Pharmaceutical Review (Muhammad Usman) Islamabad: March 24 ,2024: The Young Pharmacists Association has highlighted the gang led by Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) chief, Asim Rauf, who, it noted in a letter addressed to prime minister , Shahbaz Sharif , connived with pharma industry to get de-controlled life- saving drugs . It claimed in the letter now available with the Prime Minister Office that de-controlling of drugs in Pakistan is like bombing the patients and their attendants to kill them in one go before their natural death.

The letter is as under,

“Respected Sir
Mr. Asim Rauf CEO, Mr. Amanullah Director Pricing, Mr. Ajmal Sohail, Mr. Sayyad Hussain, Mr. Fakhrudin Amer, Mr. Bilal Bin Akber of DRAP attacked directly on 250 million Pakistanis by removing mandatory control on medicine prices on 06 February 2024. The time and date of removing control on medicine prices was selected in such a wicked way that no hue and cry could be
listened by the high-ups of the country, as there were general elections on 08 February 2024.
Once removing control on medicine prices was proposed by the than Finance Minister Mr. Shaukat Aziz in March 2002, but Pakistan Young Pharmacist Association informed the than CEO Pakistan and President of Pakistan General Pervez Musharaf that market forces cannot determine the medicine prices in Pakistan, because in almost every commodity there is one person who has to
determine, whether I may buy or not. In purchasing medicines there are three different persons involved, who are:

• Client – Doctor
• Customer – Attendant of patient (patient’s son/ father/ mother/ husband/ brother/ sister/ daughter etc)
• Consumer – Patient

Unluckily, 999 out of 1000 doctors are not prescribing medicines and diagnostic tests on real disease based; rather prescription is based on the volume of bribe paid by Pharmaceutical Companies and Diagnostic Laboratories to doctors; which is a homicidal crime. As per amount of the bribe, the prescription becomes heavier. Extreme sadly, if the prices of medicines were increase, then consumption of medicines would increase. Doctors are always happy on medicine price increase; herein “grater the medicine prices richer the doctors”; “increase in medicine sales richer the doctors”.

Pharmaceutical companies are profit making organizations, they do not believe on charity. How we can assume that pharma companies would reduce their profits or business. On the other hand, our regulator of medicines i.e. officials of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan are extremely corrupt, which is favorable for profit making pharma companies. Pharmaceutical Companies by
lobbing always get key appointments of DRAP (Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan) to most corrupt officials. Mr. Asim Rauf CEO, Mr. Amanullah Director Pricing, Mr. Sayyad Hussain, Mr. Ajmal Sohail, Mr. Fakhrudin Amer, Mr. Bilal Bin Akber are the most corrupt officials of DRAP; and always made and executed anti-Pakistan, anti-patient policies. They made and executed policies, which increases profits of Pharmaceutical Companies; more over they increased the import bill of medicines and also encouraged Transfer Pricing (money laundering). The above officials were making their utmost efforts for five years to remove control on medicine prices, and remained successful on 6th February 2024, when our esteemed Establishment and Cabinet were busy
in General Elections and Law enforcement in the Country.

DRAP has registered such medicines in Pakistan, which were already banned e.g. Panadol Extend 665mg; and gave approval of its advertisement on mass media; moreover Panadol 500mg was removed from market for two years to convert patients on Panadol Extent 665mg. DRAP has introduced a nefarious way to loot poor patients by enlistment of medicines without fixing prices. DRAP officials are regularly getting foreign tours from private Pharmaceutical Companies (which is direct bribe) resultantly import bill of medicines is increasing day by day.

After 18th amendment the medicine registration and pricing is the prerogative of provinces, DRAP is an unconstitutional organization. Since DRAP was established to supply of Quality Medicines at Economical Prices to Every Pakistani; whereby, DRAP has miserably failed to supply Quality Medicines and Economical Prices to Pakistani, hence medicine registration and pricing
may be given to Provinces as per Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Moreover removing the control on medicine prices and registration of banned medicines is extreme violation of Constitutional guarantees afforded to every citizen of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and grave violation of Drugs Act 1976 and violation of DRAP Act 2012Foreign tours of DRAP officials sponsored by private Pharmaceutical Companies and Transfer Pricing (money laundering) is anti-Pakistan activities of DRAP officials. It is famous that DRAP officials get huge bribes off shore, that is why DRAP officials encourage transfer pricing (money laundering) for smooth transaction of off shore bribe. It is also famous that huger than ever off shore bribe was given by Pharmaceutical Companies to Mr. Asim Rauf CEO, Mr. Amanullah Director Pricing, Mr. Ajmal Sohail,
Mr. Fakhrudin Amer, Mr. Bilal Bin Akber, Mr. Sayyad Hussain of DRAP for removing mandatory control on medicine prices.

