ISLAMABAD: A huge well organised fake drug sale licenses (DSLs) scam has hit Punjab, questioning credibility of Health Department of the province and so of Usman Buzdar’s rule.
An official inquiry report, a copy made available to NEWSMAN, suggested that District Health Officer (DHO) Kasur in connivance with his associates issued 350 fake DSLs since 2017.
The inquiry committee recommended disciplinary action against CEOs/EDOs who were posted in Kasur during the last five years and allegedly involved in the same . These included Dr Abdul Majeed ex ECO Kasur, Dr Shakoor, ex EDO Kasur, Dr Saleemur Rehman ex EDO Kasur, Dr Arslan Randhawa, ex EDO Kasur, Dr Zulfiqar Ali Bhango, ex EDO kasur, Dr Saeed ullah Khan Ex EDO Kasur, Dr Muhammad Khalid ex EDO Kasur and Dr Masood Tariq ex EDO Kasur.
The inquiry report claimed that Kasur’s case of 350 fake drug sale licenses is a tip of an iceberg of the scam as this dirty business of issuing licenses for sale of drugs in Punjab is at its peak for the last at least three years .
The racket involved in issuing of fake drug sales license was so daring that it probably never thought of facing consequence of its illegal activity. The report noted that the racket of senior officials of Health Department, Punjab issued license to school teachers, minors and illiterate individuals.
The report disclosed that some junior level officials of DCO Kasur made bid to spoil record of the district health office to hush up the issue and avoid investigation.
Majid Irfan S/o Tufail (M/s New Tufail Pharmacy) is a typical case of a school teacher who was issued a drug sale license in 2015. This case is readily available for reference. It speaks of volume of the scam and it is enough to establish as to how DCO (H) DDA, Kasur misused his authority to indulge in an illegal act to get financial benefits. You can also find minors up to 6 years in whose names drug sale licenses have been issued by CEO (H) Kasur.
The official document suggests Provincial Quality Control Board Punjab sprang in action in February 2021 after receiving some complaints from some individuals and it sought report from the Secretary District Quality Control Board, Kasur.
The action against the organized mafia involved in issuance of fake drug sale licenses is a good omen. The provincial authorities should extend the ambit of investigations to other districts of Punjab to dig out real size of the scam and take action against all characters of the scam.
President Drug lawyers Forum, Noor Mahar, expresses serious concern over the issuance of fake drug sale licenses to other than pharmacists and demanded strict action against all characters of the scam.
Speaking to NEWSMAN from Lahore by phone, Noor Mahar, demanded immediate action and arrest of those who issued fake drug sale licenses
