Why I Wholeheartedly Back Pakistan’s Ban on Indian Pharmaceuticals
I felt a wave of pride wash over me when Pakistan decisively cut off pharmaceutical and other imports from India. For years, we depended on our neighbor for as much as sixty percent of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and finished medicines that stock our hospitals—everything from anti-rabies serums and MMR vaccines to Onco-BCG cancer treatments, monoclonal antibodies, and anti-snake-venom. With each diplomatic spat, our supply of life-saving drugs hung in the balance; every escalation threatened shortages in clinics nationwide. By severing that dependency, we delivered a clear strategic message to New Delhi and reaffirmed our ability to chart an independent course.
The decision gained urgency when intelligence reports revealed that a portion of Indian pharmaceutical revenues was filtering—directly or indirectly—into militant networks fueling terror on our soil. I recall poring over briefings linking ostensibly legitimate medicine shipments to funding bombings in Karachi markets and IED ambushes on rural highways. The thought that every vial of anti-tetanus serum might bankroll the next attack on innocent Pakistanis was intolerable. Faced with this grim reality, it became evident that business as usual could no longer continue.
Once the embargo was announced, regulators sprang into action. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and the Ministry of National Health Services reactivated contingency plans drafted during the 2019 crisis. Within days, they approved new partnerships: China, which already supplied about forty percent of our API needs, was asked to expand deliveries of antibiotic precursors, vaccine intermediates, and crucial biologics. Bangladesh’s generics manufacturers moved swiftly to export bulk APIs and finished formulations, while Malaysia and Indonesia readied shipments of vaccine components and chemical reagents. Even biotech firms in South Korea and Europe expressed interest in filling the gap.
That swift pivot produced results almost overnight. Today, I no longer lie awake worrying about shortages of anti-rabies immunoglobulins or equine anti-thymocyte globulin. Beijing’s shipments arrive on schedule, Bangladeshi generics cover the shortfalls, and Southeast Asian compounds keep our vaccine lines humming. We’ve even secured agreements to import monoclonal antibody therapies—once the exclusive domain of Indian manufacturers—from Seoul and Frankfurt. Importantly, we’ve neutralized the threat of being held hostage by a single supplier while striking a blow to India’s pharmaceutical exporters.
Admittedly, the transition came with challenges. Indian APIs were often the cheapest option—far more affordable than many Western alternatives—and registering new sources can be a lengthy process. Yet these temporary sacrifices pale compared to the moral imperative of halting terror financing. As colleagues have asked, “Why should we bankroll a neighbor whose proxies unleash violence in our villages?” Their question captures the clarity of our choice: every rupee spent on hostile imports was one rupee too many.
To lessen the impact on patients, the government fast-tracked customs clearances and regulatory approvals for critical medicines—MMR vaccines, anti-snake-venom serums, methotrexate, Onco-BCG, and beyond. Special inter-ministerial committees now monitor stock levels daily, ensuring no hospital ward is left exposed. Their vigilance has been crucial in reassuring clinicians and pharmacists that patient care remains our top priority.
Beyond medicines, Pakistan has diversified its wider imports. Textiles now come from Turkey; electronics from Malaysia; automotive parts from Japan and South Korea; and agricultural machinery from Europe and China. Consumers have accepted marginally higher prices on these alternatives, recognizing that the hidden cost of cheap imports had become measured in blood and instability. Through coordinated policy and public solidarity, we’ve turned a vulnerability into a testament to our resolve.
The ripple effects have reached New Delhi. Indian industry groups fret over lost revenues and idle factories, while commentators concede that economic interdependence works both ways. By refusing to import Indian pharmaceuticals and consumer goods, we’ve shown that trade cannot be taken for granted—and that sovereignty requires we never allow commerce to underwrite violence.
Our bold stance sends a message beyond South Asia: no nation should let economic ties become conduits for terror financing. By cutting the financial lifeline to those who wage attacks on our citizens, Pakistan has reclaimed its right to health and security. Simultaneously, we’ve deepened ties with China, forged new partnerships in Europe and South Korea, and diminished New Delhi’s leverage over us.
On the home front, this policy is already spurring domestic investment. Plans for new API plants, backed by technology transfers, are underway, and research into indigenous medicinal resources is gaining traction. Vocational training programs are expanding to staff these facilities, laying the groundwork for long-term capacity building and job creation.
Challenges remain—port logistics require streamlining, currency volatility must be managed, and customs enforcement needs bolstering to prevent smuggling. Yet I am confident that, united in purpose, we will prevail. Pakistan’s trade break with India is not an act of spite; it is a vital act of self-defense. By refusing to underwrite our own insecurity, we have delivered a decisive blow to those who traffic in terror—and made it clear that the health and safety of our people will always come first.
DJ Kamal Mustafa
I’m DJ Kamal Mustafa, the founder and Editor-in-Chief of EMEA Tribune, a digital news platform that focuses on critical stories from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Pakistan. With a deep passion for investigative journalism, I’ve built a reputation for delivering exclusive, thought-provoking reports that highlight the region’s most pressing issues.
I’ve been a journalist for over 10 years, and I’m currently associated with EMEA Tribune, ARY News, Daily Times, Samaa TV, Minute Mirror, and many other media outlets. Throughout my career, I’ve remained committed to uncovering the truth and providing valuable insights that inform and engage the public.
