The Punjab government on Tuesday decided to declare sale and manufacturing of fake medicines a non-bailable crime while number of task forces has been increased to four. The number of task forces participating in crackdown against bogus factories has been increased from three to four. Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif said that criminals involved in such heinous crime belong in jail.
He expressed these views while addressing a gathering at Civil Secretariat Lahore via video link. He said that people involved in production of fake medicines are enemies of humanity. The CM said that the government would not spare such culprits who cut deals on expense of people's lives. He issued directives to the authorities concerned to finalise Amendment in Drug Act 1976 as soon as possible.
CM Shahbaz said that drug inspectors guilty of being part in the crime would not be spared. He said that the government would conduct geo-tagging of units of the manufacturers. He ordered the authorities to speed up process of establishment of independent drug authority in Punjab. He ordered provincial Quality Control Board to better its performance. Shahbaz further ordered authorities to appoint new pharmacists and drug inspectors through Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) on immediate basis.