Coronavirus Outbreak: 20 million masks exported to China from Pakistan

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and Health Ministry are being accused of sending 20 million face masks to China by the Pakistan Young Pharmacist Association.

In this regard, Pakistan Young Pharmacist Association has written a letter to the chief justice, in which the association has claimed that DRAP CEO Asim Rauf, deputy director’s son Ghazanfar Ali and PM’s Special Assistant on Health Dr. Zafar Mirza issued six permits to China to export face masks.

Also accusing the officials of getting Rs60 million in bribe for giving six NOCs.

“Even hospital staff and cops are not getting protection,” the letter said.

“When doctors, nurses and paramedical staffers are not being protected, how will they treat patients?”

PM Imran Khan orders crackdown against mask hoarders

According to the pharmacists’ association, the permits were issued on February 8, a day after it highlighted the issue with DRAP CEO, Mr. Rauf.

Reportedly, in the letter, the association quoted Rauf as saying “if you would give me any evidence that a single face mask has been sent out of Pakistan, we will take exemplary action against the accused [people]”.

The health ministry has yet to respond to the accusations.

Pakistan is facing an acute shortage of masks and price hike. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered a crackdown against the hoarding of surgical masks across the country amid panic over the coronavirus outbreak.

Pakistan  has confirmed its first two positive cases of the deadly virus, one in Karachi and the second in Islamabad.