FinMin pledges to resolve pharmaceutical sector issues

ISLAMABAD – Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, held a meeting on Wednesday with a delegation of the Pharma Bureau to discuss key policy, regulatory, and economic issues concerning the pharmaceutical sector.

The delegation was led by the Chairman of Pharma Bureau, Syed Anis Ahmed, and included Ms Erum Shakir Rahim, Co-chair Pharma Bureau, Mr Qawi Naseer, Chief Executive Officer Haleon Pakistan Limited, Ms Hafsa Shamsi, Chief Executive Officer Roche Pakistan, Mr Sajjad Iftikhar, Ms Andleeb Ahmed, and Ms. Ayesha T. Haq, Executive Director, Pharma Bureau, said a release issued here.

During the meeting, the Pharma Bureau delegation provided an overview of the sector’s performance and noted certain developments, including improvements in regulatory processes, increased digitalization, and engagement between regulators and stakeholders

Reference was also made to progress toward higher World Health Organization maturity levels for the drug regulator, as well as developments relating to product approvals, exports, and the broader macroeconomic environment.

The delegation also shared views on issues concerning industry operations, including matters related to pricing and availability, regulatory processes, investment facilitation, taxation, innovation, and export potential.