Local sources in Kandahar say the Taliban have notified pharmaceutical companies and associations that the sale and purchase of Pakistani medicines in pharmacies across the province are prohibited.
Sources told the Hasht-e Subh Daily on Tuesday, October 27, that the decision was made on the orders of Hibatullah Akhundzada’s office. They said that once the specified deadline expires, the Taliban will collect and burn the remaining stock of Pakistani medicines.
According to the sources, the Taliban’s Food and Drug Authority has verbally informed pharmaceutical companies that once they have sold their existing stocks of Pakistani medicines, they must stop importing and supplying new medicines from Pakistan.
The sources added that despite the ban on the legal import of Pakistani medicines, their transportation into Afghanistan through smuggling routes has continued.
According to the sources, some Taliban officials are also involved in transporting and smuggling these medicines.
Meanwhile, several pharmaceutical companies have criticised the ban, saying that domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers lack the capacity to meet all the needs of Afghanistan’s market.
The pharmaceutical companies have urged the Taliban to provide suitable alternatives to Pakistani medicines before fully implementing the ban, so that people’s access to the medicines they need is not disrupted.
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