Muslim League (N) and Peoples Party are always focused on welfare of poor patients and focused on free medicines in Government Hospitals. If medicine prices would increase by ten times on average then it would be almost impossible for the government to give free medicines at government hospitals.
Mr. Asim Rauf’s benami businesses:

1. Factory M/s Zeta Pharma, 494 Sundar Industrial Estate, Lahore, Pakistan.
2. M/s Zeta Pharma, 36 Al Sheikh Mohammed Al Nadi St., Off Mostafa El Nahaas St. 6th District. Nasr City, Cairo, Egyp.
3. M/s Asto Life Sciences (Pvt) Ltd, Lahore, Pakistan.
4. Capra-Med (Pvt) Ltd, First Floor, 81 Commercial Broadway, Paragon City, Barki Road, Lahore, Pakistan.

It is pertinent to mention here that Mr. Asim Rauf CEO DRAP is exercising all the powers of Federal Government (Federal Cabinet) since 07 March 2019 in grave violation of law conferred upon by DRAP Act 2012, Drugs Act 1976 and Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Mr. Asim Rauf is getting salary Rs 1350000 per month along with other perks, which is not approved from
Ministry of Finance. Mr. Asim Rauf gave Rs 500 million bribe to the than Minister and Mrs. Farrah Gogi to become acting CEO DRAP in March 2019 and once again gave Rs 1 billion bribe to the than Minister and Mrs. Farrah Gogi to become regular CEO DRAP in February 2022; wherefrom, under section 5 of DRAP Act 2012, one can be appointed CEO for three years and acting CEO can be appointed for three months. If Mr. Asim Rauf were complete his tenure, he would be CEO for six years, which is grave violation of section 5 of DRAP Act 2012.

On the order of Prime Minister, an inquiry was held to determine, whether the promotion of Mr. Asim Rauf, Mr. Obaidullah and Mr. Fakhrudin Amer from BS-18 to BS-19 was lawful or otherwise. The inquiry concluded the promotions were illegal and inquiry recommended that all above officers must be reverted to BS-18 forthwith. Under the above circumstances, it is most respectfully prayed that declare the notification of removing control on medicine prices illegal, null and void; start a criminal prove against Mr. Asim Rauf CEO, Mr. Amanullah Director Pricing, Mr. Ajmal Sohail, Mr. Fakhrudin Amer, Mr. Sayyad Hussain, Mr. Bilal Bin Akber and probe all allegations level in this complaint against DRAP officials; and appoint honest officials in DRAP for the preferment of poor patients”.

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Pharmaceutical Review (Staff Reporter) Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation & Coordination, Kahsar Block (3^rd Floor) Pak New Secretariat, Government of Pakistan has officially undertaken the application No. 505/23 dated December 13, 2023. The case was added into the “Most Immediate” category and responded in urgent manner. Mr. Iran Ullah Khan Assistant Director, Regulation, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation & Coordination, Government of Pakistan has issued letter dated December 29, 2023 described his jurisdiction and official limitation. The prompt reply of Iran Ullah Khan confirms his sense of responsibility, professional commitment and dedication to work. Undoubtedly, we proud upon such amazing officials of Government of Pakistan.

The case No.: 501/23 dated September 5, 2023 was send to the CEO/ Chairman of Lords College of Pharmacy, 53-M, Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate, Kot Lakhpat, Lahore Pakistan (T.: 042-35116004-6,  0301-3465555, info@lords.edu.pk, https://lords.edu.pk). Because he has hired corrupt and dishonest person Sajid Bashir and appointed his as Principal of Lords College of Pharmacy, Lahore, Pakistan. This is as explicit violation of professional ethics, education standard and dignity of pharmacy profession. The case was filed in about 29 different authorities, including,

1. President, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan. 
2. Chairman of the Senate, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan.
3. Chief of Army Staff, Directorate General Defense, Rawalpindi, Punjab 46000, Pakistan.
4. Governor (Pb)/ Chancellor University of Sargodha and of the Punjab,
5. Chief Minister Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
6. Chief Information Commissioner, Lahore, Pakistan.
7. Director General Health/ President Pharmacy Council of Pakistan.
8. Higher Education Department, Government of Punjab, Lahore Pakistan.
9. Chief Secretary Punjab Kamran Ali Afzal Home Department, Lahore, Pakistan.
10. SAPM Health, Ministry of National Health Services Regulations & Coordination’s Islamabad, Pakistan.
11. The Vice Chancellor University of Sargodha, Pakistan.
12. Chief Information Commissioner, Islamabad, Pakistan.
13. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) DRAP), Islamabad, Pakistan.
14. Director General Health/ President Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, Islamabad.
15. Deputy Director, Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, Islamabad.
16. Mr. Speaker, Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Lahore, Pakistan.
17. Secretaries, Provincial Pharmacy Councils, all provinces of Pakistan. 
18. The Chairman,Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, Pakistan.
19. Chairman NAB, Lahore Office – Regional NAB Lahore. NAB (L), Lahore
20. Members Syndicate, University of Sargodha, Sargodha 40100 Pakistan.
21. Secretaries, Provincial Pharmacy Councils, all provinces of Pakistan. 
22. Pakistan Pharmacist Association (PPA), Pakistan.
23. Intelligence and Law Enforcing Agencies, Government of Pakistan.
24. Transparency International Pakistan Karachi, Pakistan. 
25. All major local and international media houses and news agencies.

