KARACHI, Sept 6: The Pakistan Medical Association, Karachi chapter, on Wednesday condemned the open use of firecrackers and explosive material in the city and asserted that ban on them should be strictly implemented.

The PMA expressed its grave concern over the use of crackers on the occasion Shab-i-Barat which makes people miserable especially patients of heart diseases and blood pressure.

It deplored that the trend of using fireworks in wedding ceremonies was growing day by day. “Spectators watching the fireworks get usually hurt as sometimes piece of any firecrackers hit them,” the PMA observed.

The medical association termed open and free use of explosive materials a 'danger' for human lives saying it could make human organs weak or ineffectual while deafness owing to cracker’s blasts was common.

Deploring the open sale and purchase of firecrackers despite the directives of Sindh Home Minister, the PMA demanded the Sindh government should impose a permanent ban on all sorts of firecrackers and explosive materials besides immediately halting the use of firecrackers.

Meanwhile, Capital City Police Officer Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui directed the Deputy Inspector General (Operations), all Town Police Officers, SDPOs and Station House Officers to ensure strict implementation of the ban on the purchase, sale and use of fireworks. He directed the police officials that immediate legal action should be taken against the violators.

According to a statement issued here on Wednesday, the CCPO asked the Town Police Officers to deploy special vigilance teams at police station level to ensure implementation of the ban in letter and spirit.—PPI/APP