Pharmacists demand four-tier structure
Syed Hazrat Ali Agha, the President of the Pakistan Pharmacist Association Balochistan, is calling for the immediate establishment of a four-tier service structure for pharmacists and drug inspectors in Balochistan.
During a press conference at the Quetta Press Club on Tuesday, he underscored the urgent need for notification of this structure, threatening a sustained protest if their demands remain unaddressed.
He highlighted the prolonged denial of the basic constitutional right of a four-tier structure for pharmacists and drug inspectors in Balochistan, extending back 15 years.
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He recalled a committee formed during Dr. Malik’s tenure, which included senior bureaucratic officers, had reached a decision in favor of establishing the structure. Regrettably, this decision has yet to see implementation.
Similar recommendations were put forth during Nawab Sanaullah Zehri’s tenure, but bureaucratic hurdles prevented their realization once again. Even when the Supreme Court mandated the notification of the four-tier structure, compliance was lacking.
Agha revealed that in 2020, the Chief Secretary of Balochistan initiated a committee involving officials from various departments, yet these efforts proved fruitless. He expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed formulas, deeming them unacceptable.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2023.