THIS refers to the report ‘Over 48m Panadol tablets seized in Karachi raid’ (Sept 16). It seems the only objective of the pharmaceutical industry is to make money even if it is at the cost of the lives of millions.

Most of the multinational pharma-ceutical companies have their head offices in foreign countries. For marketing their products, they are hand in glove with medical practitioners who prescribe their medicines and in return get joy rides and other ‘rewards’.

Panadol manufacturers claimed loss of Re1 per tablet. Previously, a strip of 10 tablets was available for Rs10 which was discontinued and later re-introduced with a price tag of Rs60; costlier by six times.

The alleged loss of Rs1 could have been adjusted by raising the price from Rs10 to Rs20, but we have mafias in Pakistan that exploit the common man as much as possible, and that, too, without any fear of punishment or accountability.

We need to learn from our regional neighbours where pharmaceutical industry has become a major player in the global supply chain, instead of exploiting their own people by hoarding medicines and profiteering during a health crisis.

Abdul Ghaffar Gheewala
Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2022