Local Medicine Production Increases in Afghanistan After Ban on Pakistani Imports

Following a full ban on the import of medicines from Pakistan, the production of locally manufactured medicines has increased in northern Afghanistan.

With the rise in production at these factories, the number of workers has also grown.

Zamarg Shinwari, head of a factory in Balkh, told media, “Based on demand, we increased our staff and boosted medicine production. We now produce twice as much as before. Previously, we produced 3,000 items, but now that number has risen to between 6,000 and 8,000.”

Pharmaceutical producers at the factory expressed confidence in the quality of domestic products, saying that medicines produced in Afghanistan are of better quality compared to imported ones.

Safiullah Sharifi, a pharmaceutical producer, said: “We are committed to the health of our people. We can confidently say that our domestic medicines are of better quality than imported products.”

Officials at the Balkh Department of Industry and Commerce also consider the standardization of domestic production an important factor in reducing imports and increasing employment opportunities.

Currently, two pharmaceutical manufacturing factories are operating in Balkh, and another factory is expected to begin operations soon.