Digital system to improve drug safety, traceability and ensure authentic medicines across 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 cleared amendments to the Drug Labelling and Packing 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, for the first time, allow medicines to be tracked and verified throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain, enhancing transparency, safety and regulatory oversight.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal described the decision as a “major and historic step” towards combating fake medicines in Pakistan. “For the first time, every medicine in the country will be digitally traceable and verifiable, ensuring greater transparency, safety and accountability,” he said.
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Under the revised framework, all pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers will be required to place standardised two-dimensional (2D) barcodes and serialisation data on medicine packaging. The system will enable regulators to monitor medicines from production to consumption and identify counterfeit, falsified and substandard products more effectively.
The minister said 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 be able to access verified information regarding a medicine’s expiry date, price and authenticity, enabling them to make more informed healthcare decisions.
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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 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 modernise pharmaceutical regulation, improve accountability across the supply chain and ensure that medicines reaching consumers are genuine, safe and properly 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.
