Kabul — The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has imposed a complete ban on the import of medicines from Pakistan, a decision set to take effect after February 9, 2026, raising alarm over potential disruptions to healthcare supplies and mounting pressure on patients and households across the country.
According to the Ministry of Finance, pharmaceutical traders were instructed to finalize all pending transactions and documentation within a 19-day grace period, after which medicines brought in from Pakistan would no longer be cleared through customs at border points.
For decades, Afghanistan has relied heavily on pharmaceutical imports from Pakistan due to its geographic proximity and established trade routes. At times, Pakistan supplied up to 70% of Afghanistan’s medicines, particularly to hospitals and private pharmacies.
However, in recent months, rising tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, including repeated border closures and trade disruptions, have strained commercial ties and disrupted the flow of essential goods including medical supplies.
The impending ban has already contributed to sharp increases in drug prices nationwide and sparked concern among health professionals and aid groups that vulnerable populations—especially low-income families and the elderly—may struggle to access essential treatment.
In response to volatility in the medicine market, the Taliban-controlled Ministry of Public Health has initiated dialogue with wholesalers, pharmacies, and drug importers to try to stabilize prices and prevent hoarding, while seeking alternative supply routes and sources.
The Ministry is also reportedly working on agreements with other countries to fill the supply gap left by Pakistan’s exclusion. Discussions include potential pharmaceutical imports from India and Iran, and a memorandum of understanding worth $100 million between an Afghan firm and an Indian company was announced to facilitate domestic import and production.
Critics argue that the lack of transparent policy and delayed economic planning have exacerbated Afghanistan’s medicine shortage, and warn that prolonged restrictions could deepen shortages, increase treatment costs, and further strain the country’s fragile healthcare system.
As Afghanistan seeks to diversify its medicine supply chains, the ban on Pakistani pharmaceutical imports marks a significant shift in regional trade dynamics and highlights the vulnerabilities of a health system heavily dependent on cross-border commerce.
