ISLAMABAD: After receiving complaints about disappearance of respiratory masks and overpricing of personal protection equipment (PPE) due to cases of coronavirus and the recent mysterious gas leak in Karachi, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) has decided to take action across the country against those involved in increasing prices of such items.

It is worth mentioning that demand of masks have been increased across the country due to panic triggered after an outbreak of coronavirus in China and its spread in some other countries.

On the other hand the source of a toxic gas leak in Karachi’s Keamari area, due to which a number of people have died and over 100 landed into hospitals, has remained unclear, because of which demand of respiratory masks have been further increased.

Because of the high demand of masks, some mafias have started black marketing of masks and Drap has received a number of complaints that masks were being sold at inflated rates.

A Drap spokesperson has said in a statement that a countrywide operation has been launched against elements who are taking undue advantage of the situation.

“Drap has initiated strict surveillance of market for selling overpriced PPE on direction of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Zafar Mirza and against complaints by general public,” he said.

The statement says Drap has published a public notice in various newspapers on Feb 15 to prohibit the overpricing of these equipment.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2020