Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Pills and profit: The PIC scandal in Lahore was one shock for the country’s $2billion drug industry but within the span of a year the cough syrup scandal landed the pharmaceutical manufacturers in more trouble putting a question mark on locally produced drugs.
Chairman of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) Jawaid Akhai maintained that the PIC drug scandal was one dark event of Pakistan’s booming drug industry but the cough syrup scandal has nothing to do with the quality of drugs.
According to him: “It is not the fault of the industry if the drug addicts are drinking the cough syrup while mixing it with some narcotic substance.”
Several people, allegedly drug addicts, died in November 2012 when they took the syrup in the low-income Shahdra Town of Lahore; the provincial government later closed down the factory and the matter is still under investigation.
“This syrup issue is still being probed by the government but we did not compromise on the quality of drugs knowing the fact that we are in trouble again after the PIC drug issue,” said the PPMA chief.
Last year, the national drug industry remained under scrutiny of the media and the public as over 100 cardiac patients died in Lahore after taking pills provided by the PIC. The Supreme Court had to intervene, directing the government to establish the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan.
“During Pakistan’s 50-year history our industry has witnessed rare scandals, like the PIC drug scandal or the current cough syrup issue, which highlights that Pakistan’s drugs are safe for use,” asserted the president of the PPMA.
“The PIC drug scandal was a painful event and turned out to be a hard pill for the industry and we really feel sorry for that but tagging the whole industry with one event will be unfair,” said the president of the PPMA.
Regarding the cough syrup scandal he claimed: “The issue is not with our drug manufacturer instead it’s with the drug addicts since they used it with some narcotic substance; the drug is fit for use.”
Commenting over the growing pharmaceutical industry and internationally acceptable quality of Pakistani drugs Mr Akhai informed Dawn that Pakistan’s manufactured drugs are trusted in more then 60 countries.
“The total size of the drug industry is $2 billion as per PPMA figures, while we are also exporting drugs worth $200 million to 60 countries,” insisted PPMA’s chief.
On the fact that Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry is without any FDA approval, the US approved industry, Mr Akhai maintained: “Establishment of FDA approved drug industry in Pakistan needs a huge investment, however we are working on it and the Ministry of Regulations and Services has shown its willingness to support us (PPMA) for establishment of such an industry.”
The Ministry of Regulations and Services manages the drug industry through the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan that regulates the pricing, registration and licensing matters of drugs.
PPMA chief said that around 700 companies are attached with the pharmaceutical manufacturing business “so instead of criticising the industry we should be supported by the government to fulfil the needs of drugs at the national level.” (Dawn)
Friday, July 8, 2011
Ex-deputy director National Police Foundation remanded to police for 3 days
Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate Rai Liaqyat Ali Kharal granted three- day physical remand of National Police Foundation (NPF) ex-deputy director housing.
On Monday Police officials produced Baksh before the court after his transitory physical remand by police. Police informed court that the case against all the accused was registered on charges of corruption, fraud and cheating. A police official informed court that Baksh, who was arrested on Saturday night, was remanded in police custody.
Khuda Baksh, who was allegedly involved in NPF land scam corruption of Rs 6 billion. According to police, however, the main accused, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Anjum Aqeel Khan was still at large and Shalimar police have launched a hunt for him.
 |
| Anjum Aqeel Khan |
A First Information Report (FIR) was registered on July 4 against five persons including Khan, two former inspector generals of police (IGPs) Iftikhar Ahmed and Mian Amin, two former DIG’s, Abdul Hanan and Nafees Ahmed and Baksh.
The Shalimar police official informed court that case was registered against latter on the order of Supreme Court (SC), it is a suo motu case of June 21, and the SC had ordered managing director of the foundation to initiate action as the NPF committee had established irregularities and corruption in purchase of land. The Police official further apprised that the accused Baksh was involved in Rs 6 billion corruption in NPF land, during his service period. The official told the court that Khan`s company, Land Linkers, was chosen to procure land for the housing scheme in Islamabad`s Sector E-11 for police personnel.
The NPF officials and high-ups extended undue favours to PML legislator in the process of procuring land and instead of allotting plots among other police personnel they arbitrarily and illegally got 10 to 15 plots allotted in their own names. Police informed that the former managing director and other officials of the NPF were involved in irregularities in the procurement of land.
Vague agreements were made for the procurement of land without any final cut-off date for the supply of land and settlement of accounts by the NPF with Land Linkers.
The police official also said that that one of the abovementioned alleged persons has transferred the 608 kanal land to Capital Development Authority (CDA) but they transferred 563 kanal to CDA.
The land procured through Land Linkers was neither finally quantified by the previous NPF administration till last year nor was any effort made to resolve the issue of shortage of land/rendition of accounts with the company.
The defense counsel Raja Inam of the accused argued that his client was innocent and requested the court for removal of the name of Baksh from FIR. (Daily Times)
Thursday, June 16, 2011
FBR Arrested Main Accused in 265 Missing Container Scam
DG (I&I), Federal Board of Revenue has arrested a proclaimed offender in 265 missing containers scam Mr. Jamal Durrani from Faisalabad Railway Station. According to details, in July, 2007 Director General Intelligence and Investigation, FBR detected a mega scam of 265 missing containers. These containers were removed from Port Qasim Karachi for up country dry ports under the garb of transshipment consignments but never reached destination ports. Director General Intelligence and Investigation- FBR lodged 90 FIRs and arrested about 40 accused out of which 18 have been convicted so far.
The main accused Mr. Jamal Durrani was owner of the Clearing Agency M/s N.J International which has managed fraudulent removal of containers from Port Qasim. He was declared a proclaimed offender in March, 2010 as he absconded after obtaining bail from the court on medical grounds. Since then Directorate General Intelligence and Investigation, FBR was trying to grab the accused being king pin in the case.
According to sources DG Intelligence and Investigation, FBR received information that Jamal Durrani was seen in Faisalabad. The teams were deputed to mount surveillance in the suspected area and after hectic efforts Jamal Durrani was arrested near Railway Station Faisalabad after being absconded for more than a year and a half. During the investigation, it also transpired that the authority letter to the Port Qasim authorities had been issued in his name for clearance of the containers. Moreover, the financial investigations revealed that he had received more than Rs. 10 million in his bank accounts from other fraudsters involved in this scam. DG Intelligence and Investigation, FBR has now obtained 5 days remand of Jamal Durrani and further investigation is in progress
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)