Pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan have recently introduced advanced GLP-1- and GIP-based medications to help manage chronic diabetes, as the country faces a growing health crisis.
With nearly one in three adults living with high blood sugar, Pakistan is now the third most affected country in the world.
In addition to imported supplies, several pharmaceutical firms have begun manufacturing glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) medications locally. These treatments are designed to control type 2 diabetes and obesity, two conditions that are rapidly increasing across the country.
According to 2025 data from the government, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), approximately 34.5 million people in Pakistan are living with diabetes.
More than nine million people remain undiagnosed. At the same time, 57 percent of women and 41 percent of men are overweight or obese, increasing their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to seven times.
Dr. Kaiser Waheed, former chairman of the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA), said that nearly 30 percent of Pakistan’s adult population is living with diabetes, including those with type 1 diabetes.
To help address the crisis, he said pharmaceutical companies have launched advanced medications at significantly lower prices than imported versions, which were previously sold at what he described as “exorbitant” costs.
GLP-1 medications work by increasing insulin production, slowing digestion, and reducing hunger. Dual GIP/GLP-1 medications further enhance these effects.
Medications such as Ozempic, Zeptide, and Mounjaro are now available in Pakistan in injectable form and are administered once a week under a doctor’s supervision. Tablet forms may be prescribed for daily use.
Pakistan only permits medicines that have already been introduced in developed countries. Dr. Waheed explained that the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) requires pharmaceutical firms to launch only medicines approved by a stringent regulatory authority (SRA), meaning those already approved in developed nations.
He emphasized that medication alone is not enough. People must improve their lifestyle, maintain a balanced diet, and exercise regularly to manage blood glucose levels. He cited Pakistan’s former international cricketer Wasim Akram as an example of someone who has managed diabetes through healthy living.
Dr. Waheed said locally manufactured medicines are now priced between Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 15,000 per packet, with each packet containing four doses. Previously, imported versions cost between Rs. 150,000 and Rs. 300,000 per packet.
