ISLAMABAD, March 28: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has said that the government is reviewing the decision of imposing 15 per cent General Sales Tax on drugs.

“The president has told us that the government is constrained to levy the GST on medicines due to IMF pressure,” said Therik-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan.

Speaking at a news conference along with Meraj Mohammad Khan and Akbar S. Babar here on Thursday, he said that a 21-member delegation of his party held a three-hour meeting with the president and discussed various political and economic issues.

He said the President told him that the IMF was asking for imposition of the GST either on medicines or on ghee and that it was difficult for his government to plainly say ‘no’ to various Fund’s conditionalities.

“But then the president promised that he was reviewing the issue so as to provide any relief to the people,” he said, adding that the government itself was conscious of the fact that the increase in the prices of medicines would badly hit the common man.

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...