Zubair Qureshi
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has given a go-ahead to various respiratory mask manufacturing companies for export of respiratory masks and other personal protection equipment (PPE) to China.
The request has been granted on the special request of the Chinese embassy due to Novel Coronavirus (NCV), an official of the authority told Pakistan Observer here Sunday.
Earlier the authority had banned export of respiratory (N95) masks, goggles or face shields, disposable gloves, disposable gowns, etc on Jan 30 due to a heavy increase in their demand and fearing they would not be adequately available for the local market.
However, on Feb 8 as many as five companies were allowed to export the equipment and written directions regarding relaxation of rules were issued.
Ban on export had been imposed as the masks were in high demand across the country due to panic triggered by the NCV outbreak in China and its spread in some other countries and toxic gas leak in Karachi’s Keamari, which claimed a number of lives, the official further said.
DRAP also conducted a raid against business houses for the sale of masks in black market but later it allowed their export,” the official said adding it was to ensure availability of masks in Pakistan but later it was lifted on the special request made by the Chinese embassy.
“We have allowed export of masks and other equipment due to close relations with China. However, we have sufficient stock of the equipment,” he said.
DRAP has also offered companies to manufacture equipment in Pakistan and licences would be issued without any delay in this regard.
The mask manufacturing companies can start exporting the equipment after manufacturing because there is huge demand of such equipment abroad.
National Task Force (NTF) under Drap has carried out 3,169 inspections during last three months and registered 5,072 contraventions of Drap Act 2012 and Drugs Act, 1976. NTF consists of federal and provincial drug inspectors who campaigned against spurious and falsified medicine throughout the country. During this activity 243 permissions were granted to lodge FIRs against the culprits.
Stocks of 714 medicines were seized for quality and safety concerns under Drap Act 2012 and respective drug sale rules of the provinces.
A total of 55 cases of substandard drugs, 237 cases of unregistered drugs and 18 cases of overpriced drug sale were registered in this short period of three months.
