‘Drug testing labs being upgraded’

LAHORE: Secretary Primary & Secondary Health Punjab Ali Jan Khan has said that upgradation of drug testing laboratories (DTLs) of Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Bahawalpur is being carried out according to the international standards for which government has provided huge funds.

He said that DTLs of Lahore, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad will be upgraded by LGC, UK and DTLs of Multan and Bahawalpur would be upgraded by experts from Ministry of Health, Turkey at the level of ISO-192025 Certification.

He stated this while reviewing the performance of drug control regime under primary & secondary health department on Monday, according to a handout issued here.  The meeting reviewed the progress of revamping of Provincial Quality Control Board. Secretary Health directed that revamping work of PQCB must be completed within a month. He directed that ISO certification target for DTLs should be achieved by June 2018. He directed that procurement of equipment for DTLs and recruitment of staff also be completed within three months.

Ali Jan Khan directed that PQCB meeting should be called fortnightly to dispose of the cases of substandard/spurious drugs on fast track. He also directed that training of staff for upgraded DTLs should also be imparted through Punjab Forensic Science Agency.

Transfers: The Punjab government has issued a notification of transfer and posting of officers on Monday. According to the notification Rao Imtiaz Ahmed, ADCG Sheikhupura, has been transferred and posted as ADCG Lahore,  Qaisar Salim, Additional Secretary Local Government, as Director Punjab City Important Investment and he would also has additional charge of Additional Secretary LG and ADCG Faisalabad Shoaibullah Mushtaq as Additional Commissioner Coordination Faisalabad vice Khadim Jillani who has been made Officer on Special Duty (OSD). Meanwhile, the provincial government has cancelled the order regarding posting Munawar Najaf as Director Punjab Small Industries and he would remain OSD till further orders. The provincial government has issued orders regarding retirement of Director Local Government Multan Sikandar Ali.