The aforesaid alleged culprit Sajid Bashir has a long terrible history of corruption. The cases/ information distributed to different local and international authorities. However, the alleged culprit Sajid Bashir is still working as principal pharmacy with Lords College of Pharmacy, 53-M, Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate, Kot Lakhpat, Lahore Pakistan. That confirms the poor performance of Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan. That is also a big question mark upon the educational substandard and pharmaceutical academia in country. Thus, we can expect anything, if we are really residing in the banana republic. Our Ex-Prime Minister Nowaz Sharif release from Supreme Court, establishment managed current Electoral 2024, great leader Imran Khan convicted with baseless/ fake cases.

Pharmaceutical Review (Staff Reporter) An application No.: 391/823 dated August 18, 2023, was filed in the UNESCO Headquarters, 7 place Fontenoy, 75007 Paris, France (eie@unesco.org). The same request was also sent to the

1. Transparency International Pakistan, 4-C, Mezzanine Floor, Khayaban-e-Ittehad, Phase VII, D.H.A., Karachi, Pakistan (Tel.: +92 21 35390408-9; Fax: +92 21 35390410; E.: ti.pakistan@gmail.com; W.: http://www.transparency.org.pk)
2. Transparency International, International Secretariat, Alt-Moabit 96 10559 Berlin Germany. ti@transparency.org, info-us@transparency.org, https://us.transparency.org/
3. Chief Information Commissioner, 1st Floor, National Arcade, A4 Plaza, F-8 Markaz Islamabad, Capital Territory, Pakistan. 051-9261013-4 | appeals@rti.gov.pk

The UNESCO is undoubtedly advocating for accessing to information as a fundamental freedom and a key pillar in building inclusive knowledge for civil societies. You are amazingly contributing to promote the rights and values outlined in the Article 19 of the Universal declaration of Human Rights. The objectives of freedom of expression, promotion of the rule of law and other rights and building trust may not be achieved without accessing to information in established pattern. Those will potentially enabler the nations to make sustainable development in the major sectors including health, environment and employment. Thus, UNESCO helping the member states to comply with and implement international treaties and agreements, norms and standards related to universal access to information as well as to contribute towards peaceful societies (SDG 16). The General Assembly of the United Nations appointed UNESCO in in September 2015 as the custodian UN agency for global monitoring of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator 16.10.2 : “number of countries that adopt and implement constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for ’public access to information”. Additionally, the access to Information can be defined as the right to seek, receive and impart information held by public bodies. It is an integral part of the fundamental right of freedom of expression, as recognized by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), which states that the fundamental right of freedom of expression encompasses the freedom to “to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”.

An application No.: 385/633-23 dated June 18, 2023 was filed in the office of the Honorable Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman, Governor of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan to obtain the subject cited information. Unluckily, no response received from respected Governor. Therefore, the appellant requested the Chief Information Commissioner, Islamabad Pakistan under my application No. 389/635-23 dated July 14, 2023 for same information. I did not receive any response from honorable officers of this CIC, Islamabad. So, the Therefore, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France was requested to intervene to obtain the subject cited information under the rights and values outlined in the Article 19 of the Universal declaration of Human Rights. The intervention requested to all possible forums to obtain the information under the rights and values outlined in the Article 19 of the Universal declaration of Human Rights. The information requested are related to the following corruption, irregularities and illegalities of Dr. Sajid Bashir (Ex-Dean Pharmacy) of University of Sargodha, Pakistan,

