KARACH1: 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 thattheuncheckedspread 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 pharmaceuticalworkforce.

Jamaat-i-1slamiKarachi 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.-Staff Reporter