Digital system to improve the safety and traceability of medicines and guarantee the authenticity of medicines throughout the country
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal. Photo:X
The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the nationwide implementation of a track and trace system for pharmaceutical products and cleared amendments to the Drug Labeling and Packaging Rules, 1978, in a bid to eliminate counterfeit and substandard medicines from the market.
According to a press release issued by the Press Information Service (PID), the new digital system will, for the first time, allow medicines to be tracked and verified throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain, improving transparency, security and regulatory oversight.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal called the move a “major and historic step” in the fight against fake medicines in Pakistan. “For the first time, all medicines in the country will be digitally traceable and verifiable, ensuring greater transparency, safety and accountability,” he said.
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Under the revised framework, all manufacturers and importers of pharmaceutical products will be required to affix standardized two-dimensional (2D) barcodes and serialization data on medicine packaging. The system will enable regulators to monitor medicines from production to consumption and more effectively identify counterfeit, falsified and substandard products.
The minister said the initiative would bring unprecedented transparency to Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector while enhancing public confidence in medicines available in the market.
Consumers should also benefit directly from the system. Once implemented, the public will be able to access verified information regarding a medicine’s expiration date, price and authenticity, allowing them to make more informed healthcare decisions.
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The nationwide rollout will be overseen by the Pakistan Drug Regulatory Authority, which will issue technical guidelines for pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers. The government said consultations with industry stakeholders have already been carried out to facilitate implementation.
Kamal said the track and trace system would significantly strengthen the security and integrity of Pakistan’s pharmaceutical supply chain by replacing conventional monitoring methods with a modern digital framework. “The track and trace system will establish a strong and effective barrier against counterfeit medicines and help protect health, lives and public trust,” he said.
The government said the initiative is part of broader efforts to modernize pharmaceutical regulation, improve accountability throughout the supply chain and ensure that medicines reaching consumers are authentic, safe and properly regulated.
According to the minister, the adoption of advanced regulatory technologies will also position Pakistan among the leading countries in the region in terms of pharmaceutical monitoring and drug safety standards.
