Pakistan sole opium manufacturing facility in Lahore has reopened and resumed operations after a decade of closure.
The Lahore Government Opium Alkaloid Factory that originally established in 1942 was shut down in 2012 due to various issues, including irregularities in the distribution of tablets to patients and lack of proper enforcement.
The resumption of the manufacturing facility is expected to yield significant benefits and help save the country $400 to $500 million in foreign exchange.
Opium, which has a several medicinal uses, is not legally accessible and in its absence, herbal pharmaceutical companies resort towards synthetic alternatives that are less effective.
The Governmetn Opium Alkaloid Factory will help to mitigate that issue by providing medicinal opium to licensed pharmaceutical companies and herbal centres.
It is pertinent to mention that Lahore’s Government Alkaloid Factory is the largest opium manufacturing facility in South Asia.
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