Pakistan’s pharma exports fell 30.26 per cent to $319.01 million in fiscal year 2025-26 from $457.46m a year earlier, as the halt in trade with Afghanistan cut off the industry’s biggest foreign market.
The decline has continued into the new fiscal year. In the first quarter of FY27, exports of medicines dropped 25.53pc to $73.30m from $98.43m in the same period last year.
Pharma exports by volume
In quantity terms, shipments fell 31.40pc to 16,410 tonnes in July-September from 23,924 tonnes a year ago, showing the drop is not just about prices.
Afghanistan bought $155.68m worth of Pakistani medicines in FY25, about 34.1pc of total pharma exports. With the border closed to trade, most of that business has been lost.
Industry calls for talks
Former Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association chairman Tauqeer ul Haq said the loss of the Afghan market has hit manufacturers hard and urged the government to resume trade in medicines.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has assured the industry that the issue will be taken up with the relevant authorities.
Surgical goods hold up
In contrast, exports of surgical instruments rose 8.8pc to $121m.
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