Drap’s Central Drugs Lab in Karachi secures WHO prequalification

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services has announced that the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) Karachi, a statutory laboratory of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), has obtained World Health Organisation (WHO) prequalification, a development the ministry said brings Pakistan’s pharmaceutical testing capacity in line with international standards.

According to the ministry, the certification means Drap’s testing services now meet the WHO’s stringent global requirements, ensuring that therapeutic goods examined at the facility are safe, effective and of high quality.

Drap Chief Executive Officer Dr Obaidullah Malik said the development reflected the WHO’s confidence in both the quality of testing and the system being followed in Pakistan.

He said, “It shows that Pakistan has fixed all the loopholes and our tests will be accepted across the world.”

Dr Malik said that in the past, samples were sent to Singapore and some other places for testing. He added that the new status would not only mean medicines distributed in Pakistan under the WHO would be tested locally, but that Pakistan would now be regarded as a prequalified testing facility for the wider international market.

Explaining the significance of the certification, he said, “It’s not that the medicines of the WHO, being distributed in Pakistan, will be tested in the country. Now Pakistan will be considered a prequalified testing facility for the whole globe. For example, if India exports medicines to the African continent under the umbrella of the WHO, the medicine can be tested in Pakistan.”

Minister links milestone to health reforms

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal congratulated Drap’s leadership and the technical team at CDL on the achievement. He described the WHO prequalification as an important part of the government’s broader health sector reform agenda.

He said, “The WHO prequalification of CDL Karachi is a historic moment for the people of Pakistan.”

The minister also said the development would be important for the national economy and for the ‘Made in Pakistan’ brand.

“By achieving this international validation, we are not only safeguarding public health but also empowering our pharmaceutical industry to compete globally,” he said.

Cabinet approves first national vaccine policy

Separately, the health ministry announced the approval of Pakistan’s first National Vaccine Policy. Mustafa Kamal said the federal cabinet had formally cleared the policy, calling it a historic step in the country’s public health sector.

He said the policy establishes, for the first time, a comprehensive national framework to support local vaccine production.

“Previously, Pakistan did not have a unified and comprehensive national policy on vaccines,” he said. “This policy has been developed through extensive consultation with key stakeholders to ensure a robust and sustainable approach to vaccine development and distribution.”

According to the ministry, the approval marks the first time the country has adopted a unified national policy framework on vaccines.