Pharmaceutical industry facing difficulties: PPMA

LAHORE: Vice Chairman Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) Khawaja Shahzeb Akram has said that the Punjab government may issue a no-objection certificate (NOC) to the federal government for Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA) so that policy making could be started at the federal level.

He said that no improvement for the betterment of pharma industry has so far been taken.

He was addressing an emergent meeting of PPMA office bearers here at the association's office, which was attended by Amjad Ali Jawa, Asad Shuja-ur-Rehman, Babar Choudhary, Dr. Shehla Javaid Ikram, Dr. Khokhar, Dr. Khalid Choudhary, Hamid Raza and Shafique Abbasi.

Shahzeb said that the pharmaceutical industry was facing difficulties without the DRA.

He said, the government has also imposed a 16 percent GST on the procurement of pharma equipment, which would directly impact the pharma industry.

There was no tax in the past and the government would be responsible for increase in the rates of medicines, he added.

PPMA appealed to the federal and provincial governments to take immediate steps for the execution of DRA and all matters relating to the phrama industry should be resolved immediately.

The house said that the pharma industry would carry on its cooperation with the government to provide jobs.

Copyright PPI (Pakistan Press International), 2011