QUETTA: The crusader against the drug Mafia mainly the gang involved in business of fake, spurious and unregistered drug who was removed from his post unceremoniously is back on duty.

The Chief Minister, Nawab Sanallah Zehri, had reversed the previous order and reactivated the monitoring system by forming Monitoring Committee with vast powers and responsibilities to combat irregularities and corruption in the drug business, including spurious medicine and sub-standard drug.

According to an official Notification, Dr Imadadullah Baloch had been appointed as Chairman of the Monitoring Committee which will monitor drug sale market of entire Balochistan, including retail and wholesale. Institutional depots and also empower the area Drug Inspector for handling the cases.

The Monitoring Committee will have the jurisdiction of entire Balochistan Province. The Committee will directly report to the Director-General Health Services, the official Notification said.

The Area Drug Inspector are bound to work with the Committee. The Members will not be made any additional pay on this count.

The Committee comprises of three members with Dr Imadadullah Baloch as its Chairman and Mr. Ali Ahmed Achakzai and Mohammad Siddiq, both Drug Inspectors as Members

It had been established beyond doubt that there is an illicit business of billions in spurious and substandard drug and vested interests had developed a parallel Mafia to continue plunder the ailing humanity by marketing illicit drugs, sub-standard medicines.

It is in common knowledge that the chemists’ shops are seen buying illicit and spurious medicine from road side vendors and earning billions. There are hundreds of medical stores opened without obtaining licence from the Government and they are operating with complete impunity.

It is the prime responsibility of the Government that every drug sold in the open market is safe and according to the prescription and not fake or sub-standard. The corrupt officials of the Provincial Health Department should not be allowed to play with the life of the ailing humanity. The civil society should guard its legitimate interests against the corrupt Government officials.