Sources with knowledge of the developments revealed that plans are in place to start the process of operating PIMs under a Public-Private Partnership model, with a “phase-wise” hospital outsourcing strategy.

Sources stated that while the Department of Radiology and Laboratory Services at PIMS is expected to be outsourced in the first phase, more PIMS departments are planned for privatization in the second phase.

Meanwhile, third-phase sources said that a decision about how to use PIMS’s enormous land assets—worth trillions of dollars—is expected.

Concurrently, there are apparently intentions to construct residential towers inside the PIMs Hospital settlement.

On the other side, PIMs Hospital’s employees’ union is preparing for protests against the upcoming privatization campaign following Eid.

According to the information provided, there is now an operation taking place to suppress the sale of illegal and counterfeit pharmaceuticals. This operation is being carried out under the orders of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

The Anti-Corruption Circle in Islamabad, headed by a deputy director from the FIA, provided assistance to a facility in Ghauri Town that was involved in the production of illicit and counterfeit medications.

The raid was attended by Drug Controller Naveed Anwar, Assistant Director FIA Noman Khalil, and other officials.

According to the FIA, a substantial quantity of illicit and fake drugs were discovered during the investigation. The FIA also mentioned that the facility had confiscated heavy machinery.

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) initiated the registration of the case, and has formed teams to catch the individuals who are now evading capture.

On January 29, the FIA carried out a raid and sealed a plant in Lahore that was suspected of producing counterfeit veterinary pharmaceuticals.

The FIA officers have reported the discovery of a substantial amount of banned substances in the office of the company suspected of producing fake medicines. The office is situated in the Iqbal Town district of Lahore.

Throughout the operation, the FIA seized vital records, including fraudulent documents.

NIH technical assessment of polio-positive sewerage samples revealed the virus in nine sewerage samples from Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Chaman, and Mastung.

The wild polio virus was found in February 21–27 samples.

According to the NIH report, Karachi South and Korangi sewers contained polio viruses.

Shaheen Muslim Town in Peshawar and Sir Pul, Taosabad in Quetta had the virus in their sewers.

Pakistan has reported two polio cases this year.

Pakistan launches special anti-polio drive: sources

On March 16, sources indicated Pakistan would conduct a three-day anti-polio offensive.

Big city sewers in Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan contained the virus.

The anti-polio drive will immunize 8.2 million under-5s in 26 districts. 11 Balochistan, 8 Sindh, and 7 Punjab districts will see the anti-polio drive.