The International Pharma Convention: where regulators and industry have talked since 2014
Former DRAP chiefs, PPMA chairmen, multinational heads and global machinery makers have all spoken at the convention held alongside Pharma Asia.
In this article
Exhibitions sell; conferences explain. Since 2014, Pharma Asia has run the International Pharma Convention alongside its exhibition, and it has become one of the few regular places where Pakistan’s regulators, manufacturers, academics and international suppliers sit on the same stage.
What the convention is for
In the organiser’s words, the aim is to gather all stakeholders — industry, regulators, academia, quality control, researchers, production, supply chain, compliance, executive management and consultants — to discuss the key issues of the day, the latest technologies and current and future challenges, including compliance, with a regional perspective. It is endorsed and declared an official event of the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA).
Who has spoken
The brochure lists past speakers from across the sector, including:
- Regulators: former DRAP chief executives Asim Rauf, Dr Sheikh Akhtar Hussain and Dr Muhammad Aslam, and DRAP directors.
- Industry leaders: former PPMA chairmen, and heads of companies such as Getz Pharma, Martin Dow, GSK Pakistan, Searle, Hilton Pharma and PharmEvo.
- International technology firms: Romaco (Germany), Telstar (Spain), Brevetti CEA (Italy), Natoli Engineering (USA), ACG Pampac (India), Truking (China) and Sea Vision.
- Academia: speakers from the H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences and Salim Habib University.
Themes that matter to patients
The 13th convention in December 2025 dealt with quality compliance for exports, PIC/S compliance with presentations from both industry and DRAP, Annex 1 for sterile production, and 2D barcoding with track and trace. These are not abstract topics: they decide whether a medicine is made to international standards and whether a patient can be sure it is genuine. See our recap of the 2025 themes.
How the convention has followed the industry
Looking back over its editions, the convention’s agenda tracks the issues Pakistan’s manufacturers have faced. Early discussions centred on good manufacturing practice, documentation and the role of the regulator. As the industry grew and looked abroad, topics moved to export quality, international registration and supply chains. In recent years the focus has shifted again — to PIC/S-aligned inspections, sterile production under Annex 1, serialisation and track and trace, and the digital tools behind “Pharma 4.0”.
That progression matters because regulation is easier to meet when it is understood early. A plant that hears about a new requirement two years before it becomes mandatory can plan investment, train staff and budget for equipment. A plant that first hears about it in a notification has to rush.
Who benefits
| Participant | What they get |
|---|---|
| Manufacturers | Early sight of regulatory change and practical examples from peers |
| Regulators | A chance to explain plans and hear what is practical on the factory floor |
| International suppliers | A platform to explain new technology to decision makers |
| Academics and students | A link between research, teaching and industry needs |
The format
Sessions combine inaugural and technical talks with panel discussions, where speakers from DRAP, leading manufacturers and technology companies take questions from the floor. Because the convention runs alongside the exhibition, delegates can leave a session on, say, sterile manufacturing and walk straight to the stands of isolator and cleanroom suppliers to see the technology discussed.
Making the most of the sessions
For companies, the convention is most useful when the right people attend. Quality and regulatory heads gain from sessions on GMP and inspections; production and engineering managers from technology talks; export and business-development teams from discussions of markets and logistics. Sending a mix of staff, and asking them to share what they learn back at the plant, turns a day at the convention into training for the whole organisation.
Why dialogue helps
Regulation works best when industry understands what is coming and regulators understand what is practical. A shared forum, held every year, gives both sides that chance.
The convention returns with Pharma Asia 2026, 20–22 October in Karachi.
