GUJRANWALA, Nov 18: The local DHQ Hospital administration cancelled around 110 permits of anti-opium pills after declaring them bogus here on Friday. Reports said that number of official permit holders were 533 who were providing these pills to the hospital every month. These pills were being supplied to addicts by the excise and taxation department.

It was stated that permit holders were selling these pills in the black market while each pill valuing Rs8 was being sold at Rs100. A number of hakims were also using these pills in their medicines.

After receiving complaints, DHQ medical superintendent Dr Nisar Ahmad Cheema ordered a probe and inducted additional medical superintendent Dr Sardar Muhammad as inquiry officer.

He got the record concerned into his custody and started scrutinizing it. During preliminary inquiry, 110 permits were found bogus. On the recommendation of the inquiry officer, the MS cancelled these permits immediately and also informed the excise and taxation department accordingly.

POLIO: More than 700,000 children of up to five years of age would be given drops during sixth round of anti-polio drive in the district, said EDO (health) Dr Zafar Iqbal Niazi here on Friday.