ISLAMABAD, October 26, 2026: The federal government has decided in principle to introduce new legislation aimed at curbing smuggling in Pakistan’s cosmetics industry, as a Senate committee reviewed the proposed Pakistan General Cosmetics Bill 2026 and raised questions over the registration and representation of manufacturers’ associations.
The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology, chaired by Senator Kamil Ali Agha, discussed the proposed legislation during a meeting on Monday and directed the Pakistan Cosmetics Manufacturers Association (PCMA) to complete its registration.
The committee examined provisions relating to the representation of cosmetics manufacturers and importers, with members emphasising that the proposed regulatory framework should not grant exclusive recognition to a single industry association.
Senate committee questions association’s legal status
Senator Kamil Ali Agha said the proposed legislation must provide equal opportunities for industry associations rather than creating the impression that only one organisation could secure official recognition.
He maintained that no single association should be given exclusive control over representation in the cosmetics sector.
The committee chairman directed the PCMA to complete its registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) after meeting the requirement of 100 representatives mentioned during the meeting.
Officials from the Ministry of Law also questioned how an association could be formally recognised under the proposed legislation without first obtaining the necessary registration.
They argued that the association’s legal status needed to be clarified before it could be included in the regulatory framework.
However, officials informed the committee that the Pakistan Cosmetics Manufacturing Association was already registered with the relevant institutions, highlighting differing positions regarding the registration requirements discussed during the meeting.
Proposed law aims to tackle cosmetics smuggling
Federal Minister for Defence Production Raza Hayat Harraj told the committee that the proposed legislation would help prevent smuggling in the cosmetics sector.
He said the legislation would also provide representation to cosmetics manufacturers’ associations on the proposed board.
Officials explained that the bill would broaden the regulatory scope covering cosmetics manufacturers and importers.
The proposed framework is intended to strengthen oversight of the industry while establishing clearer arrangements for stakeholder participation.
The committee also considered whether amendments had been prepared to address concerns raised by industry representatives.
Manufacturers raise objections to bill’s provisions
During the discussion, Senator Afnan Ullah asked whether the relevant stakeholders were satisfied with the proposed legislation.
Representatives from the cosmetics sector expressed general satisfaction with the bill, although officials of the Pakistan Cosmetics Manufacturers Association raised objections to subsection 4 of Clause 2.
The concerns centred on provisions affecting the recognition and representation of industry associations.
Minister Raza Hayat Harraj said the name All Pakistan General Cosmetics Association had previously been finalised.
He explained that disagreement over the proposed name could create difficulties in registering the association.
The minister also emphasised that the government did not intend to undermine the association’s existing identity or institutional legacy.
The committee’s deliberations highlighted the need to address registration requirements, industry representation and stakeholder concerns before the proposed legislation advances further.
The Pakistan General Cosmetics Bill 2026 remains under consideration, with the committee seeking to ensure that the proposed regulatory arrangements accommodate manufacturers and importers without restricting representation to a single association.