LAHORE -UNS : The Pakistan Pharmacists Association (PPA) organized its Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony at Faletti’s Hotel, Lahore, in a grand manner. The event was attended by a large number of pharmacists from across the country. The gathering paid rich tribute to the invaluable contributions of pharmacists in the health sector and highlighted their professional challenges and demands.
The Chief Guest of the ceremony was Dr. Ubaid Malik, Chief Executive Officer of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). Delegates and representatives from all provinces and regions of Pakistan actively participated in the event, discussing the advancement of the pharmacy profession, enhancement of quality standards, and practical solutions for existing challenges.
PPA President Sardar Shabbir welcomed all participants and officially announced that the upcoming PPA elections for the 2025-2027 term will be held on 13 October 2025. He emphasized the historic role of the Association in safeguarding the rights of pharmacists and reaffirmed its commitment to continued advocacy.
Prominent pharmacist Noor Muhammad Mahar addressed the gathering, stressing that every pharmacy in Pakistan must have a qualified and registered pharmacist. Unfortunately, around 95% of pharmacies are operating without pharmacists, he noted, which underscores the urgent need for effective regulation and enforcement by DRAP. He also emphasized the critical importance of ensuring the availability of safe, high-quality medicines in the country.
The event also honored the memory of the late Naeem Muzaffar, renowned as the “Baba of Pharmacy,” along with tributes to veteran pharmacists including Abdul Aleem Rabi and the late Prof. Dr. Bashir Ahmed. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Dr. Furqan Hashmi highlighted that pharmacists are ready to meet all the modern challenges of the pharmacy profession.
Notable addresses were also delivered by former WHO leader Khalid Saeed Bukhari, A.Q. Khokhar, and former DRAP CEO Asim Rauf. Distinguished pharmacists in attendance included Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khokhar, Amjad Ali Java, Asif Farooq Awan, Nadeem Iqbal, Noor Muhammad Mahar, Ayaz Ali Khan, Alamgir Rao, Salman Tauqeer, and hundreds of others.
Addressing the grand assembly of pharmacists, DRAP CEO Dr. Ubaidullah Malik announced that Pakistan’s drug regulatory system is being fully digitized, particularly for medical devices, allopathic medicines, herbal and nutraceutical products, as well as pharmaceutical exports and imports. He stated that in line with the Prime Minister’s directives, corruption in various sectors has been eliminated, pricing mechanisms are being streamlined, and new posts within DRAP are being created to strengthen human resources in the near future.
The participants emphasized the importance of unity among pharmacists, professional development, and the expanding role of pharmacists in the healthcare system, urging the government to take concrete steps for the betterment of the profession and the resolution of its challenges.
