Malakand chemists announce strike

TIMERGARA/CHITRAL: The Chemists and Druggists Association (CDA), Malakand division, on Sunday announced to observe a shutdown strike against new amendments to the 1976 Drug Act. The Paramedics Association, Young Doctors Association (YDA) and traders' union in Lower Dir expressed full support to CDA call for shutter down today.

Speaking at a news conference in Timergara Press Club, Chemists and Druggists Association (CDA) Malakand division president Khairurrahman, and office-bearers from Lower Dir, Upper Dir Chitral as well as Timergara traders unions from Timergara said that Malakand division was a backward area and imposing a new drug act in the division was unjust as they said the chemists had qualified category C and category B examination conducted by the provincial government.

They said if the government did not reverse its decision, hundreds of families all over Malakand division would be affected badly.

CHITRAL: The chemists and drug dealers announced strike against the government decision of abolishing the category-C licenses of pharmacies.

Chemists and Drug Association President Imran Hussain and Pharma distribution association president Murad Khan, Fakhre Alam and others said the government would render more than 100,000 persons jobless in KP. They said over 3,500 chemists would launch protest in Malakand Division alone.