SCCI says Indo-Pak tension hits pharma industry

PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged a peaceful resolution to the ongoing Pak-India conflict and the immediate resumption of trade between the neighbouring countries.

Fazal Moqeem Khan, the SCCI president, while talking during a meeting with a delegation of businessmen, representing diverse sectors at the Chamber’s House on Monday, emphasized that trade should be kept separate from politics, which would not only unhurt the economy but also prevent the business community of both countries from huge financial losses.

According to a press release, he said the Wagah border had been closed for last the several days owing to ongoing tension between Pakistan and India which had created severe shortages of raw material for industries in the country and forcing manufacturers to shut industrial units/operation, resultantly traders were in great trouble and issue job loss was highly looming in the country.

The SCCI chief said that the pharmaceutical sector is one of the most affected sectors in the ongoing Pak-India conflict.He stated that 30 percent of raw material imports for the pharma industry were from India and the halting of supply had created an immense shortage of medicines in the country.

Fazal Moqeem, while quoting various reports, expressed high worry that if the issue is prolonged, that may create a serious crisis in the health sector.The chamber president said that according to the owners of the pharma industry, stock of some medicines such as Brufen, Flagyl, ORS and Ventolin and others had completely vanished.

The SCCI chief stressed emergency measures to secure pharmaceutical supplies in response to the suspension of trade ties with India.He urged the government to exempt the pharmaceutical sector from the ban, as there were many life-saving products whose raw materials came exclusively from India.

“ Therefore, he requested Islamabad and New Delhi to resolve the issue through negotiation and resume bilateral trade immediately, because smooth and uninterrupted trade between both countries was crucial for economic growth, peace, prosperity and progress.

It is noted to mention here that in response to India’s decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty following the Pahalgam attack, Islamabad suspended all trade with New Delhi, among other moves.