Pakistan customs busts billion-rupee smuggling racket of Indian medicines

[FearlessRoar]

Multi-billion-rupee Indian medicine smuggling racket exposed​

Pakistan Customs has uncovered a massive smuggling operation involving billions of rupees worth of substandard Indian medicines, with local pharmaceutical companies allegedly playing a role in the illegal trade.

Customs Collector Moinuddin Wani, while addressing a press conference in Karachi, revealed that authorities raided a warehouse in Korangi and confiscated Indian medicines valued between Rs5 billion and Rs10 billion. Wani said the action was taken on information about the presence of harmful Indian medicines in the warehouse.

The operation, described as the largest medicine smuggling bust in the country’s history, also led to the arrest of several individuals involved in the illicit trade.

According to Wani, the seized medicines include 22 million tablets and 7,000 capsules, primarily consisting of narcotics and painkillers. He stated that the raid was conducted following intelligence reports about the presence of harmful Indian medicines in the warehouse.

Multi-billion-rupee Indian medicine smuggling racket exposed

Pakistan Customs has uncovered a massive smuggling operation, seizing Rs5-10 billion worth of substandard Indian medicines in Karachi. The raid in Korangi led to arrests and the confiscation of 22 million tablets and 7,000 capsules, including narcotics and painkillers.

www.samaa.tv

 

[sweep_shot]

India is the "sin city" of subcontinent.

Call center scam, car theft ring, diploma mill, illegal medicine. What's next?

Good on Pakistan for capturing these crooks.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

A commendable act, need to re-channel this into market at cheaper rates

 

[Hitman]

The supply of cost-effective vaccines from India that stopped after the May 2025 conflict has put a strain on Pakistan's economy, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said on Saturday (February 7, 2026).

Pakistan earlier procured the cheap vaccines through the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), a global public-private health partnership working to provide vaccines for children from the world’s poorest countries.

“Right now, Pakistan imports vaccines at an annual cost of around $400 million, out of which 49% of the cost is covered by international organisations that operate through GAVI,” Mr. Kamal said.

“Pakistan contributes 51% of the cost now, and unless we start local production of vaccines, we will face an annual import bill of $1.2 billion by 2031,” he added.

The Minister also said that the international support for the provision of vaccines will end by 2031.

Pakistan has traditionally procured cheap vaccines for immunisation and other requirements through GAVI, which used to come from India, he said.

Acknowledging GAVI's role, he said that the organisation has been helping Pakistan secure vaccines mostly from India by acting as a purchasing intermediary and funding partner.

GAVI allowed Pakistan access to cost-effective and high-quality vaccines manufactured by Indian pharmaceutical companies and institutes despite the tense relations between the two countries, Kamal said, adding that during the COVID-19 pandemic, GAVI had helped procure millions of COVID-19 vaccines from India under the COVAX facility.

The government currently provides 13 types of vaccines free of charge to citizens, yet none are produced locally.

Pakistan is the world’s fifth most populous country, with a population of nearly 240 million people, and records 6.2 million births every year, leading to a significant increase in demand for vaccines.

He said that because of international assistance, it has kept the annual import cost within manageable limits, but this could change unless local production of vaccines starts.

The government has already begun preparatory work rather than waiting for donor support to lapse, the minister said, adding that Pakistan aims to achieve self-sufficiency in vaccine production in the near future.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Link: https://www.thehindu.com/news/inter...akistans-economy-minister/article70603551.ece
​

 

[Hitman]

Pakistan eyes collaboration with Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, China for local vaccine production​

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is eyeing collaboration with Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and China to produce vaccines locally, Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said on Thursday, adding that Islamabad was exploring both government-to-government and business-to-business opportunities in this regard.

Kamal told Arab News last week that Islamabad was “very close” to an agreement with Saudi Arabia that would enable Pakistan to manufacture vaccines locally. The development took place as a Saudi delegation, led by the Kingdom’s senior adviser to the minister of industry Nizar Al-Hariri, arrived in Pakistan last week and held talks with health officials on a partnership with Pakistan which would enable it to manufacture vaccines locally.

