Islamabad, April 23, 2026: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan has directed a nationwide market survey to ensure strict compliance with the ban on conventional disposable syringes, as part of efforts to curb the circulation of unsafe medical products.
According to a letter issued by Ch Zeeshan Nazir Bajar, Director Quality Assurance and Laboratory Testing Division of DRAP, the survey will be conducted by the National Task Force in collaboration with provincial drug control administrations.
The directive reiterates that a complete ban on the import and manufacture of conventional disposable syringes has been in effect since July 31, 2021. The decision was implemented following the cancellation of all related registrations by the Medical Devices Board in the same year.
Ch Zeeshan Nazir stated that the ongoing initiative aims to assess compliance across the country and identify any violations involving the sale or distribution of banned syringes. In cases of non-compliance, authorities have been instructed to initiate strict regulatory action under applicable laws.
The National Task Force, reactivated in 2025 under the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has been playing a key role in tackling the issue of spurious and substandard medical products.
DRAP has instructed that a comprehensive report detailing the findings of the survey, along with enforcement actions taken, must be submitted by April 27, 2026.
The move comes amid growing public health concerns regarding the use of unsafe medical devices, with authorities emphasizing the need for urgent and coordinated action to safeguard patients and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
