KARACHI: Health and pharmaceutical industry experts at Pharma Asia 2026 have highlighted improvements in Pakistan’s life expectancy and called for greater investment in modern medicines, biotechnology, manufacturing capacity and international quality standards.
Hamid Raza, chief executive officer of Nutro Pharma, said during the conference that Pakistan’s average life expectancy had increased by approximately 10 years between 1999 and 2026. He attributed part of the improvement to better access to medicines and their use.
However, World Bank figures cited in the report show that Pakistan’s life expectancy rose from around 59 years and seven months in 1990 to 67 years and eight months in 2024—an increase of approximately eight years over 34 years.
Dr Faisal Khokhar, senior vice chairman of the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA), said another Pakistani pharmaceutical company was expected to receive approval from a stringent regulatory authority next year. Such recognition could improve opportunities for Pakistani medicines to enter major international markets, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Canada and Australia.
Industry representatives said compliance with international regulatory standards could strengthen confidence in Pakistani pharmaceutical manufacturers and help attract foreign investment, venture capital and advanced production technologies.
Experts also highlighted the substantial investment required to modernise pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, upgrade machinery and meet international quality requirements. They argued that bank loans alone may not be sufficient to meet the sector’s long-term financing needs, making private investment and venture capital increasingly important.
Biotechnology emerged as another major area of opportunity. The Syral Company’s chief executive officer, Tahir Ahmed, said Pakistan should consider investing more heavily in biological medicines and advanced biotechnology, potentially through cooperation with China and other international partners.
The conference also discussed local production capacity, technology transfer and the challenges of developing pharmaceutical ingredients domestically. Speakers emphasised the need for the industry to focus on innovation and areas where Pakistan could build a competitive advantage.
According to PPMA Chairman Adnan Hirani, Pharma Asia 2026 featured around 800 pharmaceutical organisations across seven exhibition halls, with more than 200 foreign delegates participating. The three-day event showcased manufacturing technologies and explored opportunities for investment, collaboration and technology transfer.
Experts said sustained investment in research, production, quality assurance and biotechnology could strengthen Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry, improve access to modern treatments and expand the country’s potential for pharmaceutical exports.
