Islamabad—In a significant development, Pakistan’s Drug Testing Laboratory (DTL) has identified products from seven pharmaceutical companies as counterfeit. The laboratory’s findings revealed that some of these medications contain toxic and addictive substances in unacceptable quantities, posing severe threats to human life. These products were being sold in the market, but the license numbers on the packaging did not correspond to any officially issued licenses, and even the listed company addresses were fake.
The revelations came through documents signed by Sindh DTL Director Syed Adnan Rizvi, who confirmed that various provincial drug inspectors collected the samples. Upon analysis, the lab declared the products from these companies as counterfeit. These companies were found to be non-existent, lacking any legal manufacturing licenses or registration numbers, and their products did not contain the necessary active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Among the counterfeit drugs identified is Eusof 250 mg capsules used for treating bacterial infections, reportedly manufactured by M/S East Pharmaceuticals, Lahore. Additionally, three suspensions intended for treating bacterial infections in different body parts were also deemed fake. These include Alcocim Suspension from M/S Alpine Laboratories (Private) Limited, Karachi; Malicim Suspension from M/S Menkline Pharma, Karachi; and Merzapan Suspension from M/S Meraz Pharma, Kasur. Furthermore, Merazolam tablets from M/S Meraz Pharma were also found to be counterfeit.
The documents indicate that other fraudulent products include Lexopam tablets by M/S Pourm Pharmaceuticals, Peshawar; Zioni tablets by M/S Multicare Pharmaceutical, Karachi; and Bromalex by M/S Brom Pharmaceuticals, Lahore.
Shared with healthcare facilities, health authorities, and pharmaceutical manufacturers’ associations, the documents warn of the severe consequences of using counterfeit drugs. Such medications may contain toxic and addictive components in life-threatening quantities, and they are produced in unsanitary conditions without appropriate inspection or approval, posing extreme risks to human health. Substandard drugs can compromise the treatment of diseases and may exacerbate existing health conditions.
Noor Mehr, President of the Pakistan Drug Lawyers Forum, emphasized that these drugs were being sold in the market without ever having issued license numbers, and the addresses of the listed pharmaceutical companies were also fraudulent.
