Over the past three years, five major multinational pharmaceutical companies have either exited or transferred their manufacturing operations in Pakistan, the National Assembly was informed.
Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal confirmed on Friday that Bayer, ICI Pakistan, Sanofi-Aventis, Pfizer, and Novartis have divested their local manufacturing units, handing over operations to domestic firms.
He added that the facilities continue to operate under new ownership, ensuring that the supply of essential medicines remains uninterrupted.
The minister described the divestments as a “strategic shift” by the companies rather than complete shutdowns. The affected units include:
- Bayer’s Lahore facility
- ICI Pakistan’s operations across multiple cities
- Sanofi’s Korangi industrial plant
- Pfizer’s site in S.I.T.E. Karachi
- Novartis’ West Wharf facility
No specific reasons were provided for these exits during the assembly briefing.