Federal cabinet approves track-and-trace system to curb fake medicines in Pakistan

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal says cabinet has also approved key amendments to the Drug Labeling and Packaging Rules 1978, describing the decision as a “historic step” toward strengthening drug regulation in the country

ISLAMABAD:(UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-June 2nd, 2026) The Federal cabinet has approved the nationwide implementation of a track-and-trace system for medicines in a major step aimed at eliminating counterfeit and substandard drugs from the pharmaceutical market.

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the cabinet has also approved key amendments to the Drug Labeling and Packaging Rules 1978, describing the decision as a “historic step” toward strengthening drug regulation in the country.

He said that for the first time in Pakistan, every medicine will be digitally tracked and verified through a modern system, enabling authorities and consumers to authenticate products across the supply chain. The initiative is designed to detect and eliminate fake, substandard and unregistered medicines more effectively.

According to the health minister, the system will also provide consumers with reliable information regarding a medicine’s expiry date, authenticity and price, improving transparency and public confidence in the pharmaceutical sector.

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Mustafa Kamal said the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) will implement the system across the country. Under the new regulations, all pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers will be required to print standardized 2D barcodes and serialization data on each medicine pack to ensure traceability.

He added that the decision aims to secure and modernize the pharmaceutical supply chain, strengthening monitoring at every stage from production to distribution.

The minister further stated that Pakistan is shifting toward a technology-based healthcare regulatory framework. He said the track-and-trace system will serve as a strong deterrent against counterfeit medicines and replace traditional manual monitoring with a more efficient digital mechanism.

He expressed confidence that the initiative would position Pakistan among regional countries adopting advanced pharmaceutical tracking systems, ultimately ensuring safer and more reliable access to medicines for the public.