Kathmandu, March 5

The umbrella bodies of the private sector have slammed the government for the arrest of owners and staff of Lomus Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd and Deurali-Janta Pharmaceutical Pvt Ltd on Friday.

Organising a joint press meet today, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) have alleged the recent incident as an ‘attack against the private sector’.

The police, on Friday, had raided the factories of the two pharmaceutical companies and arrested owners and staffers on the charge of rampant price hike of drugs.

Directors of Lomus Pharmaceuticals Prabal Jung Pandey and Prajwal Jung Pandey as well as Vice President of Deurali-Janta Pharmaceutical Nigam Raj Adhikari and its Managing Director Neel Raj Acharya were arrested by the police.

The private sector umbrella bodies, today, urged the government for their immediate release without pressing any charges. During the press meet, the Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal also warned the government that they would halt the production of drugs if the latter does not release them immediately.

In the press meet, FNCCI President Pashupati Murarka said that the private sector — which was gradually on the road to recovery following the devastating earthquakes of last year and the four-and-a-half month long border blockade — has been demoralised and discouraged by the government’s recent activities.

Alleging that a certain section of government officials and political leadership has been creating the ground for imported products and services by discouraging local investors and industrialists, Murarka further said, “It is rather unfortunate that we have not witnessed any desire by government to enhance investment climate in country.”