“All of us enjoy the work here and we want the state government to encourage more companies like this one to start functioning from here, so that more people can get jobs and earn money for themselves and their families,” said Ahmad.

The pharmaceutical company, the first of its kind in the valley, is a joint venture between Deepak Koul and Waheed-ul-Rehman. It is an export oriented company and currently exports medicines to countries in Central Asia and Russia. It also plans to target Latin American countries in the future.

In a bid to maintain high standards and quality, it has installed hi-tech machinery in various laboratories where a variety of tests are carried out.

The opening of the pharmaceutical company has brought a ray of hope to the educated youth, who are happy they have got jobs in their hometown.