Islamabad : June 29 ,2025 : The lifesaving drug prices have seen another surge in last days of June 2025. This increase is for all life saving drugs up to 26 %. Since Caretaker Prime Minister , Anwaar Kakar’s government decision of decontrolling life saving drugs in 2023 , the rates of all key medicines have increased manifolds.
Anwaar Kakar was a caretaker prime minister and he was not supposed to take a decision of de controlling life saving drug prices. He acted above the constitution and law to give drug mafia a free hand to fleece the patients whose majority has no capacity to buy medicines to keep its life breathing.
Since drug mafia has always been a darling for every government in Pakistan . It always remains untouchable for accountability.
From PTI rule to PMLN and PPP there is no exception to pass on their love to drug mafias.
In Imran Khan’s rule of 42 months , medicine prices saw surge 14 times. Then Anwaar Kakar came in he hit the jackpot by de controlling medicine prices in Pakistan . Had there been a rule of law in Pakistan , any authority including those who claim themselves the most powerful in Pakistan should have investigated this human crime of Anwaar Kakar, but as always happens in Pakistan, it never happened. The same Kakar sahib can be seen on TV screens off and on to give sermons on ‘Pakistaniat’.
Noor Mahar, President, Pakistan Drug Lawyer Forum (PDLF) calls recent increase as “Uncontrolled surge in the medicine prices and a public health emergency”.
Cruel Hike in Medicine Prices – Open Injustice to Patients!
The recent and continuous surge in medicine prices across Pakistan is a clear reflection of the government’s failure and its anti-public policies. The Pakistan Drug Lawyer Forum (PDLF) not only rejects this inhumane and unconstitutional act but declares it equivalent to playing with the lives of the people.
🛑 Decontrol Policy – A Government War Against Patients
On February 18, 2023, under the leadership of caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, the government issued a notification to “decontrol” medicine prices. This was an illegal and inhumane move aimed solely at giving pharmaceutical companies a free hand to profiteer. PDLF challenged this draconian decision in the Lahore High Court, as it violated legal, constitutional, and human rights standards.
Tragically, on May 30, 2024, the current federal government under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed and reinforced this cruel policy. This not only extended a past mistakes , but also sent a clear message that the lives of patients could be compromised for corporate profits.
Patients Are dying daily due to rising prices
With price controls removed, pharmaceutical companies and distributors have been increasing prices on a monthly basis. Today, hundreds of patients in Pakistan are dying daily simply because they can no longer afford their medications.
This price hike is not just numerical—it symbolizes a moral collapse. When life-saving medicines for diabetes, blood pressure, cancer, asthma, heart, liver diseases, and child nutrition are out of reach for the poor, it becomes a direct act of criminal negligence by the government.
Healthcare in Pakistan is already in crisis. The latest price hikes have triggered a new emergency. PDLF considers this rise a direct attack on public health. Thousands of patients suffering from diabetes, heart, liver, stomach issues, allergies, and child malnutrition now face unbearable medicine costs.
Alarming Increases – PDLF’s Nationwide Survey Report
PDLF President Noor Mahar has released a detailed analytical report showing that prices of over 50 well-known pharmaceutical brands have increased by 10% to 80% nationwide. Some examples include:
Lomotil Tablets (used for diarrhea): Increased from Rs. 1100 to Rs. 2000 (+82%)
Myren-P Forte (for TB): From Rs. 2200 to Rs. 3700 (+68%)
Gravibinan 2ml (prenatal vitamin): Rs. 601 → Rs. 862
Invento Syrup (vitamin for children): Rs. 650 → Rs. 900
Sangobion Capsules (for anemia): Rs. 230 → Rs. 300
Relaxin (muscle spasms): Rs. 255 → Rs. 331
Asinac SR (for joint swelling): Rs. 550 → Rs. 700
Ponstan Forte (menstrual pain): Rs. 1095 (+26%)
Gaviscon Syrup (acidity): Rs. 199 → Rs. 250
Cobalamin (Vitamin B12): Rs. 900 → Rs. 1100
Evion 400 (Vitamin E): Rs. 1074 → Rs. 1229
PediaSure Powder (child growth): Rs. 3200 → Rs. 3650
Ensure Powder (nutrition for elderly): Rs. 2700 → Rs. 3125
Stamet XR 50/500 (diabetes): Rs. 698 → Rs. 774
Stamet 50/1000: Rs. 576 → Rs. 650
Xyrtec (allergy): Rs. 360 → Rs. 398
CaC 1000mcg (calcium): Rs. 300 → Rs. 330
Exetore 5/80 (BP & cholesterol): Rs. 350 → Rs. 425
Insulin (Humulin 70/30): Rs. 1507 → Rs. 1613
Mixtard: Rs. 1097 → Rs. 1174
This is nothing less than a health crisis. When ordinary citizens can’t afford basic groceries, doubling medicine prices is social cruelty.
PDLF Demands:
1. Immediate reimposition of price controls on medicines.
2. Accountability of DRAP and the Ministry of Health.
3. Abolishment of the decontrol policy and introduction of new regulatory frameworks.
4. Strengthening of the regulatory authority to stop arbitrary price hikes by pharma companies.
5. Action against profiteering pharmaceutical companies.
6. Free or subsidized medicines for poor patients.
Noor Mahar
President, Pakistan Drug Lawyer Forum (PDLF)
📧 [email protected]
📱 +92 322 4453577
