The interim federal cabinet has approved a hike in the prices of 146 vital life-saving medicines, as reported by state-run Radio Pakistan. This decision was made in a meeting chaired by interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar in Islamabad. The Ministry of National Health recommended the increase in prices due to rising costs of raw materials in the global market. Prime Minister Kakar assured that the government is committed to ensuring access to affordable medicines for the public and is working on policies to benefit both the common man and the pharmaceutical industry. The meeting also saw discussions on improving the performance of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) and taking action against hoarding and smuggling of drugs. The health ministry and Drap also informed participants about an online portal for citizens to file complaints regarding non-availability of medicines. This decision comes amid a nationwide shortage of life-saving drugs, resulting in high prices for essential medicines. The crisis escalated after the caretaker Health Minister and the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association disagreed on the review of prices for 262 hardship cases. The minister left the matter for the upcoming government to decide, while the manufacturers’ association expressed concerns about the impact on both patients and the industry.