SC lauded for taking notice of illegal drug price hike

Supreme Court grants another gift to poor of Pakistan

Action demanded against officials involved in the mega scam

Impact of unlawful drug price hike calculated at Rs 90 billion annually

Dated: September 20

Civil society has lauded the Supreme Court (SC) for putting twenty-two pharmaceutical firms on notice for illegal overpricing of drugs on false grounds pushing healthcare out of the reach of millions of the downtrodden.

Many local and multinational companies are exploiting masses with the help of health authorities therefore the government functionaries should also be taken to the task, said President Health Watch Mian Aftab.

Talking to representatives of the civil society, he said that SC has again moved to safeguard the rights of masses and that every penny looted by the pharma mafia should be recovered.

He said that the SC move is another gift to the people and a turning point in the history of Pakistan which will save the poor from brutal onslaught of multinationals prone to increasing their wealth on the cost of downtrodden.

Mian Aftab said that this is a scandal bigger than the Ephedrine scam but media and civil society is not bothered about it since no big names are involved.

He added that the federal government on July 13, 2012 reduced prices of 92 pharma products but influential company Rocha refused to cut price and continued to sell Pegasys, used for treatment of hepatitis, at Rs 1300 against the fixed price of Rs 6500. The company is making Rs 2billion annually from selling the medicine.

He said that some of the companies involved in illegal extortion of money from poor include Martin Dow, High Noon, Searl and CCl Lahore. The growth of Martin Dow due to arbitrary increase has gone up to 37 per cent from 2 pc. Rotacap, a product of Highnoon which was previously sold at Rs 182 is now priced at Rs 1040, an increase of 471 per cent.

Searle Pakistan has illogically increased the price of Paediatric (ORS Sachet) from Rs 10 to Rs 27, a hike of 170 pc and price of Hydryline Syrup from Rs 30 to Rs 59, an increase of 99 pc which is illegal and unethical. The total sale of ORS is Rs 667 million per annum while the price hike has burdened masses by another Rs1267 million.

Sale of Hydryline Syrup is at Rs 623 million and with the present increase of 99 pc it will go up to Rs 1246 million. Likewise, CCL Lahore has increased price of Pulmonol Junior Syrup Rs 22, a 122 pc surge in the price, he informed.

At the occasion, Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that pharma industry is acting like a mafia and the situation speaks of rampant corruption in the ministries while the end-user is the ultimate victim who is made to pay Rs 90 billion additionally per annum.

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Ogra pushing country towards another crisis: PEW

Ogra decision to put a mln vehicles out of service, hurt 80m commuters

Daily life badly hurt by the decision taken to please LPG mafia

Sept 19

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Thursday said Oil and Gas Regulator Authority (Ogra) is pushing country towards another severe crisis on the behest of powerful LPG mafia.

The hydrocarbon regulator has issued another illegal order asking provinces to remove all the CNG cylinders from the commercial vehicles disregarding the fact that they have been cleared by almost a dozen of other government departments, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

He said that all the provinces, especially Punjab has started acting upon the unlawful and unclear directives of the Ogra without considering its outcome.

The controversial decision has left owners of Toyota Hiace, Suzuki pickups and taxis on the mercy of police and provincial transport authorities. CNG cylinders are being removed from hundreds of vehicles while hundreds others ferrying masses have already gone off the road indefinitely, he said.

Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that Ogra wants to destroy the transportation system in Pakistan as around one million vehicles operating commercially are using CNG fuel while 80 million use public transport fuelled by the alternative and clean energy.

Commercial vehicles consume a lot of gas which have forced them to install additional cylinders due to CNG loadshedding, he said adding that nowhere in the world there is any law limiting the number of CNG cylinders or specifying their location in vehicles.

However, Dr. Mughal said, the regulator has been playing negative role by violating its own rules for petty interests, it has failed to make any law or ensured amendment in the existing CNG laws in the last 21 years.

Supreme Court in 2009 directed massive conversion of commercial transport on CNG to cut down pollution in urban centres which also reduced oil import bill.

He called upon the CNG operators to defy the orders which are part of a conspiracy to deprive masses of economical fuel.

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Govt asked to promote new investments in energy sector

No poverty reduction sans ample energy

Provision of energy imperative to transform lives

Energy enables people to work their way out of poverty

August 19

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Sunday asked the government to promote new investments in the energy sector by introducing better regulations as poverty cannot be reduced in presence of energy scarcity.

