LAHORE   -   Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Asim Rauf Thursday ruled out increase in the prices of medicines after the imposition of 17 per cent GST. He said that the federal government, DRAP and the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) were committed to providing quality medicines to the people of Pakistan and helping promote pharmaceutical exports.

He was talking to mediamen after visiting stalls at the concluding evening of two-day 13th Pak Pharma and Healthcare Expo at Lahore Expo Centre.

PPMA chairman Mansoor Dilawar, former chairman Hamid Raza, and Director Prime Event Management Kamran Abbasi were also present on the occasion.

He said that the authority was working day and night for the ease of doing business and help Pakistan achieve international status for its manufactured medicines under the listed status of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“Today’s activity at the exhibition is encouraging us in a right direction. I have been told that a company is exporting medicines to Bangladesh and halal gel capsules are being manufactured in Pakistan,” he said.

“The stalls dealing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) are reflecting the commitment of the Government of Pakistan that approved the policy,” the DRAP CEO added.

To a question that what would be the benefit of contractual manufacturing-- recently allowed by the authority-- in the pharma industry, the DRAP CEO said the authority was implementing all international recommendations and guidelines that would allow people to get their medicines manufactured from any company that would have space for production.

“This will not only help the pharma manufacturing industry to utilize its full capacity but would also help generate employment. Oversees Pakistanis, who have pharmaceutical bases in Pakistan, will be also get their medicines produced by local companies.”

To another question about imposition of 17 percent general sales tax on medicines, he said the tax had not pushed the prices of medicines. “The industry is altogether regulated, no one can change MPR by adding 17 percent tax in any medicine for sale.”

Meanwhile, the two-day conference cum panel discussion on “Pharma Export and its challenges” also concluded at the Convention Centre.

Mr Kamran Abbasi, the organiser told that the second day of the event had technical sessions under theme “Leadership, regulatory and bioceuticals” under the aegis of the University of Lahore and the University of Punjab. UOL’s Faculty of Pharmacy and University of the Punjab’s College of Pharmacy were knowledge partners to support the conference.

He further told that over 70 exhibitors including companies from China, Germany and Turkey participated in the two-day mega event. A large number of business customers including doctors, pharmacists, representatives of pharma industry, and traders visited the expo and showed their interest in B2B.