The federal cabinet has approved the implementation of a nationwide track and trace system for medicines, a major initiative aimed at eliminating counterfeit and substandard drugs from the market.
Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal announced that the cabinet had also approved amendments to the Drug Labelling and Packing Rules, 1978, enabling the rollout of the new digital monitoring framework across Pakistan.
Describing the move as a landmark step for public health, the minister said that every medicine would now be digitally tracked and verified throughout the supply chain, making it easier to identify and remove fake medicines from circulation.
Under the new regulations, all pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers will be required to print standardised two-dimensional (2D) barcodes and serialisation data on medicine packaging.
Consumers will be able to verify important details, including a medicine’s expiry date and price, through digital authentication.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) will oversee the implementation of the system and issue technical guidelines to facilitate compliance by pharmaceutical companies.
Kamal said the initiative would strengthen the security and transparency of Pakistan’s pharmaceutical supply chain while aligning it with international standards.
He added that the adoption of advanced digital technologies would modernise the country’s drug monitoring system and improve consumer confidence.
The minister noted that consultations with industry stakeholders had already been conducted to ensure the smooth implementation of the track and trace system, which is expected to create a strong barrier against counterfeit medicines and enhance public health protection nationwide.
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