Crackdown on Pharmacies Triggers Protest in D.I. Khan
Pakistan News
Dera Ismail Khan, September 15, 2026 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News) — Several medical stores were sealed during a crackdown on illegal practices and the sale of medicines without proper records in the district, prompting chemists and druggists to stage a protest and take out a rally on Tuesday.
Following directives from Deputy Commissioner Hikmatullah Khan, Assistant Commissioner Dera Dr Hamid Siddique, along with the provincial drug inspector and officials from the Industries Department, conducted surprise inspections of various medical stores. They checked the sale and purchase of medicines, records, and compliance with legal requirements.
During these inspections, medications such as Gablin and Gabica were found at some stores without proper entries in their records. The medicines were seized, and the stores were sealed for allegedly failing to adhere to legal procedures and maintain adequate records. Officials also investigated the absence of qualified personnel, the supply of medicines without doctor's prescriptions, and other potential violations of drug laws. Notices were issued to store owners, and further legal actions were taken against them.
Dr Hamid Siddique asserted that any activity compromising public health, especially children's well-being, would not be tolerated.
Meanwhile, the Chemists and Druggists Association, led by its chairman Haji Muhammad Ramzan, voiced their opposition to these actions. Medical store owners closed their shops and participated in a rally.
Ramzan argued that no banned medicines were recovered from any medical store during the operation. He criticized the administration for not consulting the association before executing the action, claiming that the stores were sealed unilaterally. He labeled the move as unjust.