Pakistan faces a shortage of more than 100 essential medicines, including life-saving drugs such as cancer treatments and morphine, according to multiple reports. Both outlets link the shortfall to delayed price revisions by Pakistan’s Drug Regulatory Authority, which is holding up approvals needed to adjust medicine prices. Industry representatives say the delays are disrupting production and contributing to reduced availability in the market. The reports also point to broader cost pressures on manufacturers. They cite increases in the prices of imported raw materials, alongside higher expenses for electricity and fuel, packaging, transportation, labour, financing, and other operational inputs. Currency depreciation, including the fall of the Pakistani rupee, is described as further raising manufacturing costs for medicines that rely on imported components. With legitimate supply strained, the reports warn that the shortage can create opportunities for counterfeit or substandard products. Industry stakeholders call on the government to approve pending “hardship pricing” cases promptly to help stabilize production and restore access to essential medicines.