$1.5b deals, MoUs inked at pharma conference

Pakistan, China pledge to deepen healthcare cooperation, improve access to advanced devices

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan and China signed agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth $1.492 billion during the two-day Pakistan-China Pharmaceutical and Healthcare B2B Investment Conference, with participants reaffirming their commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation in healthcare and improving access to advanced medical services.

A leading Chinese medical technology company also announced plans to introduce cutting-edge technologies for the prevention of birth defects and hereditary diseases, while pledging to increase future investment in Pakistan. The conference concluded in Islamabad on Saturday, in which Minister of State for Health Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, Federal Health Secretary Muhammad Aslam Ghori, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) CEO, Balochistan's health secretary, the Chinese ambassador, more than 150 Chinese delegates and nearly 300 representatives from Pakistan's pharmaceutical industry participated.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the state health minister said the conference had fulfilled the prime minister's vision by focusing on practical outcomes rather than ceremonial speeches or diplomatic statements. He described the event as a practical manifestation of CPEC Phase-II, saying bilateral cooperation had expanded beyond roads, bridges and energy projects to include the healthcare economy, protection of human lives and the development of advanced medical industries. He said industrial leaders from both countries had opened a new chapter in regional healthcare cooperation during the two-day event, with commercial partnerships worth more than $850 million finalised. These agreements cover cell line development, joint production of advanced biotechnology injectables, active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing, local production of medical devices and clinical trials.

In addition, 18 MoUs worth $250 million were signed to facilitate industrial expansion, healthcare collaboration and future investment. "The investments are not merely announcements but the beginning of practical projects that will play an important role in promoting Pakistan's advanced medical industry and local manufacturing," he added.

The state minister noted that Chinese investment and technology would help transform Pakistan into a regional hub for the production and export of medical products. He also praised Pakistan's pharmaceutical industry for demonstrating its ability to evolve from conventional drug manufacturing to a globally competitive high-tech sector.

The minister assured investors that regulatory approvals, plant licensing, land allocation and registration would be completed on a priority basis under the supervision of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). He urged Pakistani companies to begin implementing their projects immediately so that the historic cooperation could be translated into a healthier, self-reliant and more prosperous future.

Earlier, DRAP CEO Dr Ubaidullah Malik told participants that the conference focused on six key sectors – API manufacturing, vaccine biotechnology, generic formulations, medical devices, pharmaceutical contract manufacturing and clinical trials.

He pointed out that 22 commercial agreements were signed during the conference, including two API manufacturing agreements worth $35 million, six biotechnology and vaccine agreements worth $360 million, two clinical trials and clinical research agreements worth $8 million, two generic formulation agreements worth $19 million and 10 medical device agreements worth $201.5 million. He added that 42 MoUs worth $216.7 million were also signed including nine biotechnology and vaccine MoUs worth $104.05 million, two clinical trials and clinical research MoUs, two generic formulation MoUs worth $10 million, eight medical device MoUs worth $14.5 million and nine herbal medicine MoUs worth $14.17 million.