March 19, 2002	Tuesday	Muharram 4, 1423

PESHAWAR, March 18: The local pharmaceutical industry is, apparently, losing initiative to enhance its market share in Afghanistan due to policy curbs applied by the anti-Pakistan elements in the interim Afghan set-up, according to trade and business circles.

Interviews with NWFP-based pharmaceutical manufacturers revealed that Afghan traders previously importing Pakistan-made drugs in large quantity had reduced the quantum of their import following the removal of Taliban.

“The Afghan importers based in Kabul, Jalalabad, Mazar-e- Sharif have reduced the imports from Pakistan fearing action from commanders and warlords harbouring anti-Pakistan feelings,” said Imtiaz Ahmed, a local pharmaceutical manufacturer.

During Taliban’s days, drugs used to be imported in proportion much greater than the present situation as Afghanistan-related sales of drugs in the local drug markets had recorded considerable decline during the last two to three months, said a drug-exporter.

Market forces said that in view of decrease in market demand for Pakistani drugs in the Afghan markets had created room for the much cheaper drugs of the Iranian and Indian origin.

Afghan importers were switching over to Iranian and Indian drugs as anti-Pakistan commanders and warlords — associated with Northern Alliance — did not like them to sell Pakistani products, said another Peshawar-based manufacturer.

During the Taliban days, said a manufacturer, the NWFP-based pharmaceutical manufacturers were making good money in Afghanistan after several of their products were registered in Afghanistan by the war-ravaged country’s health department.

Several of the now defunct Taliban officials, controlling the health ministry previously, said the market forces, had also paid visits to some of the NWFP-based pharmaceutical manufacturing units to inspect the plants, manufacturing conditions and discuss other details to provide access to their products to Afghan markets.

“Though my products are duly registered in Afghanistan after having been duly recognized by the authorities concerned of the Afghan government my exports to Afghanistan in the post-Taliban scenario have recorded sharp decline,” said a leading pharmaceutical manufacturer requesting anonymity.

Majority of the pharmaceutical manufacturers held federal government responsible for the losses they are suffering due to decline in their exports to Afghanistan.

They wanted the federal authorities concerned to take up the issue with their counterpart in Afghanistan to improve the situation, ensure free and fair competition with the Indian and Iranian drugs by ensuring their products’ access to Afghan markets.