ISLAMABAD, Dec 16: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has asked barbers and beauticians to get trade licence from its health services directorate, an official announcement said.

It also said strict legal action would be taken against those who failed to obtain the trade certificates.

The authority has amended the schedule-1 of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) laws of 1969, applicable under Municipal Administration Act 1960, declaring that acquiring of licence is a must for barbers and beauticians’ shops.

According to the CDA’s health services directorate, latest medical research had proved that these shops could become a source of fatal diseases like Hepatitis-B and C and HIV/AIDS if the equipment and tools used were not sterilized.

A CDA official said the authority amended the municipal law to protect public health.

According to the amended law, the shopkeepers are bound to get confirmation certificate from the health services directorate regarding good health of their staff.

The official said the directorate would provide confirmation certificate to only those who were not suffering from any communicable diseases, including Hepatitis-B, C, and HIV/AIDS.

The directorate has asked the shopkeepers to keep their shops clean, use fresh blades and keep the other tools in anti- septic fluids.

Meanwhile, the authority also advised traders of fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, soda water, mineral water, ice cream, milk, and owners/staff of restaurants, hotels and dry- cleaning shops to get themselves vaccinated against transmittable diseases from health services directorate.

APP ADDS: The chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Kamran Lashari, Tuesday directed Environment Directorate to maintain the natural beauty of the Federal Capital.