Pakistan pharmaceuticals market faces political uncertainties

In Business Monitor International’s Asia Pacific Business Environment Ratings (BERs) for the first quarter of 2011, Pakistan remains 16th, having dropped one place compared with the previous quarter due to the addition of a more attractive market Sri Lanka to their proprietary ratings system. Globally, Pakistan ranks 75th of the 83 markets surveyed.

While its fundamentals may sound attractive (large population and emerging economy), Pakistan is at risk of experiencing years of instability and militant activity, although an outright collapse of the state is unlikely unless the core province of Punjab becomes ungovernable. Meanwhile, due to its strategic importance, Pakistan's foreign allies will do everything they can to ensure its stability, although foreign drugmakers will continue to take a cautious stance regarding direct investment in the country.

Drugs market estimated at $1.79 billion