CCP and DRAP Join Forces to Closely Monitor Pharmaceutical Industry

The Competition Commission of Pakistan and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening oversight of the pharmaceutical market. Their join relationship will have a particular focus on medicine prices, misleading advertising, and cartel behavior. Under the memorandum of understanding, both agencies will exchange information and data to improve regulatory decision-making. Officials said the two sides will work together on policy research, capacity building, and the creation of a joint framework to ensure effective monitoring of drug availability and pricing across the country. The agreement also establishes a mechanism to review misleading advertisements of pharmaceutical products, while both institutions will jointly monitor any signs of cartelization in the sector to protect consumers and promote fair competition. The collaboration comes at a time when DRAP has been conducting nationwide crackdowns against fake medicines. Provincial drug control teams recently seized ten batches of counterfeit drugs from medical markets, including products used for fever, body pain, bacterial infections, ulcers, and anxiety disorders. DRAP has already issued rapid alerts to healthcare providers and the public following requests from provincial health departments. Both agencies say their partnership will help build a more transparent and consumer-friendly pharmaceutical market.