Islamabad : The government has appointed Dr Obaid Malik as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) .
Dr Obaid Malik, being an employee of DRAP, has a rich country experience to understand and deliver on the challenges confronted with the authority. Dr Obaid Malik’s predecessor , Asim Rauf, has left behind a plethora of issues to be addressed to make the authority a credible institution .
DRAP is a key institution of Pakistan as it decides crucial issues relating to drugs . During Asim Rauf’s six -year era , DRAP was marred with allegations of corruption and misuse of authority. With the new boss, one hopes that DRAP will deliver effectively and earn reputation of a good and neat and clean institution of Pakistan. Dr Obaid Malik took over charge of DRAP CEO on Friday.
Dr. Malik is a pharmacist by profession and holds a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Peshawar. He has been serving in the drug authority since 2001 and has held various key positions, including Director Administration, Director Registration, and Director Import& Export of medicines DRAP.
Notably, DRAP was functioning without a chief for one month and 3 days following the end of the tenure of former CEO Asim Rauf on February 5, 2025. Asim Rauf had served two consecutive three-year terms as the head of DRAP. During his tenure, the drug registration and inspection process was expedited, and online inspection and registration systems were introduced. Additionally, an online portal was developed to facilitate medicine imports and exports, allowing patients to apply online for sending medicines abroad import on patients user License as per drug act 1976.
Furthermore, Pakistan aligned its drug registration process with the Common Technical Document (CTD) format, similar to the U.S. FDA and European regulations, marking a significant step toward international accreditation.
100 Challenges for the New CEO say expert DRAP Noor Mahar pharmacist president Pakistan Drug lawyer forum.
The appointment of Dr. Ubaidullah Malik has been widely welcomed, with Noor Mahar, President of the Pakistan Drug Lawyers Forum, calling it a positive step.
However, the new CEO faces significant challenges, including:
1.Uncontrolled Drug Prices: The lack of regulation over medicine prices remains a pressing issue.
2.Incomplete Online Registration System: While digital initiatives have been launched, they remain incomplete.
3. Lack of Transparency in Herbal and Neutraceutical Products Registration: DRAP’s website does not yet provide a complete list of registered herbal and neutraceutical products and their manufacturers.
4. Lack of Drug Inspectors: Punjab and Sindh each have only one federal drug inspector, making regulatory oversight difficult.
5. Regulation of Medical Devices and Medicated Cosmetics: DRAP has yet to fully implement effective regulatory measures in these sectors.
6. Rising Use of Steroids and Mercury-Based Products: The increasing use of harmful substances like steroids and mercury in medications and cosmetics requires urgent regulatory action.
Experts stress that DRAP must take immediate steps to address these challenges and ensure transparency, efficiency, and public health safety in Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector.
In his comments , Pakistan Lawyers and Pharmacists Association (PLPA) chief , Noor Mahar , has appreciated appointment of Dr Obaid Malik as DRAP chief. He strongly believes Mr Malik will resolve issues as DRAP chief plaguing functioning of DRAP due to alleged corrupt practices that reined in the authority for years.
