“The foreign exchange starved Pakistan should be eyeing on the export of pharmaceutical products which is $1,800 billion industry.
Even if we capture the market of Africa, which is an $86 billion market, we would be able to bridge the gap between imports and exports of the country. If ease of business would not be ensured, investments will be shifted from Pakistan to Bangladesh, China, Iran and other countries”, Arshad Mehmood added.
Replying a question, he said that Letter of Credits (LCs) issue is not yet resolved by government of Pakistan.
He added that fear of counterfeit drugs increased due to shortage of raw material in the market.
On this occasion, the organizing director Prime Event Kamran Abbasi said that 50 exhibitors are participating in the exhibition, including foreign companies from China, Taiwan, Turkey, Germany.
Chief Executive Drug Regular Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), Asim Rauf said that the government is trying to solve the problems of the pharmaceutical industry, but there will be no compromise on the quality of medicine.
He added that all possible steps would be taken to facilitate the pharmaceutical sector.
