Pakistani health authorities have implemented “emergency measures” to safeguard pharmaceutical supplies following the suspension of trade relations with India.
On Thursday, the federal government officially announced the cessation of all trade with New Delhi in response to India’s decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty after a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The halt in trade has prompted urgent actions to protect Pakistan’s pharmaceutical supply chain.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) confirmed that although no formal directive has yet been issued regarding the pharmaceutical sector, contingency plans are actively being put into place.
Currently, Pakistan depends on India for approximately 30% to 40% of its pharmaceutical raw materials, including Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and advanced therapeutic products.
With this supply chain now at risk, DRAP is exploring alternative procurement channels from China, Russia, and several European nations to ensure the continuous availability of essential medical products. These include anti-rabies vaccines, anti-snake venom, cancer treatments, monoclonal antibodies, and other critical biological therapies.
According to Business Recorder, Pakistan’s pharmaceutical trade with India was valued at $305 million in the previous year.
