Border Disruptions Threaten $200M Medicine Trade
Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Closures disrupt $200 Million in Pharmaceutical exports
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Critical Medicine Supply Chain Stalled
Repeated closures of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border are causing meaningful disruption to bilateral pharmaceutical trade, with an estimated $200 million worth of exports currently stalled. Hundreds of trucks are stranded at border crossings adn within Pakistan’s dry ports and warehouses, jeopardizing the delivery of essential medicines to Afghanistan and beyond.
The ongoing blockades at Torkham and Chaman are especially damaging, as Afghanistan relies heavily on Pakistan for pharmaceutical supplies. Delays are causing temperature-sensitive drugs to spoil, leading to potential shortages and posing a risk to public health.
Regional trade and Connectivity at risk
Afghanistan serves as Pakistan’s largest overland trading partner and a crucial transit route for accessing landlocked economies in Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. These border closures sever Pakistan’s access to these markets,hindering regional connectivity projects and possibly undermining investments in infrastructure like the Pakistan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan railway corridor.
Tauqeer ul Haq of the pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) warned that the frequency of these closures is becoming a “structural threat,” prompting investors to seek more reliable trade routes. This shift could have long-term consequences for Pakistan’s position as a regional trade hub.
Severe Financial Impact on Pakistani Manufacturers
Pakistani pharmaceutical companies are facing significant financial losses due to the border closures. Exports to afghanistan have largely ceased, and manufacturers are burdened with undeliverable inventory. One company alone has Rs850 million (approximately $2.8 million USD, based on December 7, 2025 exchange rates) worth of products stranded at Torkham and Chaman.More than fifty companies are experiencing similar setbacks.
The affected products include critical medications such as antibiotics, insulin, vaccines, and cardiovascular drugs. These delays are pushing local manufacturers toward potentially irreversible financial hardship,particularly at a time when economic stability is paramount.