Body found

MURREE, March 15: A body was found near Lawrence College in the forest of Cantonment area, police sources said on Thursday.

A passerby spotted the corpse lying in the forest and reported to police which reached the spot and shifted it to THQ hospital. The deceased in his mid 40s was still to be identified. — Correspondent

Clinics sealed

RAWALPINDI, March 15: The District Health Department on Thursday issued challans to two clinics and sealed two others for using expired drugs.

The health department team under the supervision of Drug Inspector Naveed Ahmed conducted a raid at Dhoke Syedan and Tali Mohari areas and found that four clinics and chemist shops being run without qualified staff had kept unwarranted and expired drugs.

The team sealed Arslan Medical Store at Tali Mohari and Zahid Clinic at Dhoke Syedan. It also issued challans to Ali Medical Store and Fatima Nursing Hospital on same charges.

Executive District Officer (EDO) Health Dr Zafar Iqbal Gondal said the drug inspectors had been directed to visit all the markets and areas of the district to reign in those playing havoc with lives of masses. — A Reporter

Robbers strike at three places

RAWALPINDI, March 15: Robbers struck at three places in the city and took away gold ornaments, cash and cellphones, police said on Thursday.

Mudassirullah, who had recently returned from abroad, was sitting in his house along with his family when three persons entered the house and looted Rs47,900, three cellphones and gold ornaments.

Imran Aziz, a resident of Dhoke Chaudhrian, told the police that five masked robbers entered his house Wednesday night. He said two of the robbers ransacked the house while their accomplices made the inmates hostage.

The robbers looted Rs60,000, a laptop and gold ornaments and escaped after locking the inmates in a room.

Mohammad Sharif complained to the police that he was standing near Valley Way Chowk after midnight when four persons snatched Rs1,000 and four mobile phones from him and fled. — Staff Reporter

Chemists threaten  protest

RAWALPINDI, March 15: Pakistan Chemist and Druggist Association (PCDA) on Thursday rejected Drug Regulatory Agency of Pakistan Ordinance-2012.

The office-bearers of the association demanded that the ordinance should be withdrawn otherwise they would launch countrywide protests.

The representatives of the four provinces and other parts of the country during a meeting said that the ordinance was promulgated without consulting the stakeholders and associations of the pharmaceutical industry.

PCDA Vice Chairman Tehseenul Haq was of the view that the ordinance was introduced on the behest of multinational pharmaceutical companies so that they might strengthen their business in Pakistan and wipe out the local manufacturers.

“Our pharmacy industry has made markets in Asia and many European countries which indicate the performance and quality of locally-manufactured medicines. But it is regrettable that the ordinance was introduced without consulting the stakeholders,” he told the meeting.

President Punjab Chemist and Druggist Association Zahid Bakhtawri said the representatives of chemists associations must be included as member of Drug Regulatory Agency (DRA) and should be consulted on the issues pertaining to legislation and policymaking. — Our Reporter