Pharma Asia 2026: ‘Life expectancy in Pakistan has improved by 10 years between 1999 and 2026’

At Pharma Asia 2026 in Karachi, Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association officials said a third local drugmaker could obtain stringent regulatory authority status next year, potentially helping firms reach high-value export markets. PPMA official Dr Faisal Khokhar said the country has 12 to 13 internally accredited pharmaceutical companies, including two with that approval, and called for more private equity and venture capital to finance the sector.

The conference also heard a claim that life expectancy in Pakistan rose by about 10 years between 1999 and 2026, partly because of better access to medicines. World Bank data cited in the report puts life expectancy at 67.8 years in 2024, compared with 59.7 years in 1990. The Searle Company CEO Tahir Ahmed urged investment in biotechnology, arguing that local API production would offer limited competitive benefit.