Pakistan to Launch Barcode System for Medicines Within 60 Days to Eliminate Fake Drugs
Meta Description: Pakistan will introduce a nationwide barcode system for medicines within 60 days to combat counterfeit drugs, improve quality control, and ensure patients receive genuine medicines.
Pakistan Announces Barcode Tracking System for Medicines
KARACHI: In a significant move to strengthen the country’s healthcare system, the federal government has announced plans to introduce a barcode system for all medicines across Pakistan within the next 60 days. The initiative aims to tackle the growing problem of counterfeit and substandard medicines while improving transparency throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain.
Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal shared the announcement during a visit to the headquarters of the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA). He stated that the Ministry of Health, along with other relevant departments, has completed the necessary preparations for the nationwide rollout of the new tracking system.
According to the minister, every medicine will carry a unique barcode that allows complete traceability from manufacturing to the point of sale. This system is expected to help authorities monitor pharmaceutical products more effectively, making it easier to identify genuine medicines and remove fake products from the market.
The government believes the new digital tracking mechanism will not only improve patient safety but also increase public confidence in the country’s pharmaceutical industry. It will also assist regulators in maintaining higher quality standards and reducing the circulation of counterfeit medicines.
Speaking about the pharmaceutical sector, Syed Mustafa Kamal noted that Pakistan currently manufactures around 85% of the medicines required for local consumption. However, he pointed out that almost 99% of the raw materials used in medicine production are imported, with a large share coming from China.
He described this heavy dependence on imported pharmaceutical ingredients as a major economic challenge and stressed the importance of developing local production of raw materials. Increasing domestic manufacturing, he said, would help reduce import costs, strengthen the country’s pharmaceutical industry, and improve long-term self-reliance.
The barcode initiative is being viewed as one of the government’s most important healthcare reforms in recent years, with expectations that it will significantly improve medicine safety, strengthen regulatory oversight, and protect millions of patients across Pakistan.
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