Govt committed to wiping out spurious drugs, says CM

Shehbaz says testing labs in province are a source of pride for nation

LAHORE: The government is committed to eliminating fake and spurious drugs from the province, asserted Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

“That is why samples of drugs are not checked by archaic labs because they were untrustworthy,” he said.

Shehbaz Sharif expressed these views while addressing the delegation of 30 students who were headed to Turkey under a Turkish language scholarship program.



The chief minister said these age-old laboratories were akin to death cells and the business had been continuing for the last 70 years. “I have been fighting with this mafia for the last nine years. There is no shame in adopting new knowledge or skills.” He said that there was no dearth of resources and rather there was a “poverty in approach.” Shehbaz claimed the government Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had eliminated the 70-year-old culture of recommendations and nepotism and was promoting merit in every sector.

He said South Asia’s best forensic lab had been set up in Punjab and talented experts were selected on merit. He pointed out that the judges of the apex court had also visited the lab.



“Cases were being referred to this lab not only from all the provinces, but also other countries,” he added.

The CM pointed out that qualified experts worked in this lab and a system of transparency had been ensured. He said the lab was a thing of pride for the Pakistani people. “Similarly, state-of-the-art drug testing labs had been established and all the staff was employed purely on merit, he added.

|Shehbaz recalled it being recommended that the old staff of the lab be retained, but he rejected the idea as he felt it was not in the best interest of the testing facility. “I will not tolerate it if people suffer,” he said.

Turning his attention to the selected students, the CM said these were the bright stars who were selected to learn Turkish from the University of Istanbul. He said Pakistan and Turkey enjoyed close, brotherly relations and both were standing by each other in trying times.

“Pakistan and Turkey are conjoined twins and friendship along is growing between the two countries.”

He said that a number of Turkish companies have been investing in Punjab and such collaboration was increasing. “Therefore, it is important for the Pakistani youth to learn Turkish,” he added.

The CM said the provincial education minister, chief secretary, ACS as well as the secretaries of education departments and vice chancellors deserved accolades for selecting students purely on merit.



Replying to a question over the allegation of a private TV channel, the chief minister said a few media persons were responsible for lying and defaming politicians. “There was no bigger sin than lying,” he added. “I suggest all should be held accountable as they are doing a great disservice by leveling such baseless allegations,” he said.

Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif also distributed laptops among students going to Turkey. Five officers were included in the delegation of these students. Schools Education Minister Rana Mashhood, Turkish Consul General Serdar Deniz and others were present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2017.