LAHORE: Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique said on Thursday that concrete steps have been taken to eradicate spurious and substandard medicines from the province. He said that besides up-gradation/remodeling of drug testing laboratories, amendments are being introduced in the drugs laws to enhance punishment for the culprits, adding that provision of quality medicines is the prime target of the government. While addressing the concluding session of an international workshop on ‘Ensuring Quality Medicines’, organised by Punjab Health Department in collaboration with Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA). He said that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has constituted task forces on spurious drugs that have carried out thousands of operations across the province and registered 600 FIRs against the culprits. He said that organising an international workshop was also a milestone to take concrete steps towards elimination of illegal business of spurious and substandard medicines. Parliamentary Secretary Health and Chief Minister Task Force Vice Chairman Kh Imran Nazir said that for the first time in history of Pakistan, an international workshop on ensuring quality medicines is being held due to the efforts of Punjab government. He said that it is a good omen that the government, pharmaceutical industry, experts and all other stakeholders are on the same page and determined to ensure quality medicines for the people. On the occasion, Global Security USA representative John P Clark, Japan representative Tetsuya Ikeda and other foreign delegates also addressed the workshop. State Minister on National Health Saira Afzal Tarar chaired the inaugural session of the international workshop. She said that at the time of creation of Pakistan, pharmaceutical industry was very weak but today this industry has developed and is ready to face any challenge. She said that no licence holding pharma unit is involved in illegal business of manufacturing spurious drugs. However, she added that special attention should be given on quality of medicines. She appreciated the initiative of Punjab government for holding the international workshop and said that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif always takes lead in taking new initiatives for the welfare of people of Punjab.