On 21 November 2025, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan hosted Professor Dr Saleh Abdullah Bawazir, former Vice President of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, for high-level discussions with government and industry leaders aimed at advancing WHO Maturity goals.
Professor Dr Saleh Abdullah Bawazir exchanged insights with Federal Minister for NHSR&C Syed Mustafa Kamal, Dr Obaidullah, CEO of DRAP, and senior DRAP officers. The delegation from industry included Syed Anees Ahmad, Managing Director of Abbott Laboratories, the Executive Director of the Pharma Bureau and other sector representatives who laid out practical challenges and recommendations related to meeting WHO standards.
Prof Bawazir shared his regulatory experience and offered continued support to DRAP as it moves toward achieving WHO Maturity Level 3. His guidance focused on regulatory reliance, capacity building and benchmarking against international best practice to accelerate compliance.
Dr Obaidullah stressed that DRAP has adopted the reliance mechanism and is intensifying efforts to complete all Institutional Development Plans well ahead of the forthcoming WHO audit. The administration aims to use reliance and targeted reforms to close gaps identified by international assessors and to demonstrate progress on WHO Maturity criteria.
The Federal Minister underlined the importance of harmonising Pakistan’s pharmaceutical quality standards with international benchmarks so local manufacturers can compete more effectively in global markets. Representatives of the Pharma Bureau presented specific operational and technical hurdles and proposed measures to meet WHO expectations. The Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to offer full support to accelerate Pakistan’s path to WHO Maturity Level 3.
Participants agreed on continued collaboration between regulators, international experts and industry stakeholders to fast-track Institutional Development Plans, leverage the reliance mechanism and translate Prof Bawazir’s recommendations into concrete steps that strengthen Pakistan’s regulatory framework and pharmaceutical exports.