Access to energy is imperative to transform lives which is not getting proper attention on the national and global level as majority of Pakistanis as well as a third of the world’s population has no access to modern energy services, it said.

Tens of millions in Pakistan and 1.3 billion people worldwide are still without any form of electricity and 2.7 billion people still cook over open fires despite availability of solutions, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

Estimates say in the next seventeen years three billion will cook with traditional fuels, more than 30 million people will have died due to smoke-related diseases and hundreds of millions will be confined to poverty due to lack of energy, he informed.

Of those who don’t have access to modern energy around 70 per cent are women who spend significant time and money to obtain energy that is not only unpredictable, expensive, unsafe, and highly polluting, he said.

Dr Murtaza Mughal said that lack of access to electricity also prevents the development of key social programmes like education, health, sanitation and provision of clean drinking water, continuing a cycle of poverty that is very difficult to break.

He said that energy is vital to escape poverty but unfortunately lack of interest on the part of governments has left a third of the world’s population has no access to modern energy services which is impeding global growth.

He said that Pakistan government should boost efforts to tame energy crisis and promote new investments as provision of electricity is linked to development of agriculture, industry, trade,  jobs, medicine, sanitation and water purification.

Every dollar invested in a solar energy generates more than $46 in economic benefits in the first year alone; it results in a stronger economy, a healthier population, and enables parents to ensure a bright future for their families.

He said that energy enables people to work their way out of poverty, it provides better access to basic services while improving health and wellbeing of everyone, especially that of women and children.

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MoU signed to provide free healthcare facilities to masses

MoU signed to provide free healthcare facilities to masses

August 15

Tehreek-e-Sehat Pakistan (TSP) and Minsa Clinic Bahria Town have entered into a deal to provide free healthcare facilities to masses through free medical camps in Rawalpindi.

In this regard a MoU was signed between TSP and Minsa Clinic Bahria on the Independence Day.

Speaking to the MoU signing ceremony Dr Murtaza Mughal, President TSP said that allopathic system of medicine is costly while may ends up catching additional diseases while attempting to cure one.

He said that homeopathic system of medicine has no side effects but it is also costly for poor. Therefore, he said, some doctors in the TSP have decided to provide free healthcare facilities to masses using their own resources.

Dr Murtaza Mughal said that we will use homeo and biochemic system of medicine to cure ailing masses.

People of the twin cities can avail free healthcare facilities while those who are away can get free advice through phone or email.

He said that our experts, some of them with MD and PhD degrees from foreign countries in alternate medicine can cure diabetes, arthritis, jaundice, hepatitis, kidney and gall stones, piles, viral warts, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, and child problems including intestinal worms, teething troubles and atopic dermatitis.

He informed that patients can come to Rise School Building, Lane No 3 near Govt. Girls High School, Gulishatn Colony Rawalpindi from 5 to 6 pm or contact on 0300-9898552 or minsaclinc1974@gmail.com for free advice.

Dr Murtaza Mughal said that nation and economy cannot progress in presence of an ill nation as government has not been focusing on provision of affordable healthcare facilities to the masses.

Pakistan can tackle problems of health and education if rich consider earning for six days and returning on the seventh, he said.

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Pakistan cannot afford luxury of wasting Rs500 billion annually on SOEs

PML-N led government can steer the country out of economic mess

SOEs proved to be white elephants in absence of proper accountability

August 08

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Thursday said Pakistan cannot afford the luxury of wasting Rs. 500 billion annually on inefficient state-run-enterprises (SOEs).

Almost all the entities created by the government in order to partake in commercial activities on the government's behalf have proved to be white elephants in absence of a proper accountability mechanism, it said.

Sucessive government have been mixing politics with business which have transformed state-run corporations into most unproductive segment wasting almost Rs 1.5 billion daily, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

Governemnt should bring an end to political interference in these corporations or privitize them on fast pace if it cannot shield these from unnecessary interventions, he added.

Dr Murtaza Mughal said that the environment of majority of corporation has deteriorated to an extent that reputed professionals from private sector fail to give positive results when entrusted for top slots.

Time has come when we should admit that these valuable assets have become burdensome possession while the cost of upkeep has surpassed its worth, he added.

He said that PML-N led government can steer the country out of economic mess to put it on the path of sustainable economic growth for which bold decisions are needed.

