KARACHI, March 27: There are at least 600,000 quacks in the country, between 30,000 and 40,000 of whom are operating in Karachi alone. These people, through their questionable practices, are endangering the lives of countless people.

This was stated by some members of the Pakistan Medical Association at the opening ceremony of a poster exhibition on Thursday evening which was presided over by the Nazim of Karachi, Naimatullah Khan.

The PMA’s members told the nazim that under the existing laws, a quack was required to pay only Rs200 in fine. In case action was taken against a quack, he or she resumed the objectionable practices after a brief period of time after paying only a couple of hundred rupees.

Speaking on the occasion, Naimatullah Khan said a committee should be formed by the PMA that could look into the relevant laws. “This committee should also determine whether or not the laws could be implemented adequately under the existing scheme of things.”

He assured the PMA’s members that the City Government would do the needful in this regard. Dr Shershah Syed and Dr Haseeb Alam also spoke on the occasion.

Meanwhile, a press release said the posters being exhibited at the PMA House were selected after a competition in which 365 people took part. The exhibition will remain open for three days.

The first prize in the competition was awarded to Farhan Ali, the second prize to Jibran Ansari and the third to Ameera Khan.

In the amateurs’ category, the first prize went to Sadia Jafer, the second to Farah Naz and the third to Mirza Asad Ali Baig, said the handout.