Karachi: Sheikh Kaiser Waheed, former chairman of the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) and chief executive of Medisure Laboratories Pakistan, died after suffering a massive heart attack at a Karachi hospital on Friday afternoon. He was 73.
Kaiser Waheed developed chest discomfort and was taken by his family to Tabba Heart Institute on Friday afternoon, where cardiologists tried to save him. He could not survive, according to information provided by his family.
He is survived by his widow, two sons and a daughter. His funeral prayers were offered at Baitus Salam Mosque, and he was buried at the Defence Phase VIII graveyard.
PPMA leaders Haroon Qasim, Zahid Hussain and Tauqeer-ul-Haq, along with others from the pharmaceutical industry, expressed their condolences over his death.
A prominent representative of Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry, Kaiser Waheed served two terms as PPMA chairman: in 2006–07 and 2016–17. He also served as chairman of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s Standing Committee on the Pharmaceutical Industry in 2018.
Kaiser Waheed’s career began far from the leadership roles he later held. He once recalled starting out as a medical representative for a pharmaceutical company, describing those early years as difficult but formative. He said the experience taught him about the industry before he went on to establish and lead his own pharmaceutical manufacturing business.
Beyond his work in industry organisations, he advocated for greater local production of vaccines and biological products. He was working with Dow University of Health Sciences on local production of anti-rabies vaccine and anti-snake serum, initiatives aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing of essential treatments.
He remained active in industry discussions in recent years. In September 2025, he delivered a keynote address at the 8th Pakistan Pharma Summit as chairman of its organising committee.
The event covered challenges and opportunities facing the sector, including innovation, exports, access to medicines and the need to expand Pakistan’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity.
He also held leadership roles outside the pharmaceutical sector, including chairmanship of the National Forum for Environment and Health. His public engagements included support for education and social welfare.
Kaiser Waheed’s passing leaves the industry mourning a longstanding representative who moved from pharmaceutical sales into manufacturing and association leadership, while pressing for a stronger local role in producing medicines, vaccines and biological products.
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