“A cornerstone of public health”: the Sindh government on Pharma Asia and the pharma industry
At the 23rd edition, the Governor and Chief Minister of Sindh set out why the pharmaceutical industry — and a platform for it — matters to the province and the country.
In this article
Pharma Asia is held in Karachi, home to a large share of Pakistan’s pharmaceutical manufacturing. At the December 2025 edition, the province’s two most senior office holders sent messages explaining why they back it.
The Governor of Sindh
Governor Muhammad Kamran Khan Tessori described the pharmaceutical industry as more than an economic driver:
“The pharmaceutical industry isn’t just an economic driver; it’s a cornerstone of public health and plays a critical role in the well-being of every citizen.”
He said the exhibition gives industry leaders, researchers, manufacturers and policymakers a place to share knowledge, explore collaboration and show the latest technology, and called it “a vital catalyst” for the government’s aims, including stronger healthcare infrastructure, public-private partnerships and better regulatory frameworks.
The Chief Minister of Sindh
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said the Sindh government is focused on healthcare and pharmaceuticals, recognising the role a strong industry plays “in safeguarding the health of our citizens and driving economic progress throughout the province.” He set out a vision in which “cutting-edge research, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and equitable access to essential medicines” become realities, supported by policies to encourage investment, simplify regulation and promote skills.
Investment and confidence
The Governor of Sindh, quoted in the organiser’s 2026 brochure, made a related point: that international events such as Pharma Asia are important for portraying Pakistan’s investment potential and for restoring investors’ confidence, particularly in Karachi.
Why Karachi matters to the industry
Karachi is Pakistan’s largest city, its main port and its biggest industrial and commercial centre. A large share of the country’s pharmaceutical plants are in and around the city’s industrial areas, close to the port through which most imported raw materials, machinery and packaging materials arrive. Many of the country’s leading manufacturers, raw-material importers and distributors are headquartered there, together with universities and research institutes that train pharmacists and chemists. For the industry, the province is not just a host but a home.
Where provincial and federal roles meet
| Area | Who leads |
|---|---|
| Registration, pricing and GMP licensing of medicines | Federal — DRAP |
| Health services and hospitals | Provincial health departments |
| Sale of medicines in pharmacies and drug inspection | Shared, with provincial enforcement |
| Industrial land, infrastructure and local permits | Largely provincial and local |
That division is why both federal and provincial backing matter. The federal government sets the rules for medicines; the province shapes the environment in which plants are built and medicines reach patients.
From messages to action
The Governor and Chief Minister both linked the industry to wider goals: public-private partnerships, better regulatory frameworks, investment, skills and access to essential medicines. Turning those goals into results depends on practical steps — reliable utilities in industrial zones, simpler permits, support for training and research, and close co-ordination with federal regulators. An annual event where officials, manufacturers and suppliers meet helps keep those conversations going.
Investor confidence
International exhibitions are also a signal. When foreign companies travel to Karachi to exhibit, and investors see a busy, well-organised industry event, it changes perceptions of the city as a place to do business. That is the point the Governor made in the organiser’s 2026 brochure — and why provincial support for events like Pharma Asia is, in part, investment promotion.
Skills for the province
A growing pharmaceutical industry needs pharmacists, chemists, microbiologists, engineers and technicians. Karachi’s universities and institutes already train many of them; closer links with industry — internships, plant visits, research projects and guest lectures — help make sure graduates have the skills plants need. Students and academics attending Pharma Asia are part of that link.
What it means
Public health and industrial growth depend on the same things: modern plants, good regulation and skilled people. Government backing helps an industry platform serve both.
Read how Pharma Asia serves the industry, and see the 2025 results.
