Sellers of fake medicines will be dealt with strictly: Shehbaz Sharif

LAHORE - Defending the amendment in Drug Act, Chief Minister of Punjab Shehbaz Sharif said that the purpose of amendment was to stop production of spurious drugs, adding that mafias will not be allowed to play havoc with the lives of people.

Amendment in Drug Act is meant to stop production of spurious drugs. Mafias & cartels will not be allowed to play havoc with people's lives.

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) February 13, 2017

The chief minister took to Twitter on Monday stating, “A poor patient dying due to spurious & substandard medicines is as gruesome as the innocent killed by bullets”.

A poor patient dying due to spurious & substandard medicines is as gruesome as the innocent killed by bullets...

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) February 13, 2017

He further said that quality manufacturers/suppliers of medicines will be appreciated publicly, adding that those involved in selling spurious drugs will be strictly dealt with.

Quality manufacturers/suppliers of medicines will b given public appreciation while those selling spurious drugs will be strictly dealt with

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) February 13, 2017

The chief minister also appealed to people to support the government in “Jihad against fake medicines” to save precious lives which fall prey to the greed of drug mafia every year.

I appeal to citizens of Punjab to support us in Jihad against fake medicines. Thousands of lives fall prey to greed of drug mafia every year

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) February 13, 2017

After the new drug act, a majority of medical stores in several cities of Punjab and Sindh were shut down in protest by the Pakistan Pharmaceuticals Manufacturers Association (PPMA).