ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Young Pharmacists Association (PYPA) has urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and investigation agencies to conduct a deeper forensic audit, under the Higher Education Commission (HEC), of all PhD and MPhil degrees obtained by officials of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) while in government service.

The demand has been made after it was proved that a former chief executive officer (CEO) of Drap had a fake PhD degree and was later removed from service on the directions of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

PYPA, in a letter addressed to the prime minister, copies of which have been sent to a number of divisions and agencies, has alleged that a number of Drap officials obtained PhD and MPhil degrees without attending university, without conducting any research work and without going on leave. The letter stated that a former Drap CEO, while in service, was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and remained in jail.

He had been receiving a PhD allowance from the government exchequer since 2001 and got promotions from BS-17 to BS-19, and then became CEO on the basis of a fake PhD degree. He was terminated from government service, on the orders of the IHC, by the federal cabinet in 2021.

PYPA has suggested conducting a deeper forensic audit, under the HEC, of all PhD and MPhil degrees obtained by Drap officials and that a direction be given to all officers having PhD and MPhil degrees to appear in the Mid-Career Management Course (MCMC) and that no officer be promoted without clearing the MCMC.

General Secretary PYPA Dr Furqan Ibrahim also suggested ensuring that incidents like that of the former CEO are not repeated in Drap.

“Drap is one of the most sensitive organisations as it deals with drugs used by the masses. Any negligence or appointment of an officer having a fake degree is nothing but playing with the health of the masses,” he said.

Copies of the letter have been sent to a number of offices, including the President of Pakistan, Chairman Public Accounts Committee, health minister, chairman Federal Public Service Commission, secretary cabinet, secretary establishment, chairman NAB, director general FIA, and intelligence agencies.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2026