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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.

Mumbai Press Exclusive News

The 612th Urs of Mahim Makhdoom Faqih Ali Mahimi will begin on November 28, and the festival will be held from December 5: Sohail Khandwani

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Mumbai: Mumbai The 612th Urs of Hazrat Makhdoom Faqih Ali Mahimi (may Allah have mercy on him) will be celebrated with utmost devotion and respect at Astana Makhdoom on November 28. A grand service will be held on November 28. The next day, on November 29, the eighth night and sandal will be presented. Along with this, a flag hoisting ceremony, a gathering of listeners and Quran recitation will also be held. The Dargah Committee has completed preparations for this. The Dargah has been decorated like a bride. In view of the Urs and the fair, the police have also made necessary security arrangements. Sohail Khandwani, Managing Trustee of the Dargah Committee, said that in the backdrop of the Urs and fair, the Dargah administration has made necessary arrangements. A grand service will be held at Astana Makhdoom on November 28 and a grand night flag hoisting ceremony, a gathering of listeners and Quran recitation will be held on November 29. The pilgrims are appealed to attend Astana Makhdoom with due respect. He said that the police and the Dargah administration jointly make security arrangements. Along with this, the annual fair will also be held on December 5. The first sandal will be presented by the police and the festival will continue till December 14. In view of this, the traffic police has also shifted the traffic route. Food stalls and entertainment are also available in the festival. The police perform 24-hour services and duties for the festival. Along with this, volunteers of the dargah are also assigned with the police. Police are also deployed on the premises of the dargah including traffic control. Sohail Khandwani has appealed to the sandal committee to take care of Sharia matters during the sandal presentation and not to violate noise and noise pollution and to present sandal at the dargah with courtesy and respect. The annual festival of Mumbai Police will start from December 5. The police is also ready for this. Sohail Khandwani said that the police have a lot of devotion to Baba, therefore they make the arrangements of the dargah with dedication and the police manage it well even in the face of a crowd.

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Maharashtra

Shiv Sena wave in North Maharashtra, Dr. Shrikant Shinde takes charge of election campaign

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Mumbai Nandurbar: Shiv Sena is on a wave in North Maharashtra. A large number of “Ladli Bheenas” and youth are participating in the rallies of Shiv Sena youth leader Dr. Shrikant Shinde. Dr. Shinde launched his election campaign in North Maharashtra today. Addressing the gathering, he said that the Mahayoti government has taken strong steps to empower women and youth, which is why Maharashtra’s Ladli Behna Yojana is becoming self-reliant. Attacking the opposition, he said that many opposition leaders were opposing the “Ladli Behna Yojana” but under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, this scheme was implemented and it will not be stopped under any circumstances. The opposition is only spreading confusion, Ladli Behna will respond with their votes. Dr. Shrikant Shinde explained that in the last three years, Shiv Sena has reached every corner of Maharashtra under the leadership of Eknath Shinde. Shinde Sahib is empowering his workers by holding eight meetings every day. He has an Urban Development Department, which has resulted in record-breaking funding for the backward villages of Maharashtra, paving the way for strong rural development.

Dr. Shrikant Shinde criticized UBT and said that some people are experts in criticizing, but they have never done any concrete work for the people. That is why today Mahayoti candidates are seen everywhere. The people are well aware of the state of the opposition.

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Maharashtra

Kalyan College Namaz Controversy: SIO Demands Action Against Perpetrators

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Mumbai: SIO has demanded strict action against the hooliganism of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad on offering prayers in Mumbai’s Kalyan College. Here, State Secretary SIO Aziz Ahmed said that
The incident that took place at Ideal College of Pharmacy and Research in Kalyan is highly condemnable and unacceptable, where hooligans belonging to Bajrang Dal entered the college campus, threatened and harassed Muslim students for offering prayers and even tried to make them sit in front of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This incident is a direct attack on religious freedom and the sanctity of the educational campus.

SIO strongly condemns this incident and expresses complete solidarity with the affected students. We demand that strict action be taken against the accused at the earliest, the college administration ensure the safety of the students and take concrete steps to prevent such incidents in the future.

We appeal to the entire student community to maintain religious harmony and remain united against such sectarian attitudes and demonstrate strong solidarity.

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