Islamabad, Feb 13: A large-scale counterfeit medicine operation has been exposed across Sindh, including Karachi, raising serious public health concerns. Reports from the Drug Testing Laboratory reveal that several medicines circulating in the market are fake.
Adnan Rizvi, the head of the Drug Testing Laboratory, confirmed that medicines from at least seven companies were identified as counterfeit. Alarmingly, these companies do not even exist, indicating a deeply rooted network of illegal drug production. Rizvi emphasized that such fake medicines pose a grave threat to human lives, urging authorities to take immediate and strict action under the Drug Act.
In a related development, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Anti-Corruption Circle in Islamabad launched a crackdown on counterfeit drug sellers. The agency successfully arrested two individuals linked to the sale of fake and unregistered medicines.
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According to FIA sources, a suspect named Mazhar Qeebbal was apprehended from a medical store in Islamabad’s Diplomatic Enclave. Investigations suggest that he was actively involved in selling counterfeit and unapproved medicines. This arrest follows an earlier raid at the same store, where two other individuals were detained, and a significant quantity of fake drugs was seized.
Authorities have intensified their efforts to combat the illegal pharmaceutical trade, warning citizens to remain vigilant and only purchase medicines from reputable sources. The recent arrests highlight the urgency of stricter regulations and enforcement to protect public health from the dangers of counterfeit medicines.
