CM dismisses staff of Drug Testing Lab over corruption charges

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday presided over a meeting and took significant initiatives to ensure the provision of quality medicines by accelerating the campaign launched for the elimination of spurious and substandard drugs in the province.

The delegation of experts of British LCG lab included senior scientist Alan Handley and Philips Stafford also attended this review meeting. Provincial Ministers Khawaja Salman Rafique, Khawaja Imran Nazir, Honorary Advisor Dr Umer Saif, additional chief sectary, Primary and Secondary Health secretary, King Edward Medical College VC and other concerned authorities attended the meeting.

The notable steps in this regard included replacing of old staff of Drug Testing Lab Lahore with fresh and professional staff with a hope to make it one of the best drug testing labs of the country.

Dr Shafique-ur-Rheman has been appointed as the new director.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that the drug test reports were being faked for vested interests so the government has dismissed the corrupt and disloyal staff.

He informed that this new staff including the director has been appointed on merit basis and has been trained under the supervision of Punjab Forensic Science Agency.

Extending his best wishes to the newly appointed director, Shehbaz Sharif said that the director has got a huge responsibility and hardworking, upright and honesty is expected on his part.

He said that in order to provide quality medicines to the public drug testing labs play a vital role but this public welfare project has been maligned by the connivance of old culprits staff.

The chief minister said that he will monitor the progress of this project.

In regard to an approval for the extension plan of the Lab, he directed the officials involved presenting its finalised plan as soon as possible and said that the lab has a direct influence on the people’s life so the government has intended to make Lahore Drug Testing Lab the best one.

He said that serving humanity is the noblest act and this lab will prove a hallmark in eliminating manufacturing and selling of counterfeit medicines.

He directed to ensure the safety plan and devise an effective vigilance and monitoring system.