LAHORE: The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) on Friday sealed the clinic of a doctor with fake foreign qualification.

A spokesperson for the PHC says Dr Shahrezad Faruk Zaar, was providing specialised healthcare services for diabetes, sexual disorders and weight loss.

He says the PHC took action after it was revealed that Dr Zaar was misleading patients by falsely claiming to be an endocrinologist, having various postgraduate degrees.

Contrary to this, the spokesperson says, the PHC investigations found he is registered with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) as a medical graduate of the Karachi University.

After this, a PHC team sealed Dr Zaar’s clinic in a private hospital in Gulberg.

The hospital administration and the doctor have been directed to appear before a hearing committee of the commission.

The PHC spokesperson says it is for the second time that Dr Zaar has been found involved in illegal practice.

In mid-2022, Dr Zaar was found practicing as an endocrinologist (consultant) at another private healthcare establishment, and was banned from providing treatment in Punjab, he says.

He was terminated from the private hospital while its administration showed ignorance regarding his fake degrees.

A fine of Rs100,000 was imposed on the hospital for not verifying the degrees of its “consultant,” while Dr Zaar’s case was forwarded to the then Pakistan Medical Commission (now PMDC) for further action.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2023