Pakistan has approved the nationwide implementation of a digital Track and Trace system for medicines, marking a major step toward eliminating counterfeit and substandard drugs from the country’s pharmaceutical supply chain.

Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the federal cabinet has formally approved amendments to the Drug Labeling and Packing Rules, 1978, paving the way for the rollout of the new technology-driven framework.

Under the new regulations, all pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers will be required to place standardized 2D barcodes and serialization data on medicine packaging, allowing every product to be digitally tracked and verified throughout the supply chain.

Officials say the system will enable authorities and consumers to authenticate medicines, verify expiry dates and pricing information, and identify counterfeit, fake or low-quality products more effectively.

The initiative will be implemented nationwide by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, which is expected to issue technical guidelines for the industry in the coming weeks following consultations with stakeholders.

Authorities described the move as a historic reform aimed at modernizing Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector, strengthening public health safeguards and improving transparency across the medicines market.

The government says the adoption of digital monitoring tools will replace traditional oversight methods and help build greater public trust in the country’s healthcare system.