The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan held a technical session on 20 November 2025 at the Tulip Marquee in Islamabad to advance Pakistan’s regulatory agenda on PIC/S alignment and 2D Barcoding for medicine traceability.
Speakers outlined Pakistan’s roadmap for harmonization with international inspection standards and the technical framework for GS1-based 2D Barcoding and the National Track & Trace System. Mr. Zeeshan, Director QA< at DRAP, presented the agency’s plan to align inspections with PIC/S Good Manufacturing Practice requirements, while Mr. Atta ur Rahman, Director MIS at DRAP, described the digital architecture for 2D serialization and oversight.
Industry perspectives were provided by Dr. Munir Anwer of ATCO Laboratories, who discussed preparations for PIC/S-aligned audits and the operational implications of adopting 2D Barcoding across production and packaging lines. The session emphasised practical steps for manufacturers to achieve technical readiness and certification readiness in line with global standards.
The first panel, moderated by Dr. Hasan Afzaal of DRAP, explored the pathway to PIC/S compliance with contributions from Dr. Munir Anwer, Mr. Shahnawaz of High-Q, former CEO Dr. Muhammad Aslam, and current CEO Dr. Obaidullah. Panelists focused on industry readiness, resource gaps and the collaborative role of DRAP in guiding manufacturers toward international GMP benchmarks.
The second panel, moderated by Dr. M. Haseeb Tariq, examined implementation challenges and system integration for the 2D Barcoding and national Track & Trace system. Panelists Mr. Ayub Naveed and Mr. Yasir Mehmood from DRAP joined Mr. Imran Panawala of Pharmevo and printing specialist Mr. Rizwan Butter to discuss technical interoperability, data standards, and global best practices for traceability.
CEO Dr. Obaidullah actively engaged in discussions and delivered closing remarks that reaffirmed DRAP’s commitment to modernization and regulator–industry collaboration. The presence of former CEO Dr. Muhammad Aslam added institutional perspective to the deliberations and strengthened the consensus on a phased, practical rollout.
Participants recognised concrete next steps including accelerated alignment with global GMP inspection frameworks, rollout of GS1-based 2D Barcoding across manufacturers, and implementation of a transparent National Track & Trace system to enhance medicine traceability. DRAP signalled ongoing support for capacity building, technical guidance and digital innovation to protect public health and ensure quality-driven regulatory oversight.
