KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: The once-banned “blue pill” is officially going local. Pakistan’s leading pharmaceutical companies have been cleared to produce Viagra substitutes, marking the country’s entry into a multi-billion-rupee sexual health market that, until now, was dominated by smugglers.
Documents confirm that inspectors from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) have approved sildenafil citrate tablets mainly sildenafil citrate (Viagra and substitutes), along with other erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs like tadalafil, vardenafil, and remodulin, the key ingredient in Viagra, for local manufacturing. Both the popular 50mg and 100mg versions have been authorized for production at Pakistani factories.
For years, Viagra was banned but never absent. Pharmacies in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and other cities openly stocked smuggled versions from India, China, Thailand, Turkey, Egypt, the UK, and even the US. Health experts estimate that more than one million tablets a month were being sold illegally, fueling a black market worth billions of rupees.
Now, the government hopes that local production will end smuggling, generate tax revenue, and provide safer, standardized products. But critics warn that Pakistan could soon be flooded with flashy “performance pills,” raising concerns about overuse, addiction, and health risks.
The list of companies entering the market reads like a who’s who of Pakistani pharma:
- Hilton Pharma (Pvt) Ltd, Karachi
- AGP Limited, Karachi
- Nabiqasim Industries Pvt Ltd, Karachi
- S.J & G Fazul Ellahie (Pvt) Ltd, Karachi
- Orbis Pharmaceuticals, Karachi
- Genix Pharma (Pvt) Ltd, Karachi
- Platinum Pharmaceuticals, Karachi
- Gray’s Pharmaceuticals, Rawat
- Solaris Life Sciences (Pvt) Ltd, Rawat
- Highnoon Laboratories Ltd, Lahore
- Bio-Labs (Pvt) Ltd, Kahuta Road
- Shaigan Pharmaceuticals, Rawalpindi
- Wimits Pharmaceuticals, Raiwind
- Macter International Ltd, Karachi
- Medizan Laboratories, Islamabad
- Caliph Pharmaceuticals, Risalpur
A senior official informed that sildenafil was already available in syrup form for children with pulmonary hypertension, but the massive adult demand finally pushed regulators to approve tablet production.
“Smuggling has created a black market worth billions. By allowing local firms to manufacture, the government hopes to regulate sales, generate revenue, and ensure safer, standardized products,” the official said.
Industry insiders confirm that the pharma sector had been lobbying for years, arguing that the demand for Viagra was both undeniable and uncontrollable. Bringing it into the formal economy, they say, was the only practical option.
Still, concerns persist. Regulators caution that aggressive marketing by big pharma could spark misuse, addiction, and unchecked consumption. “Profit may take precedence over ethics,” one insider warned.
Yet the move represents a historic shift in Pakistan’s drug policy. What was once a hush-hush smuggled item is now poised to become a locally manufactured product, with brands from Karachi to Lahore competing for market share.
And as Pakistan’s men discreetly line up at pharmacies, one thing is certain: the blue pill is no longer an imported secret, it’s going local.
