On Saturday evening, Islamabad Customs officials raided a warehouse of Shaheen Chemist, one of the two leading chemist chains in the capital, and impounded a large consignment of counterfeit medicine and fake health supplements.
https://twitter.com/Islaamabad/status/1198224186969395204
According to the Additional Collector of Islamabad Customs Ayesha Wani, the operation was conducted on a tip received earlier. Fake health supplements and counterfeit medicine was recovered in huge quantities from the warehouse. Islamabad Customs have sealed the warehouse and legal proceedings will be initiated against the perpetrator.
Videos of the raid are making rounds on various social media platforms. Citizens of the twin cities have raised questions on the authenticity of the medicine and supplements available at different outlets of famous chemist chains.
Other Outlets in Islamabad and Rawalpindi
Soon after the incident, the district administration of Islamabad sprang into action and raided various chemist outlets. Shaheen and D Watson’s chemist shops were raided as well.
According to the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, Hamza Shafqaat, different medical stores were sealed in F-6 Super Market and I-10 Markaz after they failed to produce necessary documents. The logo of D Watson can be seen clearly in the pictures uploaded by the DC Islamabad.
Stores in F-6 Super Market and I-10 Markaz are also sealed for failing to provide requisite documents https://t.co/SgOeDh0j3k pic.twitter.com/NbheT3kFDh
— Office of Deputy Commissioner Islamabad (@dcislamabad) November 24, 2019
The operation did not stop there. Major pharmacies in F-10, F-11, and I-8 Markaz were also sealed when they failed to produce the necessary documents.
Shaheen and D Watson chemists were known as the most trusted chemist chains before the raids.
Fake Medicine in Shaheen Chemist’s Godown Only
DC Islamabad has claimed that no counterfeit products were recovered from any chemist outlet in the capital. The video above is from a godown in Rawalpindi that belongs to Shaheen Chemist.
We clarify that at the moment we have not found any fake medicine in Islamabad. The video that went viral is of a godown in Pindi. The stores in Islamabad are being sealed for absence of import docs/sales invoices. As soon as docs are presented the shops will be desealed.
— Office of Deputy Commissioner Islamabad (@dcislamabad) November 24, 2019
The trade of counterfeit medicine is rampant in Pakistan. In 2012, more than 100 heart patients died after consuming fake medicine. In 2015, an investigation report by CNN termed the business of fake medicine country as deadly, killing 1 million people annually.
We pay premium amount for the medicines sold. NO BARGAINING.
Why is it so hard for these people to provide original on which people are already paying for what the store is wishing.
I hope they smack a huge fine and file criminal charges against culprits.
Higher profits for the company at the expense of human lives…
cancel their license of operating pharmacy
Hang these criminals who are directly playing with the lives of people
Hang them openly so next time no one can dare to play with lives of humans.