At a time when Pakistan’s economy continues to face persistent balance-of-payments pressures, export-led growth is no longer a choice. It is a necessity. Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led a ceremony to honour the country’s largest exporters from various industries, bringing together a select group of chairpersons and chief executives to recognize their contribution to the national economy.
Among the 30 companies honoured was Getz Pharma, which was recognized as the highest exporter in the pharmaceutical sector for 2025. The company currently ranks 33rd on the State Bank of Pakistan’s list of the top 50 exporters and is the largest taxpayer, employer, and investor in the pharmaceutical industry. It has also received the FPCCI award as the leading pharmaceutical exporter for 19 consecutive years, a distinction no other Pakistani company has achieved.
Founded in 1995, Getz Pharma rose to become Pakistan’s leading pharmaceutical company within just 15 years. Its export growth has been driven by a consistent focus on meeting the most stringent international quality standards. The company holds accreditations from leading regulatory bodies in regulated markets, including the World Health Organization (Geneva), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and PIC/S. Products exported to more than 45 countries are manufactured at Getz Pharma’s internationally approved facilities in Karachi.
This export success reflects long-term vision and sustained investment. Over the past 15 years, Getz Pharma has invested nearly PKR 50 billion in advanced manufacturing plants, quality management systems, and modern technologies. In 2007, it became the first company in Pakistan to establish a biotechnology manufacturing facility, producing the country’s first human insulin (Insuget) and insulin analogues (Basagin). For more than 17 years, it remained Pakistan’s only manufacturer of insulin.
In 2024, the company reached another milestone by expanding its biotechnology facility to produce GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist biosimilars, an important advancement in the treatment of obesity and metabolic diseases. Through this facility, Getz Pharma is now producing and marketing Sem-P (injectable semaglutide), Sem-O (oral semaglutide tablets), and Tirzee (tirzepatide) in a single-dose auto-injector pen, offering improved convenience and efficacy for patients.
All GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist biosimilars produced by the company undergo bio-assay testing and peptide mapping to confirm biosimilarity, with independent verification carried out by internationally accredited laboratories.
As Pakistan seeks a path toward sustainable economic growth, Getz Pharma’s journey offers a clear example of what is possible. When local companies commit to technology, innovation, infrastructure, and human capital, they can compete successfully on the global stage, generate valuable foreign exchange, and strengthen the country’s economic foundation. Getz Pharma’s story reflects how progress built on innovation, quality, and resilience can contribute meaningfully to Pakistan’s future.
