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.

Read More

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.

Read More

TTP’s provocation shouldn’t be responded in haste or anger

Accepting TTP demands practically amount to total surrender: PESA

TTP leaders who wanted peace were killed by drones

Weak condemnation to embolden insurgents

 Rawalpindi: Sept 17

The Pakistan Ex-servicemen Association (PESA) on Tuesday expressed deep shock and anguish at the targeting of GOC Malakand Division Major General Sanaullah Niazi and others by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The brutal attack came at a time when government had offered unconditional peace talks to TTP which places a big question mark on their seriousness for peace, the former military leaders observed in a meeting chaired by President PESA Lt. Gen Ali Kuli Khan.

Vice Admiral Ahmad Tasnim, Lt. Gen Naeem Akbar, former ambassador Salim Nawaz Gandapur, Brig Mian Mahmud, Brig. Riaz Ahmed, Brig. Masud ul Hassan, Major Farouk Hamid Khan, and others were also present in the meeting.

They said that earlier reaction by TTP leaders to the peace talk’s offer appeared to be positive but the sudden change in their stance strengthens doubts that the strings are actually in the hands of some other powers who do not want peace in Pakistan. 

They added that past peace processes were sabotaged when two of the TTP leaders were killed in drone strikes after they expressed willingness for peace with Pakistan

The PESA members observed that we have to bear with this tragedy for the sake of peace but acceptance of latest preconditions set by TTP would practically amount to total surrender.

It appears that the government’s unconditional offer for peace talks has been taken by TTP handlers as if coming from a position of weakness which has emboldened them to get on the driving seat.

Series of such incidents have left no doubt that the forces controlling TTP are bent upon destabilizing Pakistan to achieve their ulterior objectives in the region, it was noted.

Our government must deal with the situation in its true perspective. Merely passing resolutions without going in to the depth of these problems will not take us closer to peace, they said.

A very strong message of condemnation should have gone from our political leaders of various shades as meek formal comments will only strengthen position of TTP, the former military strategists said.

TTP’s provocation can be a tactic to put additional pressure on the government which should not be responded in haste or anger and the political process should continue.

Read More

Business community fears economic contraction after IMF deal

Attaining growth within IMF limits biggest test for Govt: FPCCI

Govt may not be able to accomplish economic objectives: Zubair Ahmed Malik

Dated: Sept 11

The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Wednesday said using IMF loan responsibly and ensuring growth within the parameters of lender’s harsh conditions is to be one of the biggest test of the government’s ability.

IMF policies are widely blamed for chocking growth making life difficult for masses and the private sector while the PML-N is known for its pro-investment and pro-business policies, said Zubair Ahmed Malik, President FPCCI.

This obvious contradiction will make it very difficult for the government to ensure growth keeping lender happy and without compromising the falling living standards of masses, he added.

Speaking to the business community, Zubair Ahmed Malik said that majority of the population is already living below the poverty line reeling under rising inflation while businesses are finding it difficult to sustain.

“We see ahead an era of further depreciation in exchange rate, monetary contraction, massive unemployment, dwindling exports, reduced forex reserves, missed revenue targets, double digit inflation and rising cost of production,” he added.

He said that gas levy estimated at Rs105 billion, 30 to 50 per cent increase in power tariff and 30 per cent escalation in domestic power price from next month could result in increased energy theft and decelerated power sector recoveries.

Business community doubts accomplishment of the Government’s stated objectives like pushing growth rate to six per cent in five years, fiscal deficit at 4 per cent, tax to GDP ratio at 15 per cent, investment to GDP ratio at 20 per cent, and generation of 10,000MW of electricity.

Similarly, the FPCCI chief said, increase in food production and expenditure on education by 4 per cent each, pushing literacy rate to 80 per cent, 2 per cent hike in health sector spending, and creation of three million jobs seems difficult tasks. 

He noted that deadly combination of growing fiscal deficit and unsustainable trade deficit should be tacked to ensure sustainability.

Zubair Ahmed Malik said that solid and bold policy action is lacking which can tackle terrorism and sectarianism and improve socio-economic and political situation of the country which will help reform the economic fundamentals ensuring a bright future for generations to come.

Read More