Inside Farmalabs: How Jacked Nutrition Built Pakistan's First Sports Nutrition Factory

"People only see the final product, but no one sees how many times you doubt to reach it. Building Pakistan’s first Sports Nutrition Factory was the toughest decision of my life, but I was never afraid of failure, and somehow we built Farmalabs successfully”. That's how Muhammad Abbas, CEO of Jacked Nutrition, described Farmalabs in a recent factory diaries reel. These are simple lines. But it carries a decade of struggle, setbacks, and small wins that most customers never hear about.

Don't worry, you don't need to be a chemist here. You just need five minutes. In this article, you'll learn how Jacked Nutrition grew from a one-room idea into Pakistan's first sports nutrition factory. You'll also learn what that means for what's in your scoop. Let's dive in!

Why Are Pakistani Consumers So Worried About Fake Supplements?

Have you ever stood in a shop, scrolling through reviews before buying whey protein? You're not alone. Fake and underdosed supplements are a real worry for gym-goers across Pakistan.

Market estimates reported that 80% of imported supplements sold in Pakistan may be fake, expired, or smuggled in. That's a huge number. It means four out of five tubs might not hold what the label says. Some fake protein powders carry only 30 to 40% of the protein on the label.

These fake products aren't just a waste of money, either. Some carry heavy metals, unlisted stimulants, or bacteria from poor storage. That can mean stomach issues, allergic reactions, or worse, especially if you train hard and rely on that product every single day.

So trust in the final product feels broken. This is the exact gap Abbas talks about in the reel. You see a sealed tub. But you have no idea what happened before it got there. That's the fear this whole article is here to fix.

The Jacked Nutrition Story: From $10 to Pakistan's Fitness Revolution

Every big brand starts small. Jacked Nutrition is no different. Back in 2012, Muhammad Abbas started the company with just $10 and one room. Supplements were barely understood in Pakistan back then. Bad information was everywhere, and good sources were hard to find.

He wasn't trying to build an empire overnight. He simply wanted to give people real, honest fitness products. He also wanted to teach them how to use those products the right way. That's so simple. Yet almost nobody else was doing it at the time.

The early years weren't easy either. Abbas has talked about setting up his very first store in Islamabad, only to learn a day before opening that his landlord had run off with the advance rent. Moments like that could break most young founders. Don't be scared if your own journey looks messy too. Every big name you trust today went through its own version of that same chaos.

Fourteen years later, that one room has grown into seven retail stores. It also runs a strong online store. It even runs Pakistan's largest private gym, the Jacked Fitness Arena. Thousands of transformations later, the mission hasn't changed. Abbas still talks about the same three things he started with: honesty, quality, and consistency.

What Is Farmalabs? Pakistan's First Sports Nutrition Manufacturing Plant

Now comes the part most customers never see. In 2025, Jacked Nutrition launched Farmalabs. It's a purpose-built factory for sports nutrition. It carries DRAP Mfg. License #01542.

Don't let that name scare you off. In plain terms, this license means one thing. Pakistan's Drug Regulatory Authority checks and approves the factory. It follows DRAP's own manufacturing rules for safe, controlled production.

This kind of certification isn't just a sticker on a wall. It means every batch gets made the same careful way, every time. Every step gets written down too, from the raw ingredients coming in to the sealed tub going out. So when you see "DRAP approved" on a product, it isn't just a marketing line. It's a real bar the factory has to clear, again and again, on every single production run.

Why Did Jacked Nutrition Build Its Own Factory?

You might wonder why a retail brand would build its own factory. Why not just import more products instead? Here's the honest answer, straight from Abbas. He was tired of the industry's trust problem. Importing alone couldn't fix it.

When you only import, you rely on someone else's sourcing. You trust someone else's mixing process. You trust someone else's quality checks too. Owning the factory changes all of that. Every batch at Farmalabs gets tracked from raw material all the way to the final product.

That's a level of control you can't get as a pure retailer. And that's exactly why Abbas calls this journey hard. Building trust from scratch takes years, not months. It happens one batch at a time.

Inside the Factory: What Farmalabs Actually Does

So what actually happens inside Farmalabs? This is the part he keeps pointing back to. It's not a small backroom setup. It's a full production line, built to handle everything from raw powder to a finished, sealed product. The factory runs full production in five main areas. Each one plays its own part in getting a safe product to your door.

