ISLAMABAD: The national health services ministry has announced that the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) Karachi, a statutory laboratory of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), has successfully achieved World Health Organisation (WHO) prequalification, elevating the country’s pharmaceutical testing capabilities to international standards.
It added that this certification signified that Drap’s testing services met the rigorous global benchmarks established by the WHO, ensuring that the therapeutic goods tested within the facility were safe, effective and of high quality.
Drap CEO Dr Obaidullah Malik told Dawn that the development showed that the WHO had confidence in the quality of testing and the approach of the system in Pakistan.
“It shows that Pakistan has fixed all the loopholes and our tests will be accepted across the world,” he said.
Central Drugs Laboratory meets ‘global benchmarks for safety and quality’
To a question, Mr Malik said earlier, samples were sent to Singapore and some other venues for testing.
“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,” he explained.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal congratulated the leadership of Drap and the technical team at CDL.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister emphasised that the achievement was a cornerstone of the government’s broader health reforms.
“The WHO prequalification of CDL Karachi is a historic moment for the people of Pakistan,” he stated.
The minister further noted that the milestone was critical for the national economy and 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.
Vaccine policy
Meanwhile, the health ministry has announced the approval of the country’s first-ever National Vaccine Policy.
Mr Kamal said the federal cabinet had formally approved the policy, marking a historic milestone in Pakistan’s public health landscape.
He emphasised that for the first time in the nation’s history, a compre-hensive national framework had been established to enable local production of vaccines.
“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.”
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026
