Connect with us
Saturday,24-May-2025
Breaking News

General

High import duties trigger medicine shortage in Pakistan

Published

on

 Pakistan is battling an economic crisis as it struggles to manage depleting foreign reserves, handle the economic meltdown, price hikes and now the re-emergence of coronavirus.

However, the presence of Covid in the country, is thinking that it may just be a perfect time to bring back import duties on various items, used for treatment and protection from the virus, which at the moment is declared as tax free by the government.

Pakistan is currently faced with a nationwide shortage of medicines, including various antipyretics, antihistamines, antibiotics and respiratory agents.

Moreover, equipment including nebulizers, face masks and gloves, used by Covid patients, nurses and doctors are also faced with a massive shortage, leaving the country in a spot of bother as sixth wave of coronavirus continues to spread across the country.

“The shortage of drug like Panadol is likely to disappear from the local markets as the sixth wave matures. A packet of Panadol consisting of 100 tablets is being sold in Karachi’s black market for 425 PKR at the moment. Similarly, Panadol CF, an anti-allergy medicine, is also becoming hard to find,” said Muhammad Atif, President of Wholesale Chemists Association.

“Other than that, common cough syrups, drugs used in tuberculosis treatment, as well as vitamin C supplements that are prescribed to patients recovering from Covid-19, are also disappearing from the market owing to the heavy taxes imposed on them,” he added.

The same shortage is being witnessed in other major cities of the country.

Arshad Momand, President of Peshawar Drug Association said “the difference in supply and demand of coronavirus related medicines has triggered a stock-piling situation, where many pharmacies in Peshawar have allegedly started stocking up on drugs and raising market prices”.

“Currently, there is no check and balance in this regard and profiteers are trying to make the most of this brimming crisis. There is widespread shortage of Panadol and face-masks in Peshawar’s open market, much of which is the doing of local hoarders right under the nose of the region’s drug inspectors.”

Similar reports are also coming in from Lahore and Quetta, implying that the whole country is faced with a severe crisis of medicines, which will become a major challenge as the percentage of the spread of coronavirus infection among the locals is increasing with each passing day.

Local manufacturers argue that the lack of supply of raw materials has affected the production, which is why availability of drugs as per demand is not being met.

“There are some 40 drugs that are short in not just Lahore, but various cities across Punjab due to the surge in federal taxes. In addition to that, the depreciation of the rupee against the dollar and local inflation has also discouraged pharmaceutical companies from importing raw materials that are also subject to higher import levies now. The cumulative burden of this has fallen on the people of Punjab, who are struggling to find life-saving drugs amid a sixth spell of the coronavirus,” said a local pharmacist.

The crisis is a result of major duties of about 80 per cent on essentials items like marks, gloves and nebulizing machines.

“The current government has imposed a jaw-dropping 80 per cent duty on masks, 60 per cent on gloves and 30 per cent on nebulizing machines. Duty on masks and other items related to Covid-19 should be abolished immediately, while the SRO should be re-issued to make these essential items duty free,” said Muhammad Hanif Soomro, an Executive Member of the Healthcare Association of Pakistan.

Maharashtra

Becoming 8-10 MLAs is not a big deal, but if 8-10 become good IAS officers then there will be a revolution in the society: Abu Asim Azmi

Published

on

abu aasim aazmi

Mumbai: MLA of Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency and Samajwadi Party state president Abu Asim Azmi organized a decimal program for students at City Banquet Hall in Govind, Mumbai, in which laptops and tablets were gifted to the meritorious students of Mankhurd Nagar Assembly constituency who achieved excellent and prestigious results in class 10th and 12th. Sameer Ahmed Siddiqui (IAS) was present as the chief guest on this occasion and he guided the students of Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar for the future. On this occasion, Abu Asim Azmi, while guiding the students, said that becoming 8 or 10 MLAs is not a big deal. If 8 or 10 good IAS officers are selected, a better society will develop and revolutionary changes will come. This will create a better society. On this occasion, 40 talented students were given tablets, 4 students were given laptops, trophies and certificates were given to those who scored 100% marks in the examination and gifts were also given to hardworking women who made their children capable. Apart from this, Hajra Majeed Hecha, who got the highest marks of 99.4 percent in class 10 in Azamgarh, was given a laptop and given special honor. On this occasion, Samajwadi Party’s state general secretary Zeba Malik, councilor Rukhsana Siddiqui, Ayesha Rafiq Sheikh, Irfan Khan, Fahad Azmi, Taluka President Gayasuddin Sheikh and Pakshacharya, various officials, as well as a large number of students of the department and their parents were present. The program was directed by Javed Sheikh and Shabnam Khan.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Mumbai Police helpline on Eid-ul-Adha

Published

on

Mumbai: In view of Eid-ul-Azha, Mumbai Police has launched a special helpline to ensure that there is no problem in the transportation of sacrificial animals for Eid-ul-Azha. Despite the BMC allowing the purchase and sale of animals, if any problem or difficulty arises, animal traders and traders can contact the above helpline numbers 8976754100 and 02222623054. The Deonar Mandi for Eid-ul-Azha will begin from May 26, but the arrival of animals and goats in the market has started from today i.e. Saturday. Animal market police in Mumbai city and suburbs have made necessary security arrangements at the border. Mumbai Police has also issued a helpline. The purpose of this helpline is to curb animal smuggling and harassment by traders. Therefore, the helpline has been set up so that there is no problem of any kind during Eid-ul-Azha.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

After loudspeakers in mosques, now Kirit Somaiya objects to Qurbani too, demands ban on open Qurbani in Mumbai

Published

on

Mumbai: Before Eid-ul-Azha, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has shown mischief and now has objected to the open sacrifice on Eid-ul-Azha. Kirit Somaiya has said that Muslims are forced to sacrifice in the open on Eid-ul-Azha. Its purpose is to create fear and terror among non-Muslims, Hindus and Jain community. Along with this, he has alleged that land mafias perform such sacrifices to create an atmosphere of fear and panic in the area. In this regard, Kirit Somaiya has announced to visit police stations and BMC wards from Monday against open sacrifice and to put pressure on the police and administration to stop this practice.

Kirit Somaiya, while giving an inflammatory speech, said that just as Mumbai has been made loudspeaker free, loudspeakers have been removed from 80% of mosques, but loudspeakers are still installed in 20 slums and mosques including Antap Hill, Truck Terminal and Wadala. These loudspeakers will be completely removed within a month. Similarly, Kirit Somaiya has also demanded action against illegal mosques and madrasas in housing societies. Kirit Somaiya said that now bullying will not work. If anyone sacrifices in the open, action will be taken against him. That is why this campaign has been started from Monday. In 100 settlements, sacrifices are being made in the open without any permission, which is completely illegal. Its purpose is to create an atmosphere of fear in the area so that no one can raise their voice against these goons.

Abu Asim Azmi of Samajwadi Party met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the issue of loudspeakers and sacrifice and discussed with communal elements. He had demanded action and alleged that only Muslim mosques are being targeted in the name of noise pollution, which is completely wrong. The police have sent notices to mosques and forbidden them from doing so so that a peaceful atmosphere is maintained. On this, Kirit Somaiya said that this action is being taken on the orders of the High Court. Abu Asim Azmi and Uddhav Thackeray should go to the High Court or make a law.

Continue Reading

Trending