For millions of Pakistanis living with diabetes, every day is a struggle—not just against the disease, but also against the high cost of medicine. Many families spend a large portion of their monthly income on imported insulin, while some patients are forced to ration their doses, risking dangerous complications.
But now, a new initiative with Russia is offering hope that life-saving insulin may soon be produced locally and sold at more affordable prices.
On Thursday, a high-level meeting of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) was held in Islamabad. The meeting, chaired by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, brought together Russian government representative Denis Nazarov, Secretary of Industries and Production Saif Anjum, and senior DRAP officials. Their discussions centered on one goal: building facilities in Pakistan to manufacture insulin in partnership with Russia.
Haroon Akhtar discussed that the project is not just about technology or trade but it is more than this. “This will ensure that no patient has to choose between feeding their family and buying their medicine,” he said, underlining that the venture could mark a new chapter in both healthcare and Pakistan-Russia relations.
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The plan will be rolled out in phases. In the first stage, Russian expertise and technology will be transferred to Pakistan. Within three years, officials keep on hoping that large-scale production will be underway. Along the way, the project is expected to create jobs, bring in foreign investment and strengthen Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector.
For ordinary patients, however, the impact will be considered far more personal. With around 33 million masses in Pakistan affected by diabetes, the availability of cheaper, locally-made insulin could ease financial pressures on households and improve treatment consistency. Parents are struggling to afford their children’s daily doses, and elderly patients dependent on regular injections, may finally feel some relief.
Still, officials kept on emphasizing that strict international standards will be followed to make certain quality and safety. If this plan get successful, this collaboration could not only save lives but also set a precedent for other essential medicines, moving Pakistan closer to healthcare self-dependence rather than dependency on other countries to import the medicines.