PM orders inquiry into Pharmacy Council official’s appointment

ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission (PMIC) has initiated a formal inquiry into the alleged irregular appointment of an assistant secretary at the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan (PCP).

According to a series of confidential letters issued by the PMIC between July 28 and August 6, 2025, the inquiry was ordered by the Prime Minister himself, directing the inspection commission to investigate the appointment in detail.

Top officials from the health ministry and the Pharmacy Council have been summoned to brief the inquiry team and present relevant records at the Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad.

Officials called to appear before the commission include the Director General (Health), Presidents of the Pharmacy Council who held office from 2018 to date, and other senior members and administrative officers of the council.

They have been asked to bring with them all related documentation to explain the basis of the appointment and whether it complied with rules and regulations.

The appointment has reportedly triggered concern within regulatory and health policy circles, as it is alleged that standard appointment procedures were bypassed.

One of the letters from PMIC Director Operations & Coordination states that the Prime Minister has desired a thorough investigation into the matter and that all relevant officers must assist the Commission in establishing the facts. The Ministry of Health has been asked to appoint a focal person not below BS-20 to coordinate with the PMIC throughout the inquiry process.

The Pharmacy Council of Pakistan is a key regulatory body responsible for the registration, licensing, and regulation of pharmacy professionals and institutions across the country. It is tasked with maintaining professional standards in pharmacy education and practice.

It is important to note that the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan has been functioning without a regular Secretary since 2016. The Secretary, who serves as the administrative head of the council, plays a pivotal role in ensuring regulatory oversight and the effective functioning of this critical institution responsible for pharmacy education and professional standards across the country.

In the absence of a permanent appointee, the charge of Secretary has been handed over to more than a dozen officers on an ad hoc basis, each serving for brief stints ranging from three to six months.

A former health secretary, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that such inquiries are crucial to restoring public trust in regulatory institutions. “If an appointment is found to be in violation of rules, it must be reversed, and those responsible must be held accountable,” he said.