ISLAMABAD, 06 December 2021, (TON): Industry sources said “Pakistan has started supplying free medicines to Afghanistan in a move to strengthen its assistance to the neighbouring country facing serious medical and health challenges.”

The first consignment of medicines worth Rs25 million was dispatched from Karachi for treatment of viral diseases, regular drugs for common diseases among elders and stock of supplies used in emergencies.

Atif Iqbal of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA), said “this is the first consignment of our plan of medical assistance in Afghanistan.”

“After a week or so we would be dispatching another such consignment worth Rs100m. The industry has responded to appeal from Afghanistan’s health minister who had recently sought support from Pakistan’s health sector including healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical industry.”

He said “the industry was also sorting out immediate medical needs of Afghanistan and coordinating with member manufacturers in all major cities of Pakistan.”

Consignment worth Rs25m dispatched from Karachi.