PPMA, TDAP to discuss trade challenges

KARACHI: Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (PPMA) will meet the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) on Monday to discuss registration issues and other challenges being faced by the pharmaceutical exporters in Afghanistan and Central Asia, said former Chairman of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (PPMA) Dr. Kaiser Waheed while talking to The News on Saturday.
Earlier, a news item appeared in the Afghan news that Afghanistan Association of Drug Dealers and the country’s Chamber of Commerce and Industries has demanded to ban of Pakistani products particularly the pharma products. They alleged Pakistan’s involvement in disturbing law and order and also termed Pakistani pharma drugs as “low in quality.”
While discussing that news item, Waheed said there is no official announcement from Afghan government that it has banned Pakistani drugs. However, he said Afghan Embassy in Pakistan has stopped registration of the drugs and there has been no endorsement since last six months, “which will create problem for the exporters in the coming months.”
So far, the exports have not stopped and the medicines are being exported to Afghanistan via all routes including legal and illegal channels.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan’s registered exports to Afghanistan are worth $2.2billion making it Pakistan’s biggest market. Though, the share of pharmaceuticals is not very significant and the pharma exports in FY 15 stood at $ 17million only.
Daru Khan one of the representatives of Pak Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) termed the demand as a “private one.” The demand is by the local dealers for their wasted interest, who want to promote their personal business with India and China.
“The Afghanistan Association of Drug Dealers and the country’s Chamber of Commerce and Industries are defaming Pakistan and its products,” he said.
On the other hand, Khan said that the exports from Pakistan to Afghanistan are intact and there is no such news from the government side.
He said Pak-Afghan trade includes every basic product for daily use including perish and non perishable food items, electronics, clothing, medicines and others.