KARACHI: More than 900 pharmacy students participated in the aptitude test of Bano Qabil Pharmacist initiative launched by Alkhidmat Foundation (AKF) that would offer the successful candidates a three-month paid internship to enhance their professional expertise.

The test, held in Federal B Area, witnessed pharmacists from all over Karachi, who were selected from a total 3,000 applicants after a rigorous screening process.

Syed Jamshed Ahmed, director of Alkhidmat Pharmacy Services said that the unchecked spread of counterfeit and substandard medicines poses a severe threat to public health in Pakistan.

“To tackle this crisis, AKF has launched the Bano Qabil Pharmacist initiative, aimed at equipping young pharmacists with the skills needed to detect and prevent the circulation of fake medicines,” he said.

He emphasised that the spread of fake medicines is a growing crisis in Pakistan, exacerbated by the shortage of trained professionals. This initiative, he said, would help build a robust and reliable pharmaceutical workforce.

Jamaat-i-Islami Karachi chief and President of AKF, Munim Zafar Khan, described counterfeit drugs as a silent epidemic, devastating society much like narcotics.

He further stressed that trained pharmacists are the first line of defense against counterfeit drugs, adding that Pakistan suffers from a shortage of skilled pharmacy professionals.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2025