Kabul: Afghanistan is now producing more than 20 percent of its medicine requirements locally, while four pharmaceutical factories have obtained Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification, Afghan health authorities claimed, as the country seeks to reduce dependence on imported medicines, particularly pharmaceutical products from Pakistan.
The claims were made by officials of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health during the second National and International Health Exhibition in Kabul, where pharmaceutical manufacturers, medical equipment suppliers, hospitals and healthcare service providers displayed their products and services at 300 stalls.
According to ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman, a recent survey showed that approximately 21 percent of medicines previously imported into Afghanistan were now being manufactured domestically, reflecting what he described as significant progress towards pharmaceutical self-sufficiency.
The claims come amid Afghanistan’s restrictions on pharmaceutical imports from Pakistan, traditionally one of its major medicine suppliers.
Afghan authorities have maintained that they intend to replace Pakistani medicines with locally manufactured products and imports from alternative international markets, although independently verified figures showing the extent of this transition remain unavailable.
Afghanistan announced a three-month transition period in November 2025 for pharmaceutical traders to stop importing medicines from Pakistan, with restrictions scheduled to take effect in February 2026. Afghan officials cited concerns over medicine quality and the need to diversify pharmaceutical supplies, although comparative laboratory evidence supporting their allegations against Pakistani products was not publicly disclosed.
Speaking at the exhibition, Sharafat Zaman claimed that four Afghan pharmaceutical factories had obtained GMP certification, while another six to nine manufacturing facilities were preparing to meet the required standards.
He said no pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Afghanistan had previously held such certification, describing the development as an important achievement for the country’s emerging pharmaceutical industry.
GMP certification indicates that manufacturing facilities comply with specified standards for pharmaceutical production and quality control. However, it does not automatically mean that every medicine produced at a certified facility has received approval from international regulatory authorities.
Afghan officials claimed that the government was encouraging domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, strengthen medicine security and attract investment in the healthcare sector.
Deputy Minister for Food and Drugs Mawlawi Hamdullah Zahid warned that companies violating regulations governing the import of medicines and medical products would face legal action.
He said Afghanistan had signed cooperation agreements with Uzbekistan and Iran in the pharmaceutical and medical products sectors, while similar arrangements were being planned with Kazakhstan, Belarus, Russia and Türkiye.
The agreements, according to Afghan officials, are intended to diversify medicine supplies, strengthen regulatory cooperation and create opportunities for investment and technology transfer.
Economy Minister Qari Din Mohammad Hanif claimed that Afghanistan had made progress in improving diagnostic services, pharmaceutical quality and healthcare facilities during recent years.
He said strengthening domestic healthcare services would reduce the need for Afghan patients to seek treatment abroad and help prevent the outflow of foreign exchange.
At the exhibition, pharmaceutical industry representative Ahmadullah Amarkhel welcomed the allocation of 1,300 jeribs of land for pharmaceutical manufacturers, saying the initiative would encourage investment in local drug production and help establish additional manufacturing facilities.
Afghan officials said the government was seeking to develop industrial infrastructure for pharmaceutical companies and encourage investors to expand domestic manufacturing capacity.
The exhibition brought together local and international pharmaceutical manufacturers, medicine importers, medical equipment suppliers, specialised hospitals and other healthcare institutions.
According to the Ministry of Public Health, the event was organised to promote locally manufactured medicines, introduce medical equipment and healthcare services, and create opportunities for business cooperation and investment.
Afghan Red Crescent Society President Sheikh Shahabuddin Delawar urged pharmaceutical importers to prioritise medicine quality and patient safety when purchasing medicines from international suppliers.
Deputy Minister for Finance and Administration Qari Abdul Wali Siddiqui said modern medical equipment was being procured to improve diagnostic facilities in public hospitals.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Healthcare Services Mawlawi Abdul Wali Haqqani stressed that providing accessible, affordable and timely healthcare was a shared responsibility of public and private healthcare institutions.
The Afghan authorities claimed that growing domestic pharmaceutical production, improved manufacturing standards and new international partnerships would gradually reduce the country’s dependence on imported medicines.
However, the government has not provided independently verifiable data establishing how much of the pharmaceutical market has shifted away from Pakistani products or whether local manufacturers can consistently meet demand for essential medicines.
For Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry, Afghanistan’s restrictions and efforts to develop alternative supply arrangements could affect access to a neighbouring export market.
The extent of that impact, however, remains uncertain in the absence of updated bilateral pharmaceutical trade figures, while Afghanistan’s ability to replace imported medicines will depend on domestic production capacity, regulatory oversight and uninterrupted supplies of essential drugs.