A scandal involving adulterated raw materials for medicines has emerged in Punjab’s drug market, raising public health and safety concerns.
Authorities have uncovered significant amounts of counterfeit raw materials in various cities, leading to the banning of specific batches of five essential drugs from circulation.
The Directorate of Drug Control Punjab has taken decisive action by closing down the supply chain of raw materials, particularly targeting suppliers of counterfeit materials.
DDC officials revealed that fake companies, which were created to cover up the true source of the materials, were responsible for supplying these counterfeit materials to unsuspecting companies. These bogus firms have fabricated the existence of manufacturing units in major cities like Karachi, Faisalabad and Lahore.
According to the Medicines Control Agency, these fraudulent businesses distributed counterfeit raw materials to pharmaceutical companies, who unknowingly used them in the manufacture of drugs. As a result, certain batches of drugs were deemed unsafe for consumption and were withdrawn from medical stores.
Further analysis revealed that the raw materials, including those used in formulations such as paracetamol, were indeed counterfeit. In response, authorities launched a comprehensive investigation into the source of the fake material and the extent of its distribution.
