ISLAMABAD: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) and district health authorities on Thursday launched a crackdown on sellers of counterfeit and spurious drugs in the federal capital.

On information, they raided a courier service office in I-8 Markaz and recovered a huge quantity of unregistered/smuggled drugs. Case has been registered against accused involved in delivery of drugs and the premises has been sealed by the drug inspector.

In another activity, a pharmacy operating in Mehrban town was sealed by Drug Inspector Saddar for operating with invalid license whereas another in Golra area was also sealed on recovery of un-registered drugs. Stocks were seized from one pharmacy as it failed to produce warranties whereas warnings have been issued to three others for minor discrepancies.

The delivery van of one distributor was sealed as it could not maintain required temperature during delivery of drugs.

Sale of one pharmacy in Aabapra area was stopped by the drug inspector city for operating without pharmacist. Warnings have been issued to two others.

The Drug Control Team also checked availability of paracetamol tablets on different pharmacies and ensured its sale on approved prices.

Spokesperson for Ministry of National Health Services Sajid Shah said the special campaign started on directions of the health minister and will continue and strict action shall be taken if any violation of the Drug Act, 1976 was noted.

Meawnhile Islamabad Medical and Dental College and Dr

Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital donated funds and other goods to Alkhidmat Foundation on Thursday for providing much-needed relief to the flood-affected victims in different areas of Pakistan.

The Flood Relief Drive has been initiated in the wake of recent floods in Pakisan and garnered around Rs 4 million worth of relief items including 3.25 million in cash and many other items like food, clothes and medicines.

In another developmnet RJS Life Care Islamabad set up flood relief camps in Dera Ismail Khan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan districts of South Punjab in which medicines, dry rations, clothes, hygienic kits, and mosquito repellents were provided to the flood victims.

A total of more than 3000 patients benefited from those relief camps, while dry rations and protective equipment were delivered to more than 400 families.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2022