Pakistan, China sign 10 MoUs for local production of medicine raw material, vaccines

Pakistan’s pharmaceutical companies have signed 10 MoUs with Chinese firms to promote local manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), vaccine production, technology transfer, and investment inflows. A major Rs10 billion partnership between Unichem Pharmaceuticals Pakistan and China’s Xinxu Group will begin local production of key raw materials like Omeprazole API, which is largely imported, helping reduce import dependence and strengthen supply security. Another agreement involving Lucky Core Group also expands industrial cooperation. Officials said the initiative marks a major step toward self-reliance in healthcare, with plans to develop domestic vaccine production capacity ahead of expected global subsidy reductions by 2030, which could otherwise cost Pakistan around $1.2 billion annually.