The efforts take place amid Pakistan’s push to strengthen its health security and industrial capacity. The country of more than 240 million currently imports all vaccines used in its national immunization campaigns, relying heavily on international partners to help cover the costs.

“Mustafa Kamal said Pakistan is exploring collaboration with Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and China for local production of these vaccines,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.

Kamal said the government is working on a “war footing” to ensure the local production of vaccines before 2030.

The health minister reiterated that Pakistan has the potential to locally produce raw materials of the 13 vaccines that it provides free of cost. He added that the government will also export vaccines once it starts producing them at home.

“Mustafa Kamal said the government is exploring both government-to-government and business-to-business collaboration to achieve our objectives in vaccine production,” Radio Pakistan said.

Pakistan’s health ministry has said it imports all 13 vaccines that it provides masses for free at an annual cost of about $400 million.

International partners currently cover 49 percent of these costs, with the remainder borne by the Pakistani government. This external support, Kamal has warned, is expected to end after 2030.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Link: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2632653/pakistan​

 

[Bhaijaan]

As a gesture of goodwill, India must allow vaccine and Pharmaceuticals sales to Pakistan. This is about public health. Let's not let border tensions get in the way of basic goodwill.

1 billion dollar is peanuts for India and we can effectively send whole year of vaccine supply to them as foreign aid. It will help improve the relations significantly. I have always maintained, best way to improve the situation is to actually support them through means like this.

 

[Hitman]

As a gesture of goodwill, India must allow vaccine and Pharmaceuticals sales to Pakistan. This is about public health. Let's not let border tensions get in the way of basic goodwill.

1 billion dollar is peanuts for India and we can effectively send whole year of vaccine supply to them as foreign aid. It will help improve the relations significantly. I have always maintained, best way to improve the situation is to actually support them through means like this.

The thing is our Government and most people don't want better relations with Pakistan.

 

[Bhaijaan]

The thing is our Government and most people don't want better relations with Pakistan.

Which is not a great thing.
Imagine living in a neighbourhood where you have hostile relations with your neighbour. Doesn't matter how good a house you build, you will keep running into troubles with them or have that thought bother you all the time. Its the same thing with nations.

India is the bigger and well performing nation in this region and it is expected to lead by example. I think we are not doing a terrible job and i don't fully agree that our govt or people don't want good relations with them, don't let extremist media fool you into believing that. People want to move on and live a relaxed life brother. Indians by nature are progressive people and cannot let negative thoughts overhwelm them.

 

[Hitman]

Which is not a great thing.
Imagine living in a neighbourhood where you have hostile relations with your neighbour. Doesn't matter how good a house you build, you will keep running into troubles with them or have that thought bother you all the time. Its the same thing with nations.

India is the bigger and well performing nation in this region and it is expected to lead by example. I think we are not doing a terrible job and i don't fully agree that our govt or people don't want good relations with them, don't let extremist media fool you into believing that. People want to move on and live a relaxed life brother. Indians by nature are progressive people and cannot let negative thoughts overhwelm them.

I don't know whether it's true or not, but the BJP Government since 2014 has completely brainwashed the Indian public into believing that there exists no bigger evil and no bigger enemy for India than Pakistan. Not that the public opinion on Pakistan was any better before anyways. When you keep hatching one terrorist attack after another in India, do you expect love in return from Indians? That's my take.​

 

[straighttalk]

India is the "sin city" of subcontinent.

Call center scam, car theft ring, diploma mill, illegal medicine. What's next?

Good on Pakistan for capturing these crooks.

The only problem is that the crooks are Paksitanis..might wanna change your storyline

 

[straighttalk]

I don't know whether it's true or not, but the BJP Government since 2014 has completely brainwashed the Indian public into believing that there exists no bigger evil and no bigger enemy for India than Pakistan. Not that the public opinion on Pakistan was any better before anyways. When you keep hatching one terrorist attack after another in India, do you expect love in return from Indians? That's my take.​

I mean Kargil parliament attack 26/11 pathankot uri pahalgam pulwama...that's not BJP..

 

[Hitman]

I mean Kargil parliament attack 26/11 pathankot uri pahalgam pulwama...that's not BJP..

The Mumbai attacks did it for me. I'll never get over it.