Islamabad: The federal cabinet has formally approved the implementation of a nationwide Drug Track and Trace System, marking a significant step toward eliminating counterfeit medicines and strengthening the country’s pharmaceutical regulatory framework.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal announced that necessary amendments to the Drug Labelling and Packing Rules 1978 have been approved. He described the decision as a historic move that will help address the long-standing challenge of fake and substandard medicines in Pakistan.
According to the minister, the new system will enable every medicine sold in the country to be digitally tracked and verified for the first time. This technology-driven approach is expected to improve transparency and make it easier to identify counterfeit, unauthorized, and low-quality pharmaceutical products.
The Drug Track and Trace System will also allow consumers to access verified information about a medicine’s expiry date, pricing, and authenticity. Health officials believe that greater access to accurate product information will strengthen public confidence in the healthcare system.
Under the new regulations, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan will oversee the nationwide implementation of the system. All pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers will be required to place standardized two-dimensional (2D) barcodes and serialization data on medicine packaging.
Government officials say the initiative is designed to enhance the security and reliability of Pakistan’s pharmaceutical supply chain. By improving traceability at every stage of distribution, authorities aim to reduce the circulation of illegal and counterfeit medicines in the market.
Mustafa Kamal stated that Pakistan’s healthcare sector is being modernized through the adoption of advanced technologies. He emphasized that the Track and Trace System will create a strong defense against counterfeit drugs, replace traditional monitoring methods with digital oversight, and position Pakistan among the regional leaders in pharmaceutical innovation and regulatory compliance.
