ISLAMABAD: Haleon Pakistan has unveiled a new $12 million investment aimed at scaling up the production of Panadol, a widely used pain relief medicine, in response to increasing domestic demand. This move is part of a broader strategy to enhance the company’s manufacturing capacity and ensure consistent availability of key consumer healthcare products in the market.
Qawi Naseer, CEO and General Manager of Haleon, explained that the company’s 2022 demerger from GSK allowed it to focus exclusively on consumer healthcare, providing greater autonomy to invest locally, innovate brands, and support community initiatives. This strategic shift has enabled Haleon to make significant strides in Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector, including local production of Centrum, which is now available in both domestic and export markets.
The $12 million investment will specifically target increasing Panadol production, with the new factory in Jamshoro set to increase output from 6 billion to 8 billion tablets annually. The facility will meet international standards, including automated, touch-free packaging to ensure product purity. The project is still awaiting regulatory approvals from DRAP, but once completed, it will further strengthen Haleon’s local manufacturing footprint.
Naseer also highlighted the need for long-term economic frameworks, advocating for policy consistency to boost investor confidence. He commended the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) for its pro-industry policiesand regulatory support, which have contributed to the positive outlook on Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector. He also mentioned Haleon’s efforts to mitigate challenges such as energy, water, and logistics constraints, with the Jamshoro facility now 98% solar-powered and equipped with an on-site RO water filtration system to ensure a steady supply.
The pharmaceutical sector in Pakistan has shown signs of recovery, driven by macroeconomic stability and recent regulatory reforms. Analyst Muryum Palekar of Optimus Capital Management noted that the deregulation of non-essential medicines has provided firms with greater pricing flexibility, improving margins despite modest volume growth. Haleon’s investment comes at a time when the sector is benefiting from a more stable exchange rate and normalised raw material prices.
Reflecting on International Self-Care Day, Naseer emphasized Haleon’s commitment to Pakistan and its self-care philosophy, with a focus on expanding access to healthcare in the country. He praised the talent of Pakistani professionals, comparing them favorably to their global counterparts, and emphasized that Pakistan’s position as the fifth most populous country offers immense potential for the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.
Looking ahead, Haleon’s ongoing investment in local manufacturing and commitment to improving healthcare access signal growing confidence in Pakistan’s pharmaceutical ecosystem.
Haleon, a global consumer healthcare leader, was spun off from GSK in 2022 to focus solely on consumer healthcare, a powerful branch in Pakistan. This move provided Haleon with greater autonomy to expand within the sector. Since the demerger, Haleon has strengthened its position by focusing on and increasing the sales of pain relief medicine, oral health products, and vitamins and supplements.
Haleon’s portfolio includes well-known brands such as Panadol, Centrum, Sensodyne, Voltaren, and Theraflu. In Pakistan, Haleon has expanded local manufacturing, including producing Centrum and now scaling up Panadolproduction to meet rising demand. The company’s demerger has allowed it to focus on self-care and innovative solutionsin emerging markets, positioning Haleon as a more agile player in the global healthcare sector.