Lauding the difficult decision like upward revision of electricity tariff and petroleum prices, he said that more meaningful reforms are needed like that announced for the ailing energy sector.

Governemnt should also revisit politices regarding taxation, exemptions, and subsidies which have eroded its ability to initiate maga projects without foreign aid and spend more on welfare of masses, said Dr Murtaza Mughal.

Good governance, honest measures, true accountability and just taxes on all sectors including agricultural income can help government earn  reputation which is essential to push reforms agenda without opposition from masses.

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Rising dollar and falling rupee exposes Govt, IMF deal

Rising dollar and falling rupee exposes Govt, IMF deal

July 26

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Friday said rising dollar and falling rupee has exposed the secret deal between government and IMF to depreciate the local currency.

The sliding rupee has also exposed expertise of the economic managers of the incumbent government, it said.

The deal between government and the lender is also evident from the role of SBP which has been reluctant to take concrete steps to stabilise the exchange rate, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

He said that depreciation in the value of rupee will invite inflation as Pakistan heavily relies on imports. Moreover, it will add to the foreign debt and make life of masses miserable.

Overseas Pakistanis will prefer to send money through hundi as the difference in interbank and open market rate is at unprecedented level, he added.

Dr Murtaza Mughal said that there was no justification in the rapid erosion of rupee as overall economic situation was calm, indicators are as usual and there was not major change in the position of forex reserves.

A check on Dubai-bound flights can expose all the elements involved in flight of capital, hoarding of dollars and turning of black money into white, an evidence of blooming grey economy, he informed.

Exchange rates should not be taken lightly as it is among the most analysed and forecasted indicators in the world. The currency markets are the most liquid in the world with a daily turnover of close to $2 trillion as compare to $ 70 billion on the New York Stock Exchange.

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Teacher demand, supply gap threatens future: PEW

Teacher demand, supply gap threatens future: PEW

Cut in Govt spending, int’l aid jeopardises future of millions

July 21

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Sunday said increasing gap between demand and supply of teachers pose a threat to Pakistan’s future.

Student-teacher ratio as well as teacher recruitment practices, teacher management, teacher attendance, teaching practices and absence of performance monitoring system in majority of schools is resulting in low student learning, it said.

Pakistan’s prosperous future can only be ensured if it is realised that every child needs a teacher for which creation of around fifty thousand new teaching posts in next few years are required, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

He said that the supply of teachers is failing to keep pace with the demand, the world needs 6.8 million teachers to ensure every child’s right to basic education, he added.

Globally, 5.1 million teachers are expected to leave the profession in next two years which and must be replaced, said Dr Murtaza Mughal.

He said that progress on reducing the number of out-of-school children has stalled. As of 2011, 57 million children of primary school age and another 69 million of lower secondary school age were out of school threatening goal of universal primary education (UPE) by 2015.

The situation is most extreme in sub-Saharan Africa, and Saarc region where the school-aged population continues to rise which call for minimum 10 per cent increase in supply of teachers every year to meet the goal of UPE, he informed.

Policies and initiatives to address the problem of exclusion from education and reduce inequalities remain inadequate in many countries including Pakistan, said Dr. Mughal.

Government spending as well as international aid to has seen cuts due to multiple reasons which has jeopardised future of millions of children; it has resulted in two per cent increase in global primary net enrolment rate since 2005.

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Internet access rate in South Asia disappointing: PEW

Internet access rate in South Asia disappointing: PEW

June 25

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Sunday said a third of the world’s population has online access to the Internet with South Asia having lowest penetration rates of 9 per cent.

Thirteen out of every 100 people in Sub-Saharan Africa have the Internet access.

Mobile phones and internet have become integral part of development but South Asia is still lagging behind in the rapidly changing world, said Dr Murtaza Mughal.

According to latest World Bank’s report, mobile phone subscriptions have almost doubled every two years since 2002 to hit mark of 5.9 billion subscriptions globally, almost one for every person if distributed equally, he said.

In South Asia, 69 mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people were recorded in 2011, up from 8 in 2005. The developed economies had this rate 8 years ago.

Sri Lanka and India experienced an increase in mobile subscriptions of over 50 per cent to become the biggest contributors to the region’s growth rate.

The number of Internet users worldwide has increased to 33 users per 100 people in 2011, from around 12 per 100 in 2003.

