THIS refers to the letter ‘Fata and fake drugs’ (Feb 26) about the role of drug control department in Gilgit Baltistan. Fake drugs are widely spread in the length and breadth of the country, and Gilgit Baltistan is no exception. The drug control department of GB is fully aware of this crime but never took action.

Interferon, the hepatitis C injections in the DHQ Hospital, Gilgit, were purchased through contractors by means of tenders and were fake and bogus. The interferon vaccines provided by the DHQ Hospital are not effective.

The drug control department of Gilgit Baltistan has shown its own laboratory in the files to get annual budget but, in fact, there is no laboratory functioning under the drug control department in Gilgit Baltistan. It is an alarming situation that the drug control department is functioning without its own laboratory. It is a useless body and is playing with innocent lives of the people of Gilgit Baltistan.

The only source for controlling fake drugs is the drug control department, which is involved in this game of death for the sake of commission as it avoids testing life-saving drugs, including interferon vaccines.

I request the chief judge of Supreme Appellate Court, Gilgit Baltistan, and the chief secretary of Gilgit Baltistan to take action against the drug control department of Gilgit Baltistan to save people’s lives.

SAJID HUSSAIN     Kashrote, Gilgit