Pakistan, May 17 -- ISLAMABAD - Members of the National Assembly raised alarm over what they described as a growing artificial shortage of life-saving medicines in Pakistan, especially diabetes drugs, accusing pharmaceutical companies of manipulating supply to benefit from black market profits.

Speaking during the question hour, MNA Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro criticized the unavailability of essential medicines in hospitals and pharmacies. She alleged that while these drugs were missing from shelves, they were still easily available in black markets at inflated prices. "This is not a coincidence," she said, claiming it was a deliberate act to exploit patients.

In response, Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services Nelson A...