• Powder blending for whey, pre-workouts, and amino acids. This step is built for high consistency in every batch.

• Capsule production, with both vegetarian and gelatin options for strong formulas.

• Tablet compression, including layered and coated tablets for slow release.

• Sachet packaging, using fast machines for exact, single-serve doses.

• Custom formulations, backed by an in-house team that builds new products from scratch.

Each process follows the same strict quality system. Nothing skips a step. Every stage gets checked and filed for full traceability.

Retail Brand vs Manufacturing Plant: What's the Difference?

There isn't one clear answer for which model is "better." It depends on what a brand wants to invest in. A retail brand imports finished products and sells them. It's faster to launch. It works well when the brand picks strong, trusted suppliers. Most supplement brands in Pakistan work this way, and that's fine on its own.

A manufacturing plant like Farmalabs takes a longer, harder road. It owns the sourcing, the blending, the packaging, and the paperwork for every batch. That's a much bigger investment. But it also means the brand owns its own mistakes and its own wins, not some outside party.

So both models can work. But owning the factory protects the buyer the most. There's simply nowhere to hide a shortcut. If something goes wrong, there's no overseas supplier to blame. The brand answers for it directly, and that changes how carefully every single batch gets handled.

How to Tell If Your Supplement Is Authentic (Step-by-Step)

You don't need to be an expert to check this yourself. Here's a simple list to run through before you trust a tub:

1. Check the batch code printed on the tub. Compare it with the brand's official check system, if it has one.

2. Look for DRAP details on the label. No DRAP information at all is a red flag.

3. Check the seal. A real tub has a tight factory seal. A broken or loose seal is a warning sign.

4. Buy only from official sellers. Stick to the brand's own website or listed, trusted stores (Jacked Nutrition)

5. Compare the price. A price far below the market rate is almost always a bad sign.

That's it. Five simple checks put you ahead of most buyers in Pakistan. Keep this list saved somewhere on your phone. It only takes a minute to run through, and that one minute can save you from months of wasted training.

Common Mistakes People Make When Buying Supplements in Pakistan

1. Buying From Unverified Sellers

Mistake: Many buyers grab the cheapest option from a random online seller, without checking who they even are.

Solution: Stick to official brand sites or verified sellers, even if it costs a bit more.

2. Ignoring Batch/Expiry Codes

Mistake: Buyers often skip the batch number and expiry date. They assume a sealed tub is always safe.

Solution: Always check the batch code and expiry date first. Verify it online if the brand allows that.

3. Assuming Cheaper Always Means Fake (or Expensive Always Means Real)

Mistake: Some buyers think price alone tells them if a product is real.

Solution: Use price as just one clue, not the only one. Pair it with seal checks and seller checks too.

Want To Know More?

The struggle the CEO has talked about isn't just a good story either. It's the reason you can now check a batch code and actually trust what it tells you. And this is really just the start of the journey. Want to see where it goes next?

Follow along as Jacked Nutrition and Farmalabs keep pulling back the curtain on how your supplements actually get made. Stay tuned for the next episodes of the Factory Diaries, right here and on the official Jacked Nutrition social pages. In the meantime, check the Product Authentication page on jackednutrition.pk, or simply shop direct from the official store, so you always know what you're putting in your body.  

FAQ

Is Farmalabs DRAP approved?

Yes. Farmalabs runs under DRAP Mfg. License #01542. Pakistan's Drug Regulatory Authority checks the facility on a regular basis.

Does Jacked Nutrition also manufacture for other brands?

Yes. Farmalabs offers private label and contract work. This covers powder blending, capsules, tablets, sachets, and custom formulas for other brands too.

How can I verify my Jacked Nutrition product is authentic?

You can check the batch code, check the seal, and use the authentication page on the Jacked Nutrition website before you use any product.

What does GMP certification mean for supplement safety?

It means the factory follows set, written steps at every stage. Each batch gets made and checked to the same standard, every single time. It also means the facility gets inspected on a regular basis, not just once when it first opens its doors.

Is Farmalabs only for Jacked Nutrition products?

No. It makes Jacked Nutrition's own range. But it's also built to make products for other brands through private label deals.