Two top Pakistani pharmaceutical companies, including Martin Dow Pharmaceuticals, are set to begin manufacturing drugs in Qatar within a year, the head of a visiting trade delegation from Pakistan was quoted as saying.

Martin Dow is a leading drug manufacturing company in Pakistan which also owns two plants in France, said the Peninsula Qatar report.

Zubair F Tufail, president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), said that positive discussions have taken place with representatives from government entities and Qatari businessmen.

He said that the results of the meetings have been very fruitful and encouraging. Several cooperation agreements have been signed.

Tufail further noted that the as per the agreement, the two leading pharmaceutical firms are going to set up manufacturing plants in Qatar immediately with 100 percent ownership, which are expected to produce the first batch of their products within a year, the report said.