Decision to exempt rare disease's drugs from duty hailed

Pharmaceutical industry hailed the government decision to exempt some rare disease medicines from customs duty. Former chairman Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufactures' Association (PPMA) Dr Kaiser Waheed said it would encourage the sector to produce vaccines for treating epidemics. He said the tax exemption would leverage the industry to produce anti-rabbis and HIV vaccines.
"As the different multinational companies have stopped operations in Pakistan, the decision will boost local manufactures," he said. However, Dr Kaiser said that the industry was passing through difficult situation due to devaluation of rupee and other economic impediments.