The federal cabinet has approved the nationwide rollout of a Track and Trace system for pharmaceutical products across Pakistan, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal announced on Tuesday.
Necessary amendments to the Drug Labelling and Packaging Rules approved
• Pharma manufacturers and importers will be required to place standardised 2D barcodes and serialisation data on medicine packaging
The federal cabinet has approved the nationwide implementation of a Track and Trace System (TTS) for pharmaceutical products across Pakistan, Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal announced on Tuesday.
However, a source in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) told Dawn that no federal cabinet meeting was held on Tuesday. Instead, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday and obtained cabinet approval through circulation.
“No cabinet meeting was scheduled for Monday or Tuesday, and the Track and Trace System was approved by the cabinet through circulation,” the source said.
According to an official handout, the system aims to strengthen public health and protect citizens from counterfeit medicines.
The cabinet has also approved the necessary amendments to the Drug Labeling and Packaging Rules, enabling the introduction of “a modern digital system for tracking and verifying medicines throughout the supply chain”, the statement said.
“This decision marks a major and historic step towards eliminating counterfeit, fake, and substandard medicines from Pakistan,” Mr Kamal said, according to the statement.
“For the first time, every medicine in the country will be digitally traceable and verifiable, ensuring greater transparency, safety, and accountability,” he added.
The statement noted that under the new regulatory framework, all pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers will be required to place standardised 2D barcodes and serialisation data on medicine packaging.
The system will enable regulators to monitor medicines from production to consumption, helping identify and eliminate counterfeit products from the market.
The health minister said that once the system is implemented, consumers will be able to access authentic information regarding a medicine’s expiry date, price, and verification status.
This, according to Mr Kamal, will empower consumers to make informed healthcare decisions and enhance public trust in the pharmaceutical sector.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) will oversee the nationwide rollout of the system and issue detailed technical guidelines to facilitate compliance by the pharmaceutical industry, the statement said.
“Consultative meetings with relevant stakeholders have already been conducted to ensure a smooth transition,” it added.
Mr Kamal emphasised that the initiative would “significantly strengthen the security and quality of Pakistan’s pharmaceutical supply chain” by replacing conventional monitoring mechanisms with a modern digital framework. He said the adoption of advanced technology would position Pakistan among the leading countries in the region in pharmaceutical regulation and oversight.
“The Track and Trace System will establish a strong and effective barrier against counterfeit medicines and ensure the protection of public health, lives, and trust,” the minister was quoted as saying in the press release.