01
Price pressure
When prices rise or shortages hit, patients look for cheaper sources, and counterfeiters fill the gap.
The bigger picture
Counterfeit drugs in Pakistan: the problem and the fixes
Fake and substandard medicines are a global problem that hits countries like Pakistan hardest. This overview brings together what is known about the scale, causes, legal framework and solutions, and what you can do today.
Table of contents9 sections
Quick answer
Counterfeit (spurious) drugs are a serious problem in Pakistan, as in many low- and middle-income countries, where WHO estimates about 1 in 10 medical products are substandard or falsified. Fakes in Pakistan have included vaccines, antibiotics, cancer drugs and common painkillers. DRAP fights them with lab testing, rapid alerts and a track and trace system, and patients can protect themselves with simple checks.
- SF products in LMICs (WHO)
- ~10%
- Drugs Act in force
- 1976
- DRAP established
- 2012
- 2026 fake batches tracked
- 18
Why counterfeits spread
The conditions counterfeiters exploit
Fakes thrive where demand is high, prices are rising and supply chains are long. Understanding the causes explains which medicines and outlets carry the most risk. See high-risk medicines.
02
Long, fragmented supply chains
Many wholesalers and sub-distributors create points where fake stock can be mixed in.
03
Informal sellers
Unlicensed medical stores and social-media sellers operate with little oversight. See pharmacy licence checks.
04
Easy-to-copy packaging
Without serialisation, a good printer can reproduce a carton convincingly.
05
Self-medication
Buying antibiotics and injections without a prescription removes a professional check.
06
Limited testing capacity
Drug testing labs can only sample a fraction of what's sold, so detection relies on reports.
Step by step
What you can do as a patient
- 1
Buy from licensed pharmacies
Ask for a receipt every time. Check the pharmacy licence if you're unsure.
- 2
Check every batch
Run the batch through our alert check, especially for injections, antibiotics and expensive medicines.
- 3
Verify serialised packs
Scan the 2D code at drugtrace.dra.gov.pk and compare the result with the print.
- 4
Report anything suspicious
Call DRAP on 0800-03727. Reports are how many fakes are found.
Which medicines are faked in Pakistan?
DRAP's 2026 alerts show that no category is immune. Our alerts list includes falsified vaccines (Influvac Tetra), antibiotics (Augmentin 625, Velosef, cefixime), specialist cancer medicines (Enhertu) and everyday painkillers such as Brexin.
The pattern matches global experience: counterfeiters target high-value products (cancer, biologics), high-volume products (antibiotics, painkillers) and products patients can't easily inspect (injections, vaccines).
What Pakistani law says
The Drugs Act 1976 defines spurious, substandard, adulterated and misbranded drugs and makes manufacturing or selling them an offence. The DRAP Act 2012 created the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan to regulate registration, pricing, quality and enforcement nationally, while provinces license and inspect retail outlets.
Penalties for spurious drugs are among the most serious under the Act, and drug courts hear these cases. In practice, enforcement depends on detection, which is why lab testing, inspections and public reports all matter.
How track and trace changes the picture
Serialisation gives each genuine pack a unique, centrally recorded identity. A counterfeit can copy a code, but it can't stop the genuine pack also being scanned. Duplicate scans expose the copy. Combined with supply-chain scanning by distributors and pharmacies, it makes inserting fakes into the legitimate chain much harder.
The rollout is phased, so for now patients still need batch checks and pack inspection alongside it. Read the full explainer on the drug track and trace portal.
Spurious, substandard, falsified: the terms
Different words for different problems. More in our spurious medicine guide and glossary.
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Spurious / counterfeit | Imitates another product or manufacturer | Fake Augmentin with a copied carton |
| Falsified (WHO term) | Deliberately misrepresents identity, composition or source | Vaccine with false labelling |
| Substandard | Genuine, authorised product that fails quality specs | Batch with too little active ingredient |
| Unregistered | Not authorised for sale in Pakistan | Smuggled imported brand |
| Adulterated | Contaminated or containing harmful substances | Syrup with toxic contaminants |
Important
Most fakes are caught by people who look
Pharmacists noticing odd packs, doctors noticing treatments failing, patients noticing blurred print. Every check you do and every report you make strengthens the system. Start with the 5-check method.
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers about counterfeit drugs in Pakistan.
How common are counterfeit drugs in Pakistan?
There's no single precise national figure. WHO estimates about 1 in 10 medical products in low- and middle-income countries are substandard or falsified, and DRAP issues regular alerts on spurious batches.
What is the punishment for selling fake medicine in Pakistan?
Manufacturing or selling spurious drugs is a serious offence under the Drugs Act 1976, with imprisonment and fines handled by drug courts.
Which medicines are most often counterfeited?
Injectables and vaccines, antibiotics, cancer drugs and popular painkillers. See high-risk medicines.
Is DRAP doing anything about fake medicines?
Yes: lab testing, rapid alerts, recalls, inspections and the national track and trace system.
How can I tell if my medicine is counterfeit?
Combine a batch alert check, a serial check on DRAP's portal and a pack inspection. Start at verify a medicine.
Sources & references
- WHO: Substandard and falsified medical products (fact sheet)
- WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System for SF products
- DRAP: Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (official site)
- DRAP product recall and rapid alerts
- DRAP drug track and trace verification portal
Updated 11 November 2026. DrugTrace.pk is independent and not affiliated with DRAP.
Topic hub
Counterfeit & Substandard Medicines
What fake, spurious and substandard medicines are and how they are caught.
- Counterfeit drugs in Pakistan (this page)
- Spurious medicine meaning
- Substandard vs falsified
- Drug testing laboratories
- Smuggled medicines
- Fake injections & vaccines
- Original supplements check
- Fake medicine checklist tool
- Tablet imprint finder
Related topics
Related guides
BasicsWhat Does 'Spurious Medicine' Mean? DRAP Terms Explained
Spurious, falsified, counterfeit, substandard, adulterated, misbranded: plain-English definitions of the words used in Pakistani drug alerts.
4 min read
Taking actionFake & Substandard Medicine Alerts in Pakistan: 2026 Roundup
A plain-language roundup of notable DRAP rapid alerts published in 2026: what was found, which batches, and what to do if you have them.
6 min read
Spotting fakesHow to Identify Fake Medicine: A Complete Visual Checklist
A step-by-step inspection routine for packaging, print quality, seals and the tablets themselves — the same checks pharmacists use.
8 min read
More verification resources
Drug Track and Trace Portal →drugtrace.dra.gov.pk →Check Batch Number Online →Medicine QR Code Scanner →Original Medicine Check App →DRAP Helpline Number →GTIN Number Check →Medicine Recall Pakistan →Pharmacy License Check →Medicine Storage Temperature →Drug Testing Laboratory Pakistan →How to Read a Medicine Label →Report Side Effects →Smuggled Medicines Pakistan →Mehfooz Dawa →Mehfooz Dawa Check →Dawa Check →