Pakistan, China rally pharmaceutical investment

June 19, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan and China have moved to deepen pharmaceutical and healthcare collaboration, with a business briefing in Beijing mobilizing Chinese enterprises ahead of a major investment conference scheduled for Karachi next month.

The China-Pakistan Pharmaceutical, Healthcare and Biotechnology Business Briefing was co-organised by the Embassy of Pakistan and the China Industry Overseas Development Association (CODA).

It brought together more than 40 companies spanning biopharmaceuticals, API manufacturing, medical devices, and biotechnology.

Pakistan's Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, said Islamabad was seeking Chinese investment in localized production rather than simple exports.

It was noted that Pakistan's pharmaceutical market has surpassed $4 billion annually and is expanding at 10–12% per year, underpinned by a population exceeding 250 million the fifth largest in the world.

He added that pharmaceutical exports surged 24% in FY2025 to $457 million, the fastest pace of growth in two decades, with the government targeting $30 billion in pharmaceutical exports within five years.

China currently supplies 85–90% of Pakistan's active pharmaceutical ingredient requirements and around 95% of its vaccine needs, APP reported.

CODA's Executive Deputy Secretary-General Jiang Yun said the two countries' strengths were mutually reinforcing, with China's capabilities in APIs, biologics, gene therapies, and medical devices aligning closely with Pakistan's demand for advanced technologies and high-end medical equipment.

He called for ties to evolve beyond trade toward technology transfer, capacity building, and shared branding.

Attention now shifts to Karachi, where the sixth Pakistan-China B2B Conference on Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Investment is set for July 17–18, organised by the Ministry of National Health Services.

The event will include matchmaking sessions across seven sub-sectors and factory visits, with senior government officials expected to participate.

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