Digital system to improve drug safety, traceability and ensure authentic drugs across the country
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal. Photo: X
The Federal Cabinet on Tuesday approved the nationwide implementation of a Track and Trace system for pharmaceutical products and approved amendments to the Drug Labeling and Packaging Rules, 1978, in a move aimed at eliminating counterfeit and substandard medicines from the market.
According to a press release issued by the Press Information Department (PID), the new digital system will enable for the first time the tracking and verification of drugs throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain, increasing transparency, security and regulatory oversight.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal described the decision as a “major and historic step” towards combating fake medicine in Pakistan. “For the first time, every medicine in the country will be digitally traceable and verifiable, ensuring greater transparency, security and accountability,” he said.
Read also: Rising medical costs push patients to the brink
Under the revised framework, all drug manufacturers and importers will be required to place standardized two-dimensional (2D) barcodes and serialization data on drug packaging. The system will enable regulators to monitor medicines from production to consumption and identify counterfeit, adulterated and substandard products more effectively.
The minister said that the initiative would bring unprecedented transparency to Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector while strengthening public confidence in medicines available in the market.
Consumers are also expected to benefit directly from the system. Once implemented, the public will have access to verified information about a drug’s expiration date, price and authenticity, enabling them to make more informed healthcare decisions.
Read more: Unlicensed pharmacists run medical shops
The nationwide rollout will be overseen by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, which will issue technical guidelines for pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers. The government said consultations with industry stakeholders have already been conducted to facilitate implementation.
Kamal said the Track and Trace system would significantly enhance 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, life and trust,” he said.
The government said the initiative is part of a wider effort to modernize drug regulation, improve accountability across the supply chain and ensure medicines reaching consumers are genuine, safe and properly regulated.
According to the minister, the adoption of advanced regulatory technologies will also place Pakistan among the leading countries in the region in terms of pharmaceutical supervision and drug safety standards.
