Govt abolishes customs duty on raw materials for cancer medicines

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has announced a major incentive to support the local production of medicines used in the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases, as part of the government's National Tariff Policy 2025-30.

Speaking on the initiative during the budget 2026-27 speech, the finance minister said the government is completely abolishing customs duty on more than 100 categories of raw materials used in the manufacturing of cancer and other life-saving medicines.

He said the measure is aimed at encouraging local pharmaceutical production, reducing manufacturing costs, and improving the availability of life-saving drugs for patients across the country.

Muhammad Aurangzeb stressed that diseases such as cancer place a heavy financial and emotional burden not only on patients but also on their families.

He said practical steps were necessary to ease these hardships and make treatment more affordable.