Islamabad 24: Haleon to invest $12 million to expand local production of Panadol- the country’s leading pain relief medication, amid rising domestic demand.
The move is part of Haleon’s broader strategy to enhance manufacturing capacity and ensure consistent availability of essential healthcare products in Pakistan.
The investment will support the expansion of Haleon’s production facility in Jamshoro, where Panadol output is set to increase from 6 billion to 8 billion tablets annually — a 30% capacity boost. The facility will incorporate state-of-the-art, automated, and touch-free packaging lines that meet international pharmaceutical standards. The project is currently awaiting regulatory approval from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
Panadol is the dominant brand in Pakistan’s pain relief segment, commanding an estimated 50–55% market share over the past several years. Despite the entry of generic paracetamol products and competitors like Brufen, Calpol, and Disprin, Panadol continues to lead in both production and consumer trust. In 2024, Haleon produced 6.5 billion tablets, maintaining roughly 50% of the pain management market, though growing competition slightly narrowed its share from previous years.
“Pakistan’s demand for safe and effective over-the-counter pain relief is growing, and this expansion ensures we’re ready to meet that need,” said Qawi Naseer, CEO and General Manager of Haleon Pakistan. “The investment will enhance availability while maintaining the high-quality standards that consumers expect from Panadol.”
He noted that Haleon’s 2022 demerger from GSK enabled a sharper focus on consumer healthcare. “It gave us the autonomy to invest locally, innovate, and align more closely with community health needs,” he added. The company has also begun local production of Centrum multivitamins, now distributed across both domestic and export markets.
The Panadol expansion comes at a critical time, as healthcare product consumption continues to rise in Pakistan — the fifth most populous country in the world. Pakistan’s pain relief segment is growing at an estimated 6–8% annually, driven by increased self-medication awareness, affordability, and improved retail access.
Formed after its spin-off from GSK in 2022, Haleon now operates as a fully independent consumer healthcare company, with a portfolio including Panadol, Sensodyne, Voltaren, Centrum, and Theraflu. Its renewed focus on local production, self-care, and innovation positions it as a dynamic player in Pakistan’s expanding healthcare market.
