OBJECTIVES:  The focus of pharmacy practice has shifted from product- to patient-focused services. This transition of role is least reported from developing countries. The present study aimed to explore the perception of health policy makers (PMs) about practice change and provision of extended pharmacy service (EPS) by community pharmacist (CP) in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. METHODS:  A qualitative approach was used to gain an in-depth knowledge of the issues. Government officials involved in regulation and policy making were targeted for the study. Seven conveniently sampled respondents were interviewed through a validated semi-structured interview guide. All interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim, and were then analysed for thematic contents by the standard content analysis. RESULTS:  Thematic content analysis (TCA) yielded four major themes, (1) Current standard of community pharmacy practice, (2) Current knowledge of EPS, (3) Practice change and readiness of CPs toward practice change and (4) Barriers towards practice change. Only one respondent had knowledge about EPS while for majority of the PMs, EPS was a new concept. They were not confident about the current status of community pharmacy practice in Lahore, however, in Lahore the standard was perceived to be slightly better. In their view the practice should be changed as government had recently introduced new rules and regulations. The barriers and limitations indicated were the lack of pharmacists’ professional attitude, mindset and interest, academia, and lack of acceptance of pharmacists as health team member in society and by other health professionals. The prevailing Drug Act 1967 was considered as the one of the major barriers toward the practice change. CONCLUSIONS:  The government, policy makers, academicians, and health professionals to work together to bring about the change in practice of community pharmacy. Amendments in existing laws and evidence-based legislation regarding extended roles of pharmacist are needed in Pakistan.