ISLAMABAD: Prime Ministers’ two top aides whose names are being mentioned as the main players in allowing import of cosmetics, vitamins and medicines under the garb of life-saving drugs from India, reportedly held a meeting with the pharmaceutical companies before altering cabinet minutes, well-informed sources told Business Recorder.

This issue surfaced in the Cabinet meeting on May 5, when a list of 429 medicines was presented before the Cabinet. Some of the Cabinet members’ including Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Asad Umar pointed out that a number of items being imported under the garb of lifesaving drugs from India are cosmetics, vitamins and non-life-saving medicines.

Prime Minister directed his Special Assistant on Interior, Accountability and Asset Recovery Unit Barrister Shehzad Akbar to probe the matter and submit a report to the Cabinet.

Sources said this began when the National Security Council (NSC) decided to ban all trade with India due to its human right abuses in Held Kashmir.

However, when this issue came under discussion for ratification in the Cabinet meeting, some of the Cabinet members argued that lifesaving drugs should be exempted from this decision which was not reflected in the minutes. According to the documents, 12 vaccines and 59 medicines were among imported items including vitamin tablets as well as those medicines which are produced in Pakistan. The minutes of cabinet meeting regarding ban of all trade with India were circulated to all the concerned Ministries on a summary of Ministry of Commerce. However it was decided that pharmaceutical products may be exempted from the ban as in such case shortage of lifesavings drugs would have occurred in the country.

The sources said, the Cabinet directed Advisor on Commerce and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood, Prime Minister Special Assistant on National Health Services Regulation and Coordination, Dr. Zafar Mirza to hold consultations with the pharmaceutical sector on this issue.

“There is no record of discussion and decision agreed in the meeting between the two top aides of Prime Minister and pharma sector,” the sources continued. After the meeting a letter was sent to the Cabinet that the recorded minuets do not reflect exemption of pharma products from the ban.

However, what happened as a result of that meeting and subsequent letter, the minutes of the cabinet meeting were purportedly altered with the approval of Prime Minister who is the Chairman of the Cabinet on the plea that earlier minutes were not recorded accurately.—MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN