The Drugs Act 1976

The Drug Act 1976 was passed on May 18 1976 and its purpose is to regulate the import, export, manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of drugs. Previously “dangerous drugs Act 1930” deal with this issue and that is also operative after passage of this bill as mentioned in section 2 of The Drug Act (the provisions of this act shall be in addition to and not in derogation of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1930).

In this Drug Act 1976 terms “drugs” and “adulterated drugs” are defined in a comprehensive manner. In this act Drug Court is established under section 31 to take cognizance of matters related with this act. Under this act Federal Government shall regulate the import and export of drugs in prescribed manners. Federal Government is also responsible for the registration of all manufactured drugs in Pakistan.

Every provincial Government shall set up a Provincial Quality Control Board under this act to ensure the quality of drugs in province. Similarly Provincial Drugs Testing Laboratory shall be established in every Province under this law.

Drugs Courts shall be established by the Provincial Government and Drug Court shall consist of the Chairperson who is or has been or is qualified for appointment as a judge of High Court and one full-time member who is an expert in the medical field and another full-time member who is an expert in pharmaceutical field.