PTA Cracks Down on Websites Illegally Promoting and Selling Medicines in Pakistan

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has initiated action against online platforms involved in the promotion and illegal sale of medicines.

The authority has issued notices to three websites engaged in the illegal sale of drugs.

Following the notices issued by PTA, some of the websites have removed content related to the advertisement and sale of medicines. PTA sources confirmed that websites failing to comply and continuing to promote or sell drugs will be blocked in the future. The authority is strictly monitoring online activities related to illegal drug sales and is working to prevent the spread of such content.

In response to the illegal sale of medicines through social media, the PTA has also directed relevant companies to remove such material. Sources said that approximately 90% of companies have complied with the request and taken down content related to the illegal promotion and sale of drugs.

Earlier, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) had requested PTA to block websites involved in the illegal sale of medicines. According to DRAP, the online sale of unregistered and smuggled medications poses a serious public health risk and must be controlled to ensure the safety of the general public.

DRAP has also declared the online sale of medicines related to sexual health, weight loss, and mental health as illegal. The authority has issued warnings regarding penalties, confiscation of drugs, and legal action against violators. The crackdown aims to safeguard public health by curbing the sale of unsafe and unapproved medications through online platforms.