The National Assembly was informed that over the past three years five multinational pharmaceutical companies have shifted manufacturing operations from Pakistan, a development the Health Minister described as strategic pharmaceutical divestment rather than shutdowns.
Syed Mustafa Kamal told lawmakers that the moves reflect a global business realignment and are aimed at optimising operations while keeping production lines active. He stressed that essential medicines will continue to be supplied under new local ownership.
The companies named include Bayer at its Lahore unit, ICI Pakistan across multiple cities, Sanofi-Aventis at the Korangi plant, Pfizer at the S.I.T.E. Karachi site, and Novartis at the West Wharf facility. The transitions have involved transfers of local assets, with Lucky Core Industries acquiring Pfizer’s Pakistan operations in 2024 and affirming its commitment to the domestic sector.
Authorities noted that Bayer continues to operate in Pakistan, supplying healthcare and consumer products alongside its crop science business. Observers say this wave of pharmaceutical divestment illustrates how multinationals are realigning local footprints globally while sustaining healthcare access and supporting growth in Pakistan’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity.
