Chemists, druggists to go on countrywide strike from July 15

Rawalpindi : Under the umbrella of All Pakistan Pharma Movement (APPM), chemists and druggists have decided to go on strike on July 15 (Thursday) throughout Pakistan to record protest against the federal government’s decision of imposition of new taxes on life-saving drugs.

In a meeting of chemists and druggists hailing from all across Pakistan, the organizers including APPM, Pakistan Chemists’ and Druggists’ Association (PCDA) and Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association has decided to launch a national level movement against the government’s decision of imposing advance tax in pharma sector.

In the ‘convention’, held here in a local hotel in town under the flag of All Pakistan Pharma Trade and Industry on Friday, the organisers announced that chemists and druggists would go on strike all across Pakistan on Thursday to record their protest and if the government would not pay any heed to their demands of taking back its decision regarding new taxes, there would be a strike for an indefinite period.

Chairman of Joint Action Committee of Pharma Trade Arshad Awan informed ‘The News’ that almost all representative bodies of chemists, druggists, drug manufacturers, importers, distributers and wholesalers had already rejected the imposition of new taxes in the form of advance tax.

In the convention, the office bearers of APPM and PCDA said before opting for a shutter down strike, they had written letters to the finance minister and chairman FBR to review decision of imposition of advance tax in pharma sector.

They said that the imposition of new taxes may affect the supply of life-saving drugs and in that case, masses have to suffer badly.