Islamabad: The federal government has inducted Prof Dr Syed Shahid Noor into the Policy Board of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) as an expert on medical devices, as authorities move to bolster technical oversight of a rapidly expanding and increasingly complex segment of the health sector.
A notification issued by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination said the appointment has been made under Section 9(5) of the DRAP Act, 2012, on the directions of the Prime Minister’s Office. Prof Shahid Noor has been appointed for a two year term and will attend board meetings in person. The notification clarifies that the addition does not alter the board’s composition notified in December 2025.
Officials said medical devices have seen fast growth in Pakistan over the past few years, alongside rising concerns around product quality, post marketing surveillance and patient safety. The inclusion of a dedicated expert is intended to strengthen policy level guidance on registration standards, compliance requirements and oversight mechanisms for medical technologies.
The DRAP Policy Board is chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, with the Chief Executive Officer of DRAP serving as member secretary. It also includes ex officio representation from the Ministry of Law and Justice and provincial health secretaries to ensure coordination between the federation and provinces on regulatory matters.
The expert members currently on the board are Mag General (retd) Azhar Mahmood Kayani (public health), Dr Syed Umer Jan (pharmacy services), Dr Izhar Hussain (drug manufacturing and quality control), Lt General (retd) Nigar Johar (health management), Muhammad Afzal Bhatti (health finance and economics) and Dr Naseem Salahuddin (pharmacology and biotechnology).
Health ministry officials said the policy board is expected to focus on clearing regulatory backlogs, improving governance at DRAP and strengthening oversight across pharmaceuticals and medical devices. They added that technical input at the policy level is crucial as the regulator faces growing scrutiny over enforcement and quality assurance.
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