Chemists’ no to spurious drugs

Published October 15, 2006

GUJRANWALA, Oct 14: Local chemists have pledged at a convention that they will not sell time-barred and spurious medicines. The convention was arranged by newly-appointed executive district officer (health) Dr Nisar Ahmad Cheema at the district council hall on Saturday.

Holding out an assurance to chemists, he said no drug inspector or other official would bother them over minor issues. He said that medical stores inside private hospitals would be checked and stern action would be taken against those selling outdated and spurious medicines.

He said that health officials involved in corruption had been dismissed from service, adding now drug licences could be taken without fee or bribe.

Chemists association president Iftikhar Ahmad Goga extended cooperation on behalf of chemists and medical store owners to the EDO (health) to eliminate mafia.

Quality Control Board secretary Muazam Ali Khan and other senior officers also spoke.

SUSPENDED: As many four employees of the irrigation department were suspended from service while 28 others, including three sub-engineers and 12 patwaries, were issued show-cause notices here on Saturday.

Suspended employees Akram Gujjar, Yousaf, Afzal and Faroq Younas were charged with instigating the other employees to go on a strike against senior officers for their attitude towards them. They were found guilty in an inquiry.

Twenty other employees, including a dozen patwaries and three sub-engineers, who were involved in stealing canal water and supporting big landlords in water theft cases, were issued show-cause notices.

Irrigation executive engineer Abdul Sattar Niazi pointed out that irrigation head clerk Ghulam Sawar, account clerk Dilshad Ahmad and three sub-engineers Nazir, Yaqoob and Sharafat were involved in canal water theft and their cases had been sent to the anti-corruption establishment.

He said that water theft in Naushera Virkan, Tetley, Wahando, Ferozewala, Sadhoki and Hafizabad was on the rise. He revealed that as many 2,000 landlords had so far been booked for stealing canal water.

REMANDED: A local court remanded former district naib nazim Haji Gohar Zaman in custody for four days here on Saturday.

Sabzi Mandi police arrested him when he was at an outhouse on Sheikhupura Road.

The police also seized a huge quantity of arms from him and his men. He was allegedly involved in murder and abduction cases.

The court ordered his production again on Oct 18.

DACOITY BID: An industrialist foiled a dacoity bid here on Saturday.

Rizwan Ahmad had just withdrawn Rs462,000 from a bank branch in Trust Plaza when a person snatched cash from him and tried to escape.

Rizwan managed to overpower him and recovered money from him. The cash snatcher, however, managed to escape later in the presence of bank guards and police.

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