Pak’s Life Expectancy Rises as Pharma Industry Seeks Investment
News Desk
Karachi: Pakistan’s average life expectancy has increased significantly over the past three decades, with improved access to medicines contributing to better health outcomes, according to industry experts speaking at the Pharma Asia 2026 conference in Karachi.
Hameed Raza, Chief Executive Officer of Neutro Pharma, said life expectancy in Pakistan had increased by approximately 10 years between 1999 and 2026, highlighting the role of medicines in improving public health and extending lives.
Speaking during a panel discussion titled “Capital, Productivity, and Credibility for Sustainable Development,” Raza emphasized the contribution of pharmaceutical products and improved access to treatment to the country’s healthcare progress.
However, World Bank data indicate that Pakistan’s life expectancy at birth stood at approximately 59 years and seven months in 1990 and rose to 67 years and eight months in 2024, representing an increase of around eight years over 34 years. The figure reached approximately 61 years and nine months in 2000.
Pakistani Pharmaceutical Firms Eye Int’l Markets
Dr. Faisal Khokhar, Senior Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA), said another Pakistani pharmaceutical company was expected to obtain approval from a Stringent Regulatory Authority (SRA) next year.
He said such approval could expand opportunities for Pakistani manufacturers to export medicines to major international markets, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Canada and Australia.
According to Khokhar, approximately 12 to 13 pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan have obtained approvals under relevant regulatory standards, while two have secured approvals from authorities enforcing stringent regulatory requirements.
He added that efforts were underway to secure approval for a third company, with progress expected next year.
Khokhar said compliance with international standards would strengthen the confidence of global markets in Pakistani pharmaceutical manufacturers, potentially attracting private investment and venture capital to the sector.
He stressed that bank loans alone could not meet the pharmaceutical industry’s substantial financing requirements. Similarly, companies relying on personal networks to secure investment did not provide a sustainable funding model for the wider industry.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing requires significant capital to acquire modern machinery, establish production facilities and manufacture medicines that meet international quality standards, he explained.
Khokhar noted that private investment and venture capital play an important role in supporting pharmaceutical industries worldwide, adding that Pakistan needed to attract similar investment to strengthen its domestic sector.
He also emphasized the need to expand commercial-scale medicine distribution alongside manufacturing to improve access to modern treatments and enhance healthcare outcomes.
He urged pharmaceutical companies to increase production capacity, collaborate with one another and explore partnerships with international manufacturers, including Indian companies.
800 Organizations Participate in Pharma Asia 2026
Adnan Hirani, Chairman of the PPMA, said approximately 800 pharmaceutical organizations participated in the three-day Pharma Asia 2026 exhibition and conference at the Karachi Expo Centre.
Speaking to Business Recorder, Hirani said exhibitors displayed their products and technologies across seven halls, while the event attracted more than 200 foreign delegates.
He said the exhibition marked the 24th edition of Pharma Asia and the 14th International Pharma Convention, held under the theme “Resilient Pharma Pakistan: Quality, Self-Reliance & Sustainable Growth.”
According to Hirani, the exhibition showcased advanced technologies for pharmaceutical manufacturing and provided a platform for local and international companies to explore cooperation.
Several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were expected to be signed between Pakistani and foreign companies, covering technology transfer, innovation and investment opportunities.
Dr. Sheikh Qaiser Waheed, a former PPMA chairman, called on pharmaceutical professionals to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset rather than relying exclusively on their technical expertise and academic knowledge.
He said professionals generally worked within established protocols, whereas entrepreneurs identified opportunities in challenging circumstances, assessed risks and pursued innovative ideas.
Waheed emphasized that innovation and fresh thinking should translate into tangible benefits for the healthcare sector and the general public.
Experts for Investment in Biotechnology
Tahir Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of The Searle Company, said Pakistan had reached a critical stage at which greater investment in biotechnology could help strengthen the pharmaceutical industry.
He identified China as a potential partner in developing Pakistan’s biotechnology capabilities and argued that the country needed to focus on advanced pharmaceutical technologies.
Commenting on the domestic production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), the key components responsible for the therapeutic effects of medicines, Ahmed said Pakistan should have started developing this capacity 20 to 30 years ago.
However, he questioned whether local API manufacturing alone would provide a substantial competitive advantage, estimating that its potential value difference might be around 20 percent while acknowledging that his assessment could be debatable.
Instead of concentrating exclusively on replicating existing manufacturing models, Ahmed urged Pakistan to prioritize advanced fields such as biotechnology.
He said biological medicines represented a growing opportunity and encouraged Pakistan to develop the capacity to enter this market. He also pointed to potential opportunities arising from restrictions or limitations affecting biological medicine exports from neighboring countries.
The discussions at Pharma Asia 2026 highlighted the need for Pakistan to combine investment, regulatory compliance, technological innovation and international partnerships to strengthen pharmaceutical manufacturing, expand exports and improve access to modern medicines.
