Pakistan: Over 3-dozen pharma companies warn of halting . The impact of Pakistan’s declining economy is now affecting pharmaceutical companies as well. The country’s pharmaceutical industry has reported that forty percent of local companies in the country are on the verge of closure.

IN a letter to the Pakistani government, Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association has demanded an increase in medicine prices, adding that all the factories across the country would be closed if the government does not increase the prices 'in a week'

Pharmaceutical companies have also complained that scores of ships and containers carrying raw materials and medical devices imported from China, Europe and the US are stuck at seaports due to payment delays caused by dollar shortages on the market.

Pakistan's prime minister formed a committee two months ago to look into the issues of the pharmaceutical industry but has yet to meet medicine manufacturers. Meanwhile, the deepening crisis threatens patient care as well as hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Shortages of medicines and pharmaceutical products have been reported across Pakistan.

Muhammad Noor Mehar, chairman of the Pakistan Drug Lawyers' Forum Chairman, pointed out that around 10% of imported lifesaving medicines were in short supply.

He also claimed the unavailability of diabetes, heart, renal and asthma medicines on the market and said that some imported medicines and raw materials awaited clearance at ports.