Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar has said that there is a dire need for collective efforts to be taken by each stakeholder to make Pakistan prosperous.
She expressed these views while addressing the second Pakistan Pharma Summit organised by the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) on Tuesday.
“We cannot compare our economy with other economies because they are not facing same challenges as we do. We are fighting war (against terrorism) here,” she asserted.
“Everyone has to play its important role to steer Pakistan forward. The government too was playing its due role but change takes some time,” the state minister said.
“We have brought an improvement in Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA) to make it more efficient and effective to deliver better services to the masses,” she added.
As many as Rs 145 million had been approved for upgrading World Health Organisation (WHO) pre-qualified quality laboratory and other improvements, she said.
“The maternal health has now become a provincial subject,” she said while replying to a question on rise in deaths per 1,000 births.
“Our population is growing at an alarming rate which has become a big challenge for us. There is a need for making some changes in infrastructure of institutions like the PIA.”
Replying to another question, she said that the government was doing its best and after 5-year tenure of government t the people would decide whom they wanted to elect in the next general elections.
“It is collective responsibility of every citizen to make Pakistan stronger and prosperous,” she said and urged the PPMA to come forward and serve the people of Pakistan.
