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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered an investigation into the alleged scandal of importing more than 450 medicines like vitamin tablets under the guise of buying life-saving drugs from India, according to a media report.
On August 9, Pakistan suspended all trade ties with India following New Delhi’s decision to repeal Article 370 on August 5, revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
However, the government later allowed the importation of life-saving drugs and their raw materials when the pharmaceutical industry created nuances and shouted and warned that Pakistan could soon face a shortage of important drugs.
There were repeated accusations by the opposition and reports in the media that the government-given relaxation was being misused and an investigation was demanded.
Driven by the reports, Prime Minister Khan commissioned his assistant manager Shahzad Akbar to investigate the importation of more than 450 medicines from India.
A document from the Ministry of National Health Services (MNHS) shows that various vitamins, drugs and salts were imported from India, the Dawn newspaper reported.
The document presented to the federal cabinet on May 5 states that the prime minister in his capacity as minister in charge of the MNHS requested a list of medicines that are imported from India.
The document, signed by the MNHS Secretary Tanveer Ahmed Qureshi, shows that several vaccines have been imported, including BCG, Polio and Anti Tetanus Vaccine. Furthermore, a number of vitamins, including B1, B2, B6, B12, D3, zinc sulfate monohydrate, were also imported from India.
An official with the Pakistan Drug Regulatory Authority, who asked not to be subpoenaed, told the newspaper that it was initially claimed that cancer patients would suffer if the importation of drugs and their raw materials from India was banned.
“However, all kinds of medicines were later imported from India because we have been transferring foreign exchange to India. The government should ensure that the medicines and their raw materials are manufactured in Pakistan, as it will allow us to save precious goods foreign exchange and guarantee the export of medicines abroad, “he said.
A senior MNHS official said the comment was inappropriate since Akbar’s Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Accountability had been assigned to investigate the matter, according to the report.
“Furthermore, the Ministry of Commerce is also involved in it, so we have decided to let Akbar investigate the matter,” he said.
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