Pakistan Approves Barcode System to Verify Medicines

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s federal cabinet has approved a new track-and-trace system involving barcode printing on medicine packaging to tackle the issue of counterfeit and substandard drugs in the country.

The decision was announced by Federal Minister for National Health Services, Syed Mustafa Kamal, who described it as a historic step toward improving drug safety and consumer trust in the pharmaceutical market. The new system will allow consumers to digitally verify the authenticity of medicines and obtain reliable information about the products they buy.

Under the updated regulations, pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers in Pakistan will be mandated to print two-dimensional (2D) barcodes along with serialization data on all medicine packaging. This move aims to strengthen the pharmaceutical supply chain by enhancing transparency and enabling independent verification of drug details, including expiration dates, usage instructions, and pricing.

Minister Kamal emphasized that implementing this technology-driven verification system will replace the traditional monitoring approaches currently in use. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) will be responsible for rolling out the barcode system nationwide and ensuring its compliance across the industry.

“The track-and-trace mechanism will create a robust barrier against fake medicines, safeguarding public health and bolstering consumer confidence,” Kamal stated. He also indicated that this initiative aligns with the government’s broader efforts to modernize healthcare and pharmaceutical regulations, potentially positioning Pakistan as a regional leader in adopting advanced regulatory technologies.

In preparation for implementation, DRAP is expected to release detailed technical guidelines for pharmaceutical stakeholders in the coming weeks. Consultative meetings involving industry representatives have already taken place to facilitate a smooth transition to the new system.

This development marks a significant milestone in Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to improve medicine quality control and protect patients from the harmful effects of counterfeit drugs, a persistent challenge in the country.

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