LAHORE, June 10: The Pakistan Chemists Retailers Association has announced a strike on July 2 to press the government to accept their demands.

This was announced by PCRA chairman Ishaq Meo at a news conference at Lahore Press Club on Tuesday in the backdrop of health department’s raid on drug shops to check spurious and substandard drugs in the city.

Mr Meo said the shop owners were ready to negotiate with the health department in its drive against spurious and substandard drugs.

He said the PCRA condemned those who sold expired and government property medicines and recommended the government to seal their shops.

He, however, said the raid by the health department was illegal because no one else but drug inspector could conduct raids.

He claimed that the health department officers’ connivance with the manufacturers had created problems in the supply of quality medicines to masses. Mr Meo alleged that the health department officials collect ‘monthlies’ from black sheep to safeguard their interests.