1. The culprit was illegally recruited and appointed as Professor of Pharmacy (BS-21), with due attention to the alleged irregularities pointed out by Prof. Dr. Muhammad llyas Tariq in his revision petition, and failure to perform duty as per requirements Law/Statutes. No.: 385/100422 dated April 10, 2022; case filed in Higher Education Commission, confirmed by the letter No. 05-48/A&C(Affairs)/2016/7151 dated July 01, 2016, and forward to the concerned authority for comments; Writ petition No. 37666/2021, wherein the petitioner has challenged the appointment.
2. The irregularities and illegal usage of the resources and power (No.: 431/693 dated December 15, 2022; cases No.: 417/677 dated October 3, 2022 and No.: 411/653 dated August 30, 2022). The concealment of Facts and Hiding the Record of Illegal Appointment of Professor of Pharmacy, University of Sargodha was also reported under letter No.: 377/625 dated March 23, 2022.
3. The failure of Drug Manufacturing Project worth of Approximately Rs. 0.8 Billion, After 18 Years of its Deployment; Because of Corruption of Dean Pharmacy and Partner of the Firm M/S University of Sargodha Pharmaceutical Laboratories. No.: 401/643 dated June 23, 2022 (Annexure 4). 
4. The recovery of illegally and ethically obtained funds by Dean Pharmacy University of Sargodha by misusing of Office Power and Authorities were demanded under application No.: 391/Pharm/22 dated March 24, 2022

The culprit Dr. Sajid Bashir is currently working as principal pharmacy with Lords College of Pharmacy, 53-M, Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate, Kot Lakhpat, Lahore Pakistan. That confirm the poor performance of Pharmacy Council of Pakistan. This is also a huge question mark upon the educational substandard and pharmaceutical education quality in country.

Pharmaceutical Review (Staff Reporter) The application No.: 503/23 dated December 13, 2023 was filed in the office of the Global Right to Information Rating, Centre for Law and Democracy (info@law-democracy.org, +1 902 431-3686; www.law-democracy.org) to obtaining the final decision of the syndicate on behalf of the findings/ reports submitted by the committee constituted under notification No. SU/Admin(HR) 6469-74 dated: 67.11.2022 under RTI Act, 2013 and the Article 19-A of Constitution and Punjab Transparency.

Reference to the letter No. GS/SO(Uni-II)11-11/2018-240 dated November 6, 2023 of the Chancellor/ Governor Punjab, Governor’s Secretariat, Lahore, Pakistan in continuation of the application No. 499/23 dated – Chief Information Commissioner, F-8 Markaz Islamabad, Pakistan and application No.: 500/23 dated September 6, 2023 –Vice Chancellor, University of Sargodha, it was stated by innocent appellant who received the Minutes of Syndicate of UOS held on 06.09.2023, but, unluckily, I did not request this. he needs the following information,   

1. The findings/ reports submitted by inquiry committee to the Syndicate of UOS.
2. The final decision, notification and/ or letter issued by University of Sargodha to the alleged culprit (Dr. Sajid Bashir) on behalf of the above report.

The respected applicant reserved the right under Right to Information (RTI) Act 2013, Article 19-A of the Constitution of Pakistan and Punjab Transparency Act. Therefore, Global Right to Information Rating was requested to intervene to obtain above information. Unluckily, the Global Right to Information Rating has Ignored and avoided to enforcing the RTI Act 2013; Article 19-A of Constitution of Pakistan and Punjab Transparency. That is an indication of his discriminatory role and poor performance in Pakistan.

Additionally, the overall culprit Dr. Sajid Bashir has a long terrible history of corruption; the cases/ information already submitted to different authorities. Even though, the alleged Dr. Sajid Bashir is currently working as principal pharmacy with Lords College of Pharmacy, 53-M, Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate, Kot Lakhpat, Lahore Pakistan. That confirm the poor performance of Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan. That is also a big question mark upon the educational substandard and pharmaceutical academia in country.

Pharmaceutical Review (Staff Reporter) Ms. Nausheen Sarwar, Deputy Secretary (Uni-I) issued the direction under letter No. GS/SO(Univ-II)11-11/2018-240 dated November 6, 2023 on behalf of the honorable Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman, Governor of Punjab & Chancellor University of Sargodha. The innocent applicant stated that he received the Minutes of Syndicate held on 06.09.2023 is attached under the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act-2013. Unluckily, this is not the information he needs. He has requested the findings/ reports submitted to the Syndicate by the following experts,

1. Prof. Dr. Robina Farooq (T.1) Convener, Then Vice Chancellor, Govt. College Women University, Faisalabad.
2. Prof. (Rtd.) Dr. Rubina Tareen (Member) Member Syndicate.
3. Additional Secretary (Universities) Member or his nominee Higher Education Department, Govt. of the Punjab, Lahore

Additionally, he need the final decision, notification and/ or letter issued to the culprit or alleged person (Dr. Sajid Bashir) on behalf of the above reports. I reserved the right under Right to Information (RTI) Act 2013 to obtain aforesaid information. Moreover, the Article 19-A of the Constitution of Pakistan also grant me the privilege as part of the fundamental right of citizen of Pakistan. Unluckily, he did not received above information within defined period of time. Therefore, your kind intervention requested to obtain the information.