Shahbaz Sharif inaugurates the first international standard model drug testing laboratory of the country

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated the first international standard model drug testing laboratory of the country, here today. He also visited the laboratory and inspected its various sections.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the Chief Minister announced establishment of Punjab Forensic Food & Drug Testing Agency and said that it will help eliminate substandard and adulterated food besides spurious drugs and agri medicines and spray.

He said that laws will be formulated for this purpose immediately. He said that this agency will work as a totally independent and autonomous institution and will be free from all kind of interference. He said that with the inauguration of the model drug testing laboratory, the foundation of a new system has been laid in the province which will be expanded expeditiously.

He said that such a system is being introduced in the country which will ensure stern punishment to the elements engaged in adulteration in food items besides those involved in spurious drugs and substandard and bogus agri medicines. He said that the mafia involved in playing with human lives through spurious and substandard medicines will be rooted out through deterrent punishment.

He said that foundation of a new system has been laid with the setting up of the state-of-the-art model drug testing lab in Lahore. He said that an international standard drug testing laboratory has been established to eradicate substandard and spurious medicines and latest computerized equipment and machinery has been installed in the lab.

He said that samples of the medicines will be acquired and analyzed in the laboratory in accordance with international standard and the purpose of this model drug testing laboratory is to improve the standard of medicines in the province. He said that this laboratory is one of the best laboratories of the world and it is the most modern drug testing laboratory of the country.

Shahbaz Sharif said that it is a matter of happiness that a reliable and international standard drug testing lab has been inaugurated. He said that staff working in the laboratory has got its training from LGC Lab of London. He said that the staff recruited through Punjab Service Commission and those receiving latest training from London will operate this lab jointly. He said that the scope of these labs will gradually be expanded.

The Chief Minister said that while it is a day of happiness, it is also deplorable that the nation has been kept in the dark through hiding the facts. But, he said, as Khadim-e-Ala he considers it his responsibility to apprise the people of the factual position. He said that unfortunately in 2010-11 about one hundred deaths occurred due to substandard medicines in Punjab Institute of Cardiology and Punjab government was being held responsible for this but he wants to bring the facts to light.

Shahbaz Sharif said that he sent samples of these medicines to LGC, London and also to laboratories of France and Geneva but the People Party government gave these samples of drugs to Federal Drug Testing Laboratory which gave a satisfactory report. Perhaps, he said, that it was due to the fact that production of these medicines was linked to the federal institutions. He said that had these medicines given to the patients been analyzed by any drug testing lab of Punjab, its result would perhaps not been accepted. He said that when the report of LGC, London was received it was revealed that the medicines given to heart patients were for the treatment of malaria and it also contained elements of malaria as well.

Later, he said, the report of labs of France and Geneva also authenticated this report which made it clear that the local drug testing lab was a fraud and the people were being hoodwinked. Shehbaz Sharif said that instead of awarding punishment to the elements involved in the heinous trade of spurious medicines, efforts were made to save them. He said that those involved in the evil trade of spurious medicines can be punished only if cases are registered against them.

He said that in the light of the reports of international labs and the facts that were revealed, the provincial government decided that a latest drug testing lab should be set up in Punjab and the government started work in this direction but hurdles were created. However, he said, a milestone has been achieved today which will help in rooting out the mafia involved in the heinous trade of spurious and substandard medicines.

The Chief Minister said that during his recent visit to London, he also went to LGC Lab after which its team came to Lahore and started work on the project of modern drug testing laboratory which has been completed expeditiously. He said that Health Department authorities of Punjab and LGC representatives should be congratulated on this achievement.

He said that the scope of the modern model drug testing laboratory set up in Punjab will be extended to other districts as well. He said that there is a collusion between the mafia producing substandard and spurious drugs and the corrupt elements of some government departments and they did not want that a modern drug testing laboratory should be set up in the province.

The Chief Minister said that the building of the drug testing laboratory was constructed in 1970 and it conducted test of 30 thousand samples of medicines which was not possible as in Britain tests of only two thousand drug samples are carried out. He said that it was a fraud for earning money through illegal means and he could not allow this practice to continue.

Therefore, Shahbaz Sharif said, he personally visited LGC Lab during his visit to London and due to this, this model laboratory has taken a practical form. He said that establishment of the modern drug testing lab in the provincial metropolis is a big service. He said that Punjab government has also established the biggest and most modern forensic science lab in the provincial metropolis and it is being linked with nine divisions of Punjab through satellite which will help in collection of evidence of cases at the local level and will result in substantial improvement in criminal justice system.

The Chief Minister further said that he during his tenure in 1997-99 had checked the elements involved in the trade of spurious agri medicines and now adulteration in food items besides spurious drugs and substandard agri medicines will also be curbed and no one will be allowed to play with human lives. The Chief Minister after inauguration of drug testing lab inspected its various sections and talked to the staff. He expressed satisfaction over the modern system of testing of drug samples and gave Shabash to the staff.

Earlier, Secretary Primary & Secondary Health Ali Jan Khan gave a briefing regarding setting up of model drug testing lab. Mr. Steve Wood of Laboratory of Government Chemist Britain while addressing the function said that the Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited LGC Laboratory, London a few months ago after which he and his team came to Lahore in November and met the Chief Minister who asked for establishment of a state-of-the-art model drug testing lab.

He said that the way this project has been completed by the team led by Chief Minister in a very short period is surprising. He said that international standard will be maintained in the analysis of samples of medicines in the model lab.

Provincial Finance Minister Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Advisor on Health Kh. Salman Rafique, Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal, Inspector General Police, Secretary Health, Director General Punjab Forensic Science Agency, columnists, intellectuals and medical experts attended the ceremony.