As Islamabad suspends trade with India in retaliation for the Indus Water Treaty suspension, fears of critical drug shortages rise with Pakistan racing to secure alternative sources.
April 27, 2025: Islamabad:
Facing a looming health crisis, Pakistani authorities have launched emergency measures to secure essential pharmaceutical supplies following Islamabad’s decision to suspend all trade with India — a retaliatory move after India suspended the Indus Water Treaty in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
According to Geo News, Pakistan’s Drug Regulatory Authority (DRAP) has activated contingency plans to mitigate the impact on its pharmaceutical sector, which heavily depends on Indian imports.
“Following the 2019 crisis, we had started preparing for such contingencies. We are now actively seeking alternative sources,” a senior DRAP official was quoted as saying.
Key Developments:
- India supplies 30%-40% of Pakistan’s pharmaceutical raw materials, including Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), anti-cancer therapies, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and life-saving biological products.
- DRAP is urgently scouting new suppliers from China, Russia, and Europe to maintain the availability of critical medical supplies.
- Anti-rabies vaccines, anti-snake venom, and specialized cancer treatments are among the most vulnerable categories at risk of shortage.
- No formal notification has been issued yet by Pakistan’s Ministry of Health specifically regarding pharmaceutical imports, adding to the sector’s uncertainty.
- Industry experts warn that a prolonged disruption could lead to critical shortages and price hikes, while boosting black market smuggling through Afghanistan, Iran, and Dubai — a trade with no quality control.
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Industry Appeals and Government Response:
- A delegation from the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) met with DRAP and Ministry of Commerce officials, requesting that pharmaceutical goods be exempted from the trade suspension.
- The PPMA also approached the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to stress that essential medicines and raw materials should not be subjected to blanket bans, as patient lives are at stake.
- Public health expert Zafar Iqbal suggested that the crisis could be a turning point for Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector, urging investment in domestic production of APIs, vaccines, and biologicals to reduce future dependency.
Background:
The move to suspend trade follows India’s decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty after the Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 tourists were killed by terrorists affiliated with The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
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Pakistan India trade suspension, Pharmaceutical crisis Pakistan, DRAP emergency plan, Indus Water Treaty suspension, Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan healthcare, Medicine shortages Pakistan, PPMA appeal, Terrorism fallout, Cross-border tensions