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High import duties trigger medicine shortage in Pakistan

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 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

Ruckus in the assembly over controversial statement on Marathi language

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Mumbai: There was a lot of ruckus in the Maharashtra Assembly today over the controversial statement of RSS leader Bhaiyaji Joshi, after which Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had to clarify the government’s stand on this. There was a ruckus in the Maharashtra Assembly session when senior RSS leader Bhaiyaji Joshi, while saying that Marathi is not compulsory at a program organized in suburban Ghatkopar area of ​​Mumbai, said that many languages ​​are spoken in Mumbai and Mumbai is multilingual, so there is no need to learn Marathi. Gujarati is spoken in Ghatkopar and many languages ​​are spoken here. The opposition has sought clarification from the government on this issue. UBT leader Bhaskar Jadhav asked the government’s stand on this issue.

On this, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that I have not heard Bhaiyaji Joshi’s statement. Marathi is the official language of the Maharashtra government. It is mandatory for every resident of Maharashtra to learn Marathi. The Maharashtra government once again wants to explain that government work will be done in Marathi and hence it is also necessary to speak in Marathi. He said that we respect all languages, but Marathi is the language of Maharashtra. Bhaiyaji Joshi had said in Ghatkopar that there are many Gujarati speakers here and most of them are also unfamiliar with Hindi, so there is no need to speak or learn Marathi here because many languages ​​are spoken in Mumbai.

Uddhav Thackeray has also criticized the government over Bhaiyaji Joshi’s controversial statement on Marathi and said that the government should clarify its stand on this, because Bhaiyaji Joshi has created a controversy by coming here, whereas Marathi is the language of Maharashtra and any kind of misbehavior with Marathi will not be tolerated.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar warned of action against miscreants, after investigating the complaint, the police will also take action on violation of noise pollution norms

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Mumbai: Mumbai Police is on alert in view of Ramadan and Holi. Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar has claimed that special security arrangements have been made in Muslim-dominated areas in view of Ramadan. He said that the police have paid special attention to Iftar bazaars, mosques and Muslim-dominated areas in Mumbai and have tightened the security here. Also, there is a hustle and bustle till late night during Ramadan. In such a situation, the police keep a special watch on the markets. He said that markets are decorated in Bhindi Bazaar and JJ Pydhonie areas and Muslims come here for Sehri and Iftar.

There is also a traffic problem during Ramadan, and instructions have been issued to the traffic police. Iftar bazaars come during Asr and Maghrib and in such a situation there is a crowd in the markets. Therefore, deployment of police personnel has been ensured to prevent any untoward incident. He said that in the suburban areas of Kurla, Sakinaka, Jogeshwari, Andheri, Malad and Maloni, there is a crowd in the markets during Ramadan, which also causes traffic problems, but the traffic department has been instructed to take necessary measures so that no one is inconvenienced by the traffic.

Along with the traffic police, the civic police have also been ordered to remain alert. Mumbai Police is also keeping an eye on social media and miscreants. If anyone tries to spoil the atmosphere, strict action will be taken against him. This warning has also been given by Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar. He said that fasting and upvaas are similar to each other and fasting has been mentioned in every religion. Similarly, fasting means remembering and worshiping the Supreme Father, the Supreme Soul and the subject. Similarly, fasting is a means of getting closer to God.

Vivek Phansalkar has said that Holika Dahan will be celebrated on March 13 and Holi will be played on the 14th. During this, special security arrangements have been made at religious places and mosques. Also, the police will keep an eye on miscreants and those who misbehave and harass women. A list of criminals has also been prepared. He said that the festival of Ramzan and Holi will be celebrated peacefully in Mumbai city. If any miscreant tries to disrupt it, action will be taken against him.

Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar was asked whether false complaints are also lodged regarding loudspeakers, to which the commissioner said that action is taken only after receiving the complaint and its verification. If there is a false complaint, it is investigated whether the complaint is true or not. He said that it is mandatory to implement the guidelines of the Supreme Court and the police is trying to implement them. He said that loudspeakers have been allowed only up to a certain limit, but if anyone violates the noise pollution rules, action will be taken against him.

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Maharashtra

NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede removed from post, CAT decision considered transfer as unnecessary

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Mumbai: Former Zonal Director of Central Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Sameer Wankhede has got a big relief from the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). CAT has described his transfer and transfer as arbitrary and against the policy of his own department, after which now Sameer Wankhede’s return to Mumbai is certain. Sameer Wankhede had to face departmental inquiry after complaints of irregularities in the Aryan Khan case. Cases were also registered against him in CBI and ED. Along with this, Mumbai Police also registered an FIR in the case of extortion, which was later canceled.

CAT’s comment about Sameer Wankhede found that action was taken against him on the basis of prejudice in the department. Sameer Wankhede was transferred from Directorate General of Analysis and Risk Management, Mumbai to Directorate General of Taxpayer Services, Chennai by an order issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes on May 30, 2022. Wankhede started his first posting in the department in 2010 and was in Mumbai. The tribunal has said that his service period has been in various agencies like NCB, DRI, Central Excise and NIA and he has worked on deputation beyond the tenure. He has worked on deputation for a period of 6 years and 8 months.

In the case of Shahrukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan, Sameer Wankhede was accused of extortion and bribery and an investigation was also conducted in this matter. At the same time, the NCB closed Aryan Khan’s case on the basis of weak evidence. At the same time, an investigation was also started against Sameer Wankhede and his subordinate officers. After the investigation, all of them were given a clean chit.

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