Afghanistan bans import of medicines from Pakistan

Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban Government’s Finance Ministry has ordered complete ban on import of medicines from Pakistan. The ban was announced by Abdul Qayum Nasir, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Finance, who said medicines from Pakistan would no longer be allowed to enter the country. The Afghan Government has told the traders to look for other sources for the required medicines. This ban will cost a loss of Crores of Rupees to the Pakistan pharmaceutical companies, while it will also weaken the Pakistan Afghanistan diplomatic ties. On the other hand, it gives an opportunity to India to strengthen its relationship with Afghanistan both at the human and business levels.
This ban on Pakistani medicines can also prove dangerous for Afghanistan as well; as more than 70% of its medicines are imported from Pakistan. There is a tremendous shortage of medicines in Kabul and Herat and the prices of the medicines are skyrocketing. To fill this shortfall, last month the officers of Afghanistan have approached India, Iran, and Turkey. The Taliban are trying to open new channels of importing medicines from the dependable India’s pharmaceutical companies.