The Chief Executive Officer of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), Dr. Obaidullah, visited the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) to strengthen collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry and present key regulatory reforms aimed at promoting ease of doing business and enhancing the sector’s global competitiveness.
During his visit, DRAP CEO Dr. Obaidullah was formally welcomed by RCCI President Usman Shaukat alongside prominent industry representatives, including Group Leader Sohail Altaf, Senior Vice President Khalid Farooq Qazi, Vice President Fahad Barlas, former presidents, members of the executive committee, and major stakeholders within the pharmaceutical field.
In his welcome address, RCCI President Usman Shaukat highlighted the Chamber’s continuous commitment towards supporting export-oriented economic growth and enhancing the competitiveness of the local pharmaceutical sector. He underscored the essential role of regulatory bodies such as DRAP in creating frameworks conducive to growth and enabling Pakistani pharmaceutical and medical device companies to effectively enter and succeed in international markets.
Addressing attendees, DRAP CEO Dr. Obaidullah stressed the importance of establishing a robust, forward-looking regulatory framework capable of addressing the pharmaceutical sector’s evolving needs and challenges. He outlined DRAP’s ambitious three-year transformational plan, aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision for comprehensive regulatory reform to facilitate business operations and attract investments into the sector.
Dr. Obaidullah also provided details on significant progress already achieved under the reform agenda, including achieving 50% completion of DRAP’s digital transformation. Key highlighted milestones include the automation of medical device licensing processes, set to be fully operational in the near future. Additionally, DRAP streamlined the processing duration of import and export permits drastically, reducing approval times from the previous ten-day duration to now just three days. He also introduced DRAP’s ongoing “Medical Devices Roadshow,” a dedicated initiative aimed at reducing operational costs, boosting competitiveness, and enhancing the manufacturing capabilities of local industries.
An integral part of the visit was an orientation and training session conducted on DRAP’s newly developed online software application for medical devices. The aim was to simplify registration procedures, improve overall compliance with regulatory standards, and streamline documentation processes. Detailed presentations were delivered by DRAP Directors, including Dr. Fakhruddin Aamir, Director MEMC, and Atta Rehman, Director MIS. Also participating in the session was Umar Farooq, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Pharma.
Overall, the visit reflected a strong mutual commitment between DRAP and RCCI towards establishing impactful public-private partnerships. Both parties emphasized their dedication to fostering transparency, efficiency, and alignment of Pakistan’s pharmaceutical regulatory framework to international standards and best practices, ultimately positioning the local life sciences sector for accelerated growth and global success.
