RECORDER REPORT

RAWALPINDI: Punjab chemists have called off their strike after assurance from the provincial government regarding amendment in ‘Punjab Drugs Act, 2017’ in the upcoming session of Punjab Assembly.

Pharmaceutical Traders Association president Arshad Awan told Business Recorder here on Friday that Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah has accepted their reservations regarding proposed amendments, adding that desired changes in earlier amendments in the Drugs Act would be made.

He said the chemists had agreed to call off their strike after being given assurance by the law minister. In this regard, the joint action committee’s representative delegation also held a meeting with the government’s team led by the secretary primary and secondary healthcare.

On the basis of these assurances, member associations including Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, Punjab Chemists Council, Pharmaceutical Distributors Association, Pharmaceutical Retailers Association, Pakistan Chemists Retailers Association, and Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Association called off their strike.

He said the provincial government has agreed to their demand of keeping the status of licenses unchanged, while the conditions under Drugs Rules of 2007 would not be applicable to the licenses issued before 2007.