Pharma industry key to stable economy: minister

LAHORE:Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Khawaja Imran Nazir Monday said the country’s economy can become stronger and stable if pharmaceutical industry is promoted in the country.

Talking to reporters after the inauguration of the three-day Pak Pharma and Healthcare Exhibition at the Expo Centre, the minister said: “The pharmaceutical industry has invested billions of rupees in the country. The Pak Pharma and Healthcare Exhibition will help in introducing the country’s pharmaceutical products to the global stage. Billions of rupees can be saved by exporting quality medicines, products, medical equipment, and machinery. All possible steps will be taken to stabilize the pharmaceutical industry.”

The Pak Pharma Healthcare Exhibition was organised by the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA). Over 400 stalls of 100 companies have been set up in the exhibition. Companies and delegations from China, Argentina, Indonesia and Turkey participated in the exhibition. All kinds of pharma processing, packaging, machinery, laboratory, testing equipment, raw materials, diagnostic equipment, surgical equipment, products and technology are being exhibited.

The minister visited the stalls set up by various companies including the Punjab University College of Pharmacy and inspected their products. He praised the products placed on the stalls of pharma companies. He said the mindset of “Be Pakistani, buy Pakistani” will have to be adopted. He said the culture of buying domestic products instead of foreign products should be fostered. He said that federal and provincial institutions are working together to promote the domestic industry.

He said the provincial government is striving for the development of the health and education sectors. More than 900 development projects are under completion in Punjab in a short period of 10 months.

The minister said the Punjab Chief Minister has dedicated the next 6 months for the promotion of the industry. He said a strict monitoring system is in place to prevent spurious medicines. He said the elements involved in the purchase and sale of spurious medicines will be dealt with iron hands. Providing quality medicines to the people is our top priority.

The minister said free inspection facilities are being provided under GMP to manufacture quality products for the pharma industry. He appealed to the pharma industry not to sell medicines in the market at prices higher than the approved prices.

Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) CEO Dr Asim Rauf said the federal government has introduced a joint quality management system in cooperation with the provincial governments to promote quality medicines.

Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof M Ali, Chairman PPMA Saad Javed Akram along with Senior Vice Chairman and Vice Chairman, President Lahore Chamber of Commerce Abuzar and representatives of companies also attended in large numbers.