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Pakistan Scrambles to Secure Medicine Supplies After Trade Suspension with India

Following New Delhi's Indus Waters Treaty halt, Pakistan activates contingency plans to address pharmaceutical disruptions and avert critical shortages.

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The Pakistani health authorities have initiated emergency preparedness measures to secure pharmaceutical supplies.
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Overview

  • Pakistan relies on India for 30–40% of its pharmaceutical raw materials, including APIs and essential medicines, which are now disrupted by the trade suspension.
  • Health authorities have implemented emergency measures, leveraging contingency plans developed after the 2019 Pulwama crisis, to secure alternative supplies.
  • The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan is seeking pharmaceutical imports from China, Russia, and Europe to maintain access to critical drugs like vaccines and cancer therapies.
  • Industry groups, including the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, are lobbying for exemptions to the trade ban, citing risks of life-saving medicine shortages.
  • The pharmaceutical supply chain faces additional challenges from regulatory ambiguity and a thriving black market for unregistered medicines, raising concerns over quality and safety.