Govt lifts ban on export of Tyvek suits

Now, there is no restriction on export of personal protective equipment

ISLAMABAD:

The federal cabinet has lifted the ban on export of Tyvek suits and anti-malarial drugs, including chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine.

The decision was taken while reviewing a summary prepared by the Ministry of Commerce in a meeting of the cabinet on Tuesday.

Following the lifting of the ban on export of Tyvek suits, there is now no restriction on the export of any kind of personal protective equipment (PPE).

After the Covid-19 pandemic hit Pakistan in late February 2020, the federal cabinet imposed a ban on the export of various types of PPE as well as the anti-malarial drugs, which were prescribed for Covid-19 treatment.

Meanwhile, the federal cabinet constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood and took all the relevant stakeholders on board to oversee the stock position of various kinds of PPE. It also asked the committee to make recommendations about the export of these items for the cabinet’s consideration. Afterwards, the subject of export of all Covid-19-related materials was transferred to the committee by the National Command and Operation Centre.

The committee held regular meetings and based on its recommendations, the ban on all items, except Tyvek suits, was lifted in two meetings of the cabinet held on June 6, 2020 and August 18, 2020.

The Ministry of National Health Services, which had representation in the committee, conveyed the decision of 33rd meeting of the policy board of Drugs Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) held on August 17, 2020, which suggested the lifting of ban on export of all anti-malaria drugs.

The matter was also discussed in the committee, which also recommended removal of the ban. After the lifting of the ban on export of PPE and anti-malarial drugs by the cabinet, the committee will continue to monitor the stock position and requirement in the country.

It is pertinent to mention that because of this initiative of the government, the PPE production capacity rose considerably in Pakistan and the country is now able to export PPE despite initially being an importer of many of these items.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2020.

Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.