Digital system to improve safety and traceability of medicines and ensure authentic medicines throughout the country
Minister of Health, Mustafa Kamal. Photo:
The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the nationwide implementation of a Track and Trace System for pharmaceutical products and approved amendments to the Medicines Packaging and Labeling Rules, 1978, in a move aimed at removing substandard and counterfeit medicines from the market.
According to a press release issued by the Press Information Department (PID), the new digital system will, for the first time, allow medicines to be tracked and verified throughout the entire pharmaceutical supply chain, improving transparency, security and regulatory oversight.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal described the decision as an “important and historic step” towards 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, security and accountability,” he said.
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Under the revised framework, all pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers will be required to place standardized two-dimensional (2D) barcodes and serialization data on medicine packaging. The system will allow regulators to monitor medicines from production to consumption and identify counterfeit, counterfeit and substandard products more effectively.
The minister said the initiative would bring unprecedented transparency to Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector and at the same time strengthen public confidence in medicines available in the market.
Consumers are also expected to benefit directly from the system. Once implemented, the public will be able to access verified information about a medication’s expiration date, price and authenticity, allowing them to make more informed healthcare decisions.
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The nationwide launch will be overseen by the Pakistan Drug Regulatory Authority, which will issue technical guidelines for pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers. The government said consultations have already been held with industry stakeholders 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 public health, lives and trust,” he said.
The government said the initiative is part of broader efforts to modernize pharmaceutical regulation, improve accountability across the supply chain and ensure medicines reaching consumers are genuine, safe and appropriately 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 oversight and drug safety standards.
