KARACHI, March 27: Criticizing the imposition of general sales tax (GST) on medicines, PMA secretary-general Dr Shershah Syed on Wednesday demanded immediate withdrawal of the government decision, saying that the move was unlikely to yield desired results.

Speaking at a press conference at PMA House, he said the move was illogical and bound to put greater burden on the poor.

Dr Shershah said after imposition of GST on medicines and the subsequent 15 per cent increase in the prices of medicines, a parallel market, consisting of cheaper drugs smuggled from India and Iran, would be created.

This, he said, would invariably hamper the government’s plan of earning another Rs4 billion in revenue.

He instead advised the government to levy GST on sales of hazardous addictive such as Pan, ghutkka and cigarettes, which were the leading causes of mouth, throat and lung cancer, saying that such a step would help eliminate harmful addiction because of its rising cost.

He said doctors all over the country would observe a black day on March 30 to demand government measures for ensuring their safety and immediate arrest of those responsible for the killing of doctors in Karachi.

Dr Shershah said doctors all over the country will hold meetings in their hospitals and places of work and will wear black arm-bands. They will also inform their patients as to why the black day was being observed.

He pointed out that doctors would perform their duties as usual and there would be no strike on that day.

However, on the same day, members of the Pakistan Medical Association would observe a six-hour hunger strike outside all the press clubs of the provincial capitals in the country.

Prof Yasmin Rashid, President PMA Centre, will observe hunger strike in Lahore, he added.

Dr Shershah said that as per decision of the PMA Central Council, a complete strike of doctors had been planned for April 8 in protest against delay in arresting the killers. He, however, said complete emergency cover would be provided to patients.

He told the newsmen that because of killing of doctors, many of them had already left the country, while many others were in tow.

The PMA leader demanded of the government to take effective measures for protection of doctors.