Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) demanded of the government to withdraw the amendments in the Drug Regulatory Authority Act and to make any changes in the laws with proper consultations of relevant stakeholders.

Addressing at a news conference at the chamber house on Monday, SCCI Acting president said that the Drug Regulatory Authority (amend) Act, was recently promulgated through provincial assembly of Punjab, which aimed at to set-up a separate drug regulatory authority in the province.

Following the amendments in the Act, he said the pharmaceutical industry would face severe crisis situation. He furthermore added the move would also raise issues relating to registration of medicines, prices determination, marketing and selling of drugs at local shops.

Flanked by the head of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Industry, industrialists, office bearers of Pakistan Drug and Chemist Association, Iqbal said the amendments could not only be directly affected the pharmaceutical sector, but the step would be contrary to Federal Drug Regulatory Authority Act.

He went on to say that the pharmaceutical industry is availed full protection in context of matters relating to regulatory, price determination, marketing, production, supply and distribution under Federal Drug Regulatory Authority. He added that no amendments were made by provincial governments in the Act. He strongly opposed the step of Punjab government, which could create uncertain situation regarding availability of standardized medicines in market, while local pharmaceutical industry would be unprotected.

Iqbal said that the powers had transferred under the 18th constitutional amendments to all federating units, which was authorized to provinces for setting up Drug Regulatory Authorities at provincial level. However, he said that the establishment of Drug Regulatory Authority at provincial level, was opposed by respective legislative assemblies of the provinces, and passed resolutions in this regard, to keep intact the DRA with Centre.

SCCI acting president said the move of Punjab government to establish own Drug Regulatory Authority was irrational, which merely aimed at to only support the multi-national pharmaceutical companies, because, he said the local industries would inflict huge financial losses. Besides, he added the local medical stores would also be closed that generate massive joblessness.

He demanded of Federal government, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Federal Minister for Health, and other officials concerned to immediately withdraw the recent amendment in the DRA Act. SCCI president has expressed concern over closure of Category C along with sending of summaries to chief secretary, which was sheer unjust with chemists. He demanded of the Chief Minister, Pervez Khattak to take notice of summaries, moved to Chief Secretary by provincial health departments against chemist’s community, and action should be taken against the officials concerned in this respect.

Tribal areas: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Amir Muqam said on Monday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was committed to bring the tribal areas into the national mainstream.

Talking to reporters at the residence of Thair Khan Umarzai here, Amir Muqam, who is also Advisor to Prime Minister, said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would soon announce the decision of merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said that the draft containing the recommendations of the Fata Reforms Committee had been presented to prime minister for final approval. He said that the parliament had already approved the draft to this effect.