Tue, 21-Oct-2025

FBR imposes regulatory duty on various imported items

FBR

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has imposed regulatory duty on various imported items including raw materials used in some medicines.

FBR imposed 10% duty on calcium, chloroform, dioctyl terephthalate, 10% duty on levofloxacin till December 31 and 20% duty from January 1.

FBR has imposed 5% regulatory duty on seed grading, sorting and cleaning machines, vegetable drying machines, other machinery while 10% on calcium (carbide), 10% on chloroform, 10% on dioctyl terephthalate.

A regulatory duty of 10% till December 31, 2024 and 20% from January 1, 2025 has been imposed on third generation antibiotic levofloxacin, 10% on caffeine and its salts till December 31 and 20% from January 1.

The regulatory duty on sodium carbonate has been reduced from 20% to 10%, on chewing gum 10%, on chloroparaffin liquid 10% till 31 December 2025, on polyurethanes 5% till 30 June 2025, on polymers of vinyl chloride and other plastics. 10 percent till December 31, 2024, while 10 percent duty has been imposed on Dia’s tubes and sleeves till June 30, 2025.

The Federal Board of Revenue has imposed a regulatory duty of 10 % on multiply and others till December 31 and 15 percent on self-adiso till June 30, 2025. A regulatory duty of 10% till December 31, 2024 and 5% from January 1, 2025 has been imposed on secondary quality iron flat rolled products.

The government has also imposed a regulatory duty of 5% on cold-rolled steel strip with a thickness of 0.5 mm to 100 mm, iron flat road products with a thickness of less than 600 mm and non-alloy steel products till December 31, 2024.

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Federal Govt increases prices of 146 life-saving drugs

Federal Govt

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has increased the prices of 146 life-saving medicines and issued notification in this regard.

The government has increased the prices of cancer, vaccine and antibiotic medicines have been increased.

Health Ministry officials said that the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) had sent a summary to the government to increase the prices of 262 medicines, but the government has increased the prices of 146 life-saving medicines included in the list.

According to the officials, the prices of 116 medicines included in the list will be increased by the pharmaceutical companies themselves, the government will now only control the prices of 464 medicines included in the National Essential Medicines List.

Couple of days ago, Federal government deregulated drug prices and allowed pharmaceutical companies to increase prices on their own.

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Al-Khidmat to set up 200 pharmacies to eliminate fake drugs : Hafiz Naeem

Al-Khidmat

Karachi: Al-Khidmat will open over 200 pharmacies across Karachi to eliminate the menace of spurious and counterfeit medicines and provide genuine, quality drugs on subsidized rates to patients, Amir Jamat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman announced  on Saturday.

“At the moment, we have 20 pharmacies functioning in Karachi but we are planning to establish a network of 200 pharmacies across the city to eliminate the menace of spurious and counterfeit medicines and provide genuine, quality medicines on subsidized rates to the people”, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said while speaking at launching ceremony of ‘Bano Qabil Pharmacist’ program in Karachi.

Around 600 pharmacy graduates from various public and private medical Universities appeared in the aptitude test for ‘Bano Qabil Pharmacist’ training program launched by the Al-Khidmat Pharmacy Services. Over 1,000 pharmacists and final year pharmacy students had registered themselves for the three-months training program, compelling the organizers to close the registration process after 1000 registrations due to overwhelming response from the aspirants.

“The Bano Qabil Pharmacist training program is aimed at equipping young pharmacy graduates with advanced clinical and communication skills, enabling them to provide enhanced patient care, optimize medication management, develop leadership qualities and serve as a resource pool for the community and contribute to better health outcomes”, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said while speaking to participants of the aptitude test.

He said Al-Khidmat started training of young students in different fields of Information Technology (IT) and at the moment, around 25,000 youngsters were getting IT education and training at 35 training institutes in Karachi, adding that they were planning to provide skill-based education to Karachi’s youth to make them useful members of the society.

On the occasion, he urged the Al-Khidmat Pharmacy Services to collaborate with other pharmacy chains, hospitals and organizations so that students who clear the aptitude test could be provided training and employment opportunities at businesses other than Al-Khidmat’s pharmacies.

Director of the Al-Khdimat Pharmacy Services Syed Jamshed Ahmed said a trained and qualified pharmacist was immensely important in dispensing genuine medicines to the patients at a time when market was flooded with spurious, counterfeit and fake medicines.

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PPMA calls govt to immediately review hardship cases of 262 drugs

PPMA

KARACHI: Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (PPMA) has called upon the interim federal government to immediately allow as per the law, a reasonable increase in prices of 262 medicines, whose applications have been pending for over one-and-half years, as any further delay by the authorities concerned in deciding these cases means more essential drugs wouldn’t be available in the local market.

The demand to this effect was made by PPMA Central Chairman, Mian Khalid Misbah-ur-Rehman while speaking at a press conference. He was accompanied by two former PPMA chairmen, Zahid Saeed, and Kaiser Waheed, and other office-bearers of the association.

