Minister for Education, Naeem Akthar today said the Government issued drug licenses strictly under the rules only to those who have the requisite eligibility.Replying, on behalf of Minister for Health and Medical Education, to a question of Firdous Ahmad Tak, the Minister said the Government had provided opportunity to the unemployed youth to get drug licenses without undergoing the basic training, but the circular stands withdrawn now.The Minister said under J&K Pharmacy Act Samvat 2011 only those persons would be considered as “Registered Pharmacists” who hold a degree in Pharmacy or in Science with Chemistry as elective subject and have been engaged in the compounding of drugs in a hospital or dispensary or other place in which drugs are regularly dispensed on prescriptions of Medical Practitioner for a total period of not less than three years.The Minister said earlier licenses would also be issued to those who have passed an examination recognized by the Government of compounder or dispenser or is a matriculate and engaged in compounding of drugs in a hospital or dispensary or other place in which drugs are regularly dispensed on prescriptions of Medical Practitioner for a total period of not less than five years but this category stands omitted from the Act since 2014. He said there is no such proposal to revive the provision at present.