“Not less than CPhI”: what industry leaders and regulators say about Pharma Asia
PPMA chairmen, a DRAP director and company heads on why the exhibition and convention matter for Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector.
In this article
The best judges of an industry event are the people who run the industry. The Pharma Asia 2026 brochure carries comments from association leaders, a regulator and company heads who have attended the exhibition and its convention.
The manufacturers’ association
“PPMA feels proud to be part of Pakistan’s biggest Pharma Industry Event Pharma Asia 2021 International Exhibition and Conferences and declares the event as Official Event of PPMA.” — Khawaja Shahzeb Akram, former Chairman, PPMA
Mian Khalid Misbah Ur Rehman, Chairman of PPMA, called it “a wonderful experience” to attend the 21st edition and 12th convention, adding that it was “great to see leaders from health care industry, pharma industry etc. including PPMA.” Dr Mahwash Khan, Vice Chairperson of PPMA, said it was “heartwarming to see so many people from the industry attending this event.”
The regulator’s view
“This exhibition is kind of a part of an International Exhibition ‘CPhI’. … Instead of going outside of Pakistan, the manufacturers will get all the international data and updates about this industry and machines here in Pakistan.” — Dr ObaidUllah Malik, Additional Director, DRAP
Company leaders
- Hanif Ajari, Director Supply Chain, Getz Pharma, described an atmosphere “not less than CPhI, any where in the world or in India.”
- Javed Ghulam Muhammad, CEO & Group Managing Director, Martin Dow, called it a “great initiative to improve the technology and open road for Pakistan’s Pharma industry to international market.”
- Hamid Raza, CEO, Neutropharma, valued the chance for “learning, networking, and meeting supply chain, machine, and lab equipment experts.”
- Mohammad Ajmal Iqbal, Chairman, PPMA North Zone: “This will definitely help the industry to ensure quality and effective products.”
Why the CPhI comparison matters
CPhI is the best-known international meeting point for the pharmaceutical ingredients and manufacturing industry, held in Europe and other regions, and many Pakistani executives travel to it. When a supply-chain director of one of Pakistan’s largest manufacturers says the atmosphere at Pharma Asia is “not less than CPhI”, and a DRAP official says manufacturers can get international updates “here in Pakistan”, they are describing a practical benefit: access to global suppliers and ideas without the cost and time of foreign travel. That matters most for small and medium-sized companies, which may not be able to send a team abroad every year.
What different participants value
| Who | What they emphasised |
|---|---|
| Industry association | An official event that brings the sector’s leaders together |
| Regulator | International data, updates and machinery available locally |
| Large manufacturers | Technology and a road to international markets |
| Mid-sized manufacturers | Learning, networking and meeting machine and lab experts |
| Regional association leaders | Better quality and effective products |
Quality as a shared interest
Several comments return to quality. That is not surprising: in a market where patients often cannot judge a medicine for themselves, the reputation of the whole industry depends on every manufacturer meeting the standard. An event where manufacturers can compare equipment, meet laboratory and cleanroom specialists and hear regulators explain new rules supports that shared interest — and, in turn, patient safety.
Listening to feedback
Comments like these also guide how the event develops. The growth of the convention, the international pavilions and the focus on compliance topics all reflect what participants have asked for. The organisers’ post-show surveys — in which 93% of exhibitors said they met their objective — are another part of that feedback loop; see Pharma Asia 2025 in numbers.
The common thread
Across these comments, three benefits recur: bringing international technology to Pakistan, putting the whole supply chain in one place, and supporting quality. That is the role Pharma Asia aims to play for the sector — read more in how Pharma Asia became the industry’s meeting place.