Developing economies in Europe and Central Asia including the Russian Federation had the highest penetration rates with 42 of 100 people had access to the Internet, still 9 years behind high-income economies.

However, developing regions are quickly catching up to high-income economies by increasing internet access using mobile phones. The number of mobile-broadband subscriptions in developing nations increased from 43 to 472 million in four years.

Africa was on the top where subscriptions increased from 14 million to 38 million in two years.

Many developing economies may be crossing developed economies by combining the growing access to mobile technology with Internet access to improve access to communication and information, said Dr Murtaza Mughal.

Internet access rates show a greater digital divide between developing and developed economies than mobile subscriptions for which positive decisions are needed, he said.

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Half-truth by energy officials amounts to whole lie

Govt misleading masses on CNG issue

July 03

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Wednesday alleged that top government officials have started a campaign against CNG sector by misguiding masses by presenting doctored figures.

The incumbent administration is following the footsteps of former government by holding back the truth hidden from the common people to fulfil their objectives without public uproar, it said.

Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has started speaking the language of influential lobbies who have thrown the country into unmanageable energy crisis for their profits, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

He said that government seems to have planned to get rid of the world’s largest CNG industry to please influential sector and continue the unjust distribution of natural gas.

The minister has claimed that over 30 per cent CNG stations are involved in gas theft without mentioning names of the operators or any action taken against them or pointing towards officials of gas utilities involved, he said.

Dr Murtaza Mughal said that if the recent assertion of Mr Abbasi is accepted and half of the natural gas consumed by these CNG stations is considered to be stolen, still it would make mere one per cent of the total natural gas produced in the state.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on June 07 said that 11 per cent of the natural gas is wasted to line losses, leakages and theft. He should not only focus on CNG sector and let people know about other influential sectors involved in the theft of the rest of natural gas.

Dr Murtaza Mughal said that only politically connected CNG operators can steal natural gas with the connivance of gas officials while any action against them seems to be improbable any time soon.

He said that baseless propaganda against CNG sector and its consumption could be a conspiracy to justify unjust distribution of hydrocarbon resources, support petroleum and liquid gas mafias, lift captive power mafia and pave way for personal gains.

Many countries employ qualified energy managers to ensure smooth flow while here all the energy related issues are left to politicians and incompetent bureaucracy who have always danced on the tune of powerful energy mafia, said Dr. Mughal.

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Budget to widen gap between rich, poor: Dr Ikramul Haq

Budget a threat to economy, society: int’l tax experts

Budget to widen gap between rich, poor: Dr Ikramul Haq

Govt yet to provide economic justice to masses: Huzaima Bukhari

Budget pushing majority to abject poverty: Dr Murtaza Mughal

June 25

International tax experts Dr Ikramul Haq and Huzaima Bukhari on Tuesday said current budget will widen the gap between rich and poor which is detrimental for society andeconomy.

They said that the budget indicates failure of the government to provide economic justice to the masses by taxing the rich.

Talking to Dr Murtaza Mughal, President of the Pakistan Economy Watch, Dr Ikramul Haq and Huzaima Bukhari said that budget lacks focus on welfare programmes and it will impede poor from moving up economically.

The budgetary measures will not redistribute wealth and income in the society but benefitting the affluent, the tax experts said.

Government efforts will not help overcome economic crisis but it has successfully pushed majority to another crisis in this era of high inflation, they remarked.

They opined that government can bring an end to lucrative SRO business, amend the Constitution and bring all kinds of income including from agriculture in the federal ambit.

Dr Ikramul Haq and Huzaima Bukhari further said that taxing education amounts to barring the children who are at the bottom to do better than their parents which is unfortunate.

There is a complete lack of understanding in the government that education can be used as effective tool for upward social mobility. 

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Murtaza Mughal said that the system has been damaging poor segments of society who remain mired in abject poverty.

He said Pakistan needs meaningful redistribution policies that can uplift the downtrodden but this is not preferred by rulers and the budget is an example of it.

Dr Murtaza Mughal said that the claim of the government to keep national interests supreme seems to be a political slogan as interests of rich are being watched and protected adding that revenue measures can go wrong anytime.

The budget document is long on rhetoric and short on action which overestimates revenues, stock market and wholesalers and retailers have been taxed lightly, formal sector has been burdened.

Salary increase and fertiliser import will broaden the deficit by Rs 160 billion, said Dr. Mughal.

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