Medicine label rules in Pakistan: what to check on a medicine pack
A medicine pack in Pakistan should show the brand and generic name with strength, a DRAP registration number, batch number, manufacturing and expiry dates, the maximum retail price, the maker's name and address, storage instructions and, on packs made from 9 October 2026, a square 2D barcode. A pack missing any of these deserves a second look.
What each item on the label tells you
| On the pack | Why it is there | What to do with it |
|---|---|---|
| Brand name | The company's product name | Check the spelling against your prescription |
| Generic name and strength | The active ingredient and how much per tablet or ml | Confirm it is what was prescribed |
| Reg. No. | Shows the product is registered with DRAP | Check the registration number |
| Batch / Lot No. | Identifies the production run | Search it in recall alerts |
| Mfg. date | When it was made | Tells you whether the barcode rule applies |
| Exp. date | Last date for use | Read it correctly |
| MRP | Highest legal retail price | Do not pay more |
| Manufacturer or importer | Who is responsible for the product | Should match the registration record |
| Storage conditions | How to keep it effective | Store it properly |
| Square 2D code | Unique identity of this box | Scan it |
Explore the new barcode area
A GS1 DataMatrix. It stores all four details below in a form a phone can read. This is the code you scan.
A 14-digit product number: which medicine, strength and pack size, from which company. It is the same on every identical box.
Unique to this one box. No two genuine packs share it, which is what exposes copies.
The production run. DRAP recalls are announced by batch, so this is what you search in recall alerts.
The last date the medicine should be used. Inside the code it is stored as YYMMDD.
Tap the numbered markers to explore the label.
The rules behind the label
Labelling is governed by the Drugs (Labelling and Packing) Rules, 1986, made under the Drugs Act, 1976. In June 2026 these rules were amended by S.R.O. 963(I)/2026 to add the 2D barcode and serial number, which became mandatory for products manufactured or imported from 9 October 2026. DRAP's guidelines also allow the printed expiry beside the code to appear as month and year where the labelling rules permit. More detail is in DRAP track and trace explained.
Seven-point check at the counter
- Name and strengthMatch your prescription exactly; 250 mg and 500 mg boxes often look alike.
- Registration numberPrinted, not missing.
- Batch numberSame on the box and the strip or bottle.
- Expiry dateEnough time left for your whole course.
- PricePrinted on the pack, not on a sticker over the print.
- SealUnbroken.
- Square codeScan it if present.
Want a score? Try the fake medicine checklist.
Label problems worth reporting
Missing registration number, missing or altered dates, a price sticker hiding the printed price, a missing leaflet or misspelled names can all be reported. DRAP's complaint form has a category for label errors; see how to complain to DRAP.
Label words decoded
| Printed | Means |
|---|---|
| Mfg. / Mfd. / MFD | Manufacturing date |
| Exp. / EXP / Use before | Expiry date |
| B. No. / BN / Lot | Batch number |
| Reg. No. | DRAP registration number |
| DML / Mfg. Lic. No. | Manufacturer's drug manufacturing licence |
| MRP / Retail Price | Maximum retail price |
| Rx / "To be sold on prescription" | Prescription-only medicine |
| Each tablet contains | The active ingredient and its amount |
| Store below 25 °C / 30 °C | Storage temperature limit |
| Keep out of reach of children | Standard safety warning |
| GTIN / PC, SN, BN, EXP beside a square code | The 2D barcode's printed data |
Imported medicines
Imported products are often packed abroad in another country's format. In Pakistan they must still carry a DRAP registration number and the details of the local importer, commonly on an added sticker or overprint. A foreign pack with no Pakistani registration number or importer is a sign of an unregistered product. From 9 October 2026, imported products must also carry the 2D barcode and serial number on the secondary pack.
The leaflet inside
The patient information leaflet tells you what the medicine is for, how to take it, who should not take it, side effects and storage. Read it with your prescription. A missing leaflet, a photocopy, or a leaflet for a different product or strength is worth raising with the pharmacist, and can be reported as a label issue.
Labels and the square code: what goes where
DRAP's guidelines say the 2D code should not be hidden by graphics, seams or closures, and that there should be at least 1 cm between it and an existing striped barcode on the same face. The printed data beside the code must match what is encoded. If the printed batch or expiry differs from what the scan shows, that is a strong warning sign.
Dawa ke dabbay par kya dekhein
Dawa ka naam aur strength, DRAP registration number, batch number, banne aur khatam hone ki tareekh, MRP aur company ka naam zaroor dekhein. Seal sahi ho aur strip par bhi wohi batch aur expiry ho. Naye packs par chakor code scan karein.
Mistakes people make reading labels
- Mixing up the dates. The manufacturing date is not the expiry date. Read the word beside each.
- Ignoring the strength. Two packs of the same brand can differ only in mg. Always match the prescription.
- Trusting the brand name alone. Look at the generic name too, so you do not take two products with the same ingredient.
- Throwing away the carton. The carton holds the batch, expiry, price and code; keep it until the medicine is finished.
Labels for children's medicines
For syrups and drops, the label states the strength per volume, for example "160 mg/5 ml". Two products with the same brand can have different strengths for infants and older children. Use the measuring device supplied and follow the doctor's dose. If the strength on the bottle differs from what was prescribed, ask before using it.
Questions people ask
What must be printed on a medicine pack in Pakistan?
The product name and its generic name with strength, the DRAP registration number, batch number, manufacturing date, expiry date, maximum retail price, the manufacturer's name and address, and storage instructions. Packs made or imported from 9 October 2026 must also carry a 2D DataMatrix code with a serial number.
What should I check on a medicine pack before buying?
Seven things: the name and strength match your prescription, registration number, batch number, expiry date, printed price, an intact seal, and the square code if the pack is recent.
Why does the label show two names?
One is the brand name chosen by the company. The other is the generic name of the active ingredient, which is the same across all brands and is what you need when looking for an alternative.
Is Urdu required on medicine labels?
Many packs carry key information such as the name, dosage and warnings in Urdu as well as English. If you cannot read the label, ask the pharmacist to explain it before you leave.
Dawa ke dabbay par kya kya likha hona chahiye?
Naam aur generic naam, strength, DRAP registration number, batch number, manufacturing aur expiry date, MRP, company ka naam aur pata, aur rakhne ka tareeqa. 9 October 2026 ke baad bane packs par chakor 2D code bhi.
What does Rx on a medicine pack mean?
Rx marks a prescription-only medicine. It should be sold only against a prescription.
Is the 2D barcode required on blister strips?
No. DRAP's guidelines currently exempt primary packaging such as strips; the code goes on the secondary pack, usually the carton.
Where is the batch number on a medicine label?
Near the manufacturing and expiry dates, labelled B. No., BN or Lot, and repeated on strips or bottle labels. On new packs it is also printed beside the square code.
Can a sticker cover the price on a medicine?
A price sticker over the printed retail price is a warning sign. The printed MRP is the legal maximum.
