PPMA says production can only restart if ST on raw material is removed
ISLAMABAD
The patients across the country are facing a harrowing situation as multiple life-saving drugs have disappeared from the market as manufacturers refuse to import raw material for drugs due to sales tax on raw material.
In different parts of the country including Lahore, the people are witnessing a shortage of life-saving medicines as they are visiting the medical stores.
These include medicines for diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, hepatitis, and other diseases. The over-the-counter drugs for fever and aches are also missing from the shelves of the pharmacies.
Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Association (PPMA) has said that the imposition of sales tax on the raw material has increased the cost for manufacturing medicines and with current prices set by the government, they are left with no option than to stop import of the material.
The situation has put thousands of lives at risk and people are making rounds to different pharmacies but returning empty-handed. The shortage has also affected the supply of medicinal drugs used in pathological laboratories during various tests.
PPMA has blamed the imposition of sales tax on the raw material for the dire situation. PPMA Chairman Mansoor Dilawar said manufacturing medicines, requiring imported raw material, was no more possible for them.
He said the production could not restart until the government the tax is removed. “The manufacturing will only become possible after the abolishment of tax,” Dilawar said categorically.
On the other hand, Federal Finance and Revenue Minister Miftah Ismail on Monday assured the PPMA of resolving their issues and providing maximum support to them.
The minister met with a delegation of the association headed by its chairman Dilawar at finance division. The meeting was also attended by Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman and others
The participants discussed issues related to the pharma industry in Pakistan especially sales tax on imports of raw materials and its refund. The government assured PPMA that all of its issues will be resolved.
