Pakistan, July 3 -- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to ban the production and use of substandard syringes as part of a nationwide effort to curb the spread of infectious diseases, including HIV and Hepatitis C.

The directive was issued during a high-level meeting in Islamabad on measures to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases. The prime minister instructed officials to take strict action against individuals, healthcare facilities and hospitals found using illegal or low-quality syringes or showing criminal negligence in preventing their use.

To strengthen the country's response, Shehbaz Sharif ordered the formation of a committee of medical and public health experts tasked with developing recommendatio...