PPMA Chairman informed journalists that revision in prices of these medicines had become highly essential as the last time such an increase had been allowed by the government the value of the dollar was less than Rs 200. “In addition to the phenomenal increase in the dollar exchange rate, the production cost of medicines has increased manifold due to record inflation,” he said.

He warned that more multinational drug producers would be left with no option but to wind up their businesses if the government unnecessarily kept on delaying the decision to allow an increase in the prices of medicines whose hardship cases had been pending with the authorities for long.

“The number of multinational pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan has already significantly decreased over the past many years as any further reduction in their number will go against the current efforts of the government to attract foreign investment to Pakistan,” he said.

Rehman told media persons that over 100 essential drugs were already unavailable in the market as any further increase in the number of missing medicines would be a serious disservice to the patients in the country.

He said that the sustainability of the Pakistani pharmaceutical industry, which had been meeting up to 95 per cent demand for medicines in the country, would be seriously threatened if the government didn’t review its drug pricing system.

He said the pricing system should effectively work in the case of the local pharmaceutical industry as up to 95 per cent of raw materials of the medicines were imported whose prices increase with the devaluation of the rupee.

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DRAP fixes price of 25 newly introduced medicines

DRAP
  • The government fixed maximum price of 25 new drugs.
  • DRAP issued notification of 25 newly introduced drugs.
  • The price of injections, pills, syrups and salts fixed.

ISLAMABAD: Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) fixed the prices of 25 newly introduced  drugs across the country.

According to the details, the government fixed the maximum price of 25 new drugs, after which the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) issued a notification to fix the prices of 25 newly introduced medicines.

DRAP sources said that 25 medicines include injections, pills, inhalers, syrups, prices of new salts, formulations, strength variants have been fixed.

Sources said that the cost of lung, breast cancer, anti-allergic pill, solution and antibiotic solution, inhaler, painkiller, injection price has been fixed.

Similarly, the price of diabetes pill, blood cancer, joint disease injection, malaria pill, hepatitis B injection, stomach worm injection, blood pressure pill, blood vessel dilating pill has been fixed.

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Battgram chairlift incident: PAF helicopter delivers water, food, medicines

Battgram chairlift incident

BATTAGRAM: A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) helicopter has delivered water, food and heartbeat pacifying medicines to the students and teacher stuck in a chairlift in Battagram on Tuesday, Bol News reported. The children remained normal amid noise of the helicopter during the rescue operation. The rescue would begin in the second round. Eight children and … Read more

PMA expresses concern over shortage of life-saving drugs

PMA
  • He said production of 1300 drugs has been stopped.
  • Dr Shoro said health delivery system is already in shambles.
  • He demanded that government to take appropriate measures.

KARACHI: Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) is very much distressed over the shortage of different medicine, especially life-saving drugs, all over Pakistan.

Hon. Secretary General, Pakistan Medical Association (Centre), Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro in his statement, said PMA has warned the government that due to closure of LCs for importing raw material for manufacturing medicine and increase in manufacturing cost can be resulted in shortage of medicine.

“Unfortunately our government has done nothing to ease the drug manufacturers, due to this pathetic attitude of the government the problems of the manufacturers continued to rise and now patients and their families are going through a dilemma due to non-availability of their required medicine” he added.

He said one can well imagine the situation from the reports recently published in section of press that production of 1300 drugs has been stopped and this number can reach up to 2500 in coming days as more companies stop production of medicines due to high costs and raw material shortages.

Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro said our health delivery system is already in shambles and shortage of medicines will take the situation from bad to worse. If the suitable measures are not taken to control the situation, eventually poor patients will suffer the most.

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Federal cabinet reduces prices of medicines

Federal cabinet
  • Federal cabinet has approved fixing the prices of 54 new medicines.
  • Abdul Qadir Patel gave a briefing on the prices of medicines to PM.
  • Prices of drugs used in blood pressure, eye and cancer will be reduced.

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has approved fixing the prices of 54 new medicines, including reducing the prices of 20 medicines.

The federal cabinet meeting was held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during which Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel gave a briefing on the prices of medicines.

During the meeting, the Ministry of Health recommended a reduction in the prices of 20 medicines in the cabinet, in the summary of which a 30 percent reduction in the prices of most medicines was recommended.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that for the welfare of the people, an uninterrupted supply of quality medicines should be ensured and the prices of essential medicines should be further reduced and measures should be taken for public relief.

Later, the federal cabinet approved the reduction in the prices of 20 medicines under which the prices of medicines used in blood pressure, cancer, and eye diseases will be decreased.

Apart from this, it has also been approved to fix the prices of 54 new medicines and these new medicines will be used in cancer and various diseases.

