KARACHI: Pakistan has engaged an international pharmaceutical industry expert to help local pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers strengthen compliance with global Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S) principles and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements.
The initiative is being implemented by the National Productivity Organization (NPO), under the Ministry of Industries and Production, in collaboration with the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) and the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI).
Running from October 20 to 30, 2026, the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Technical Expert Service (TES) programme aims to improve regulatory compliance, increase industrial productivity and strengthen the export readiness of Pakistan’s pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sector.
International Expertise to Strengthen Manufacturing Standards
Mr. Chuan Yao, an international technical expert from Singapore with more than 30 years of pharmaceutical industry experience, is providing technical guidance, conducting company-level assessments and supporting capacity building.
His expertise includes US FDA requirements, GMP and current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), PIC/S standards, regulatory compliance and inspection preparedness.
The programme covers production processes, quality assurance and control, documentation, validation, data integrity, regulatory affairs and inspection readiness. It is designed to help participating companies identify compliance gaps, prioritise corrective measures and strengthen their quality management systems.
The findings and lessons learned will also contribute to developing a model FDA compliance framework that could be applied more broadly across Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry.
NPO Highlights Quality and Export Competitiveness
Speaking at an industry dissemination seminar held at the PPMA office in Karachi on October 30, 2026, M. Alamgir Chaudhry, Chief Executive Officer of NPO Pakistan, emphasised the importance of international quality standards and regulatory compliance in improving the competitiveness of the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry.
He introduced the mandates, initiatives and services of NPO Pakistan and the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), Japan, encouraging industry representatives to benefit from the organisations’ technical assistance, training and productivity improvement programmes.
Chaudhry also stressed the importance of effective collaboration between the government and industry to promote sustainable industrial development and expand exports.
PPMA Calls for Stronger Technical Capabilities
PPMA Chairman Adnan Hirani highlighted the importance of technical capacity building and industry-wide cooperation in helping pharmaceutical companies meet international regulatory requirements.
He called for exploring new international markets and expanding Pakistan’s pharmaceutical exports, noting that these objectives require stronger technical capabilities, upgraded manufacturing practices and quality systems aligned with international standards.
Dr. Shaiekh Kaiser Waheed, former PPMA chairman, welcomed the participants and appreciated the initiative undertaken by NPO and PPMA.
He emphasised that aligning manufacturing practices and quality management systems with international standards was essential for improving product quality, ensuring regulatory compliance and enhancing export readiness.
Seminars Extend Benefits Across Pakistan
To broaden the programme’s impact, industry dissemination seminars were also held in Rawalpindi and Lahore on October 26 and 28, respectively.
The sessions provided opportunities to share technical knowledge, expert guidance and industry best practices with pharmaceutical and nutraceutical stakeholders. They also raised awareness of GMP and PIC/S principles, GMP standards and US FDA requirements, encouraging wider adoption of internationally recognised compliance practices.
Supporting Pakistan’s Pharmaceutical Export Strategy
The initiative aligns with Pakistan’s Pharmaceuticals Export Strategy 2023–2027, which identifies pharmaceuticals as a priority export sector. It also supports the objectives of URAAN Pakistan and the National Economic Transformation Plan 2024–29, particularly in export-led growth, workforce development and industrial competitiveness.
Through the programme, NPO Pakistan, PPMA and RCCI aim to strengthen technical expertise, improve productivity and enable Pakistani pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers to pursue greater opportunities in international markets.