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WHO provides medicines, essential health supplies to Sindh

WHO SIndh

WHO provided medicines and essential health supplies for flood victims DG Health Sindh Dr Muhammad Juman Bahoto received the consignment WHO is supporting flood relief operations in Sindh ISLAMABAD: World Health Organization (WHO) provided medicines and essential health supplies to the health department Sindh to support flood victims. WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Palitha Mahipala handed … Read more

UNICEF hands over essential medicines for flood relief

UNICEF

KARACHI: UNICEF delivered 32 metric tons of life-saving medical and other emergency supplies to support children and women affected by devastating floods across Pakistan. The shipment arrived in Karachi from UNICEF’s Supply Division in Copenhagen. The shipment includes medicines, medical supplies, water purifying tablets, safe delivery kits, and therapeutic nutritional supplements. UNICEF handed over the … Read more

A study of pharmacy behemoths in the US focuses on rising medicine price

pharmacy

The FTC is looking into how big pharmacy benefit managers affect prescription drug pricing. The costs of some medicines, even older ones like insulin, have skyrocketed. As part of the probe, the FTC is sending demands for information to CVS Caremark, Humana and others. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is investigating what huge pharmacy benefit … Read more

Sri Lankans have become desperate as a result of medication price increases.

Antibiotics, various pain relievers, and heart medicine are among the items subject to a 40% price increase. Sri Lankans have resorted to taking short courses of medication or seeking supplies from elsewhere. The government claims that it has no choice but to raise the prices of medicinal items. It comes on the heels of steps … Read more

Women can now buy HRT products worth 3 months; Sajid Javid issues shortage protocols

Shortage of menopause medicine. Women in UK resort to drugs to control symptoms

Women can now buy HRT products worth 3 months; Sajid Javid issues shortage protocols Ladies will just have three months’ inventory of hormone replacement treatment (HRT) items. With an end goal to handle deficiencies across the UK. Wellbeing Secretary Sajid Javid has given Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) to restrict the apportioning of the items. It … Read more

Black market for medicines emerging in Russia: regulator

medicines

MOSCOW: Russia’s health watchdog expressed concern on Wednesday about the online re-selling of pharmaceutical drugs after some ran out due to shortages and price increases caused by Western sanctions. While international sanctions do not include imported medicines, media reports have warned that Russian pharmaceutical companies could be left without the necessary raw materials and components. … Read more

Senate panel terms Finance Supplementary Bill tsunami of inflation

Senate

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs on Wednesday termed the Finance Supplementary Bill 2021 a tsunami of inflation in the country. The meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, chaired by Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood, considered the Finance (Supplementary Bill, 2021) laid in at the … Read more

DRAP issues notification for hike in prices of 94 life-saving drugs

DRAP

On Wednesday, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has notified that hike in prices of 94 life-saving drugs. According to the details, the notification issued after approval of the federal cabinet. According to the notification, the increased rates of these medicines will remain frozen until June 31, 2021. On September 22, the cabinet had … Read more

Medicines prices increased for the second time in a month

Medicines

The Government of Pakistan has approved the second hike in the prices of medicines in a month, by up to 22 to 35 percent. According to the details, The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) increased the prices of 253 medicines by up to 22 to 35 percent. In this regard, a notification has also … Read more

Coronavirus: AJK Govt to take strict action against hoarders, profiteers

coronavirus

Azad Jammu and Kashmir is fully locked-down for the third consecutive day today amid fears of epidemic outbreak of coronavirus. According to the details, The individuals were allowed to move out to buy edibles and medicines. Municipal services, electricity, water supply, Special Communication Organization, other cellular companies and banks and other institutions of essential services … Read more

LHC hears case related to exorbitant increase in price of medicines

the Lahore High Court

The Lahore High Court (LHC)  on Tuesday heard case related to  exorbitant increase in the price of medicines. The petition seek the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) probe over the matter in order to fix liability on those found guilty of breaching consumer rights. Justice Amir Bhatti heard the request of local lawyer Nadeem Sarwar. The … Read more

Federal government to reduce prices of 89 medicines

medicines

Government has decided to provide relief to public in health sector by decreasing prices of 89 medicines. The Federal Cabinet of Pakistan has decided to reduce prices of eighty nine medicines, including life-saving drugs, by fifteen percent with immediate effect to provide relief to people. Special Assistant on Health Zafar Mirza said in a media … Read more

Not reporting about Nawaz’s platelets dropping is the worst negligence: Shahbaz Sharif

Shehbaz Sharif expresses concern over increase in coronavirus cases

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif visited the Services Hospital on Tuesday to inquire about the health of elder brother Nawaz Sharif. Shehbaz Sharif held consultations with doctors regarding the former prime minister’s health. Nawaz Sharif’s personal physician, Dr. Adnan Malik, was also present on the occasion. Shehbaz Sharif maintained that the platelet count … Read more

Emerging infectious diseases in Metropolis affects thousands

Infectious diseases hits Karachi

Various infectious diseases are on the rise in the metropolitan city. Around 12,000 people have been reported to have affected by Diarrhea and pneumonia in last 10 days. Dirt and contaminated water have caused many types of diarrheal diseases and hepatitis. Which have affected hundreds of children in just three weeks. According to the details, … Read more