BAJAUR: Authorities here on Wednesday sealed 10 unregistered private health facilities including maternity homes and dental clinics in different areas of Nawagai tehsil and warned their owners of a stricter action if illegal operations were resumed in the future.

According to a statement issued by the local health department, the action was taken on the instructions of the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) to curb the growing trend of unlawful private health facilities in the region.

The raiding team, comprising health department officials and drug inspectors, visited several private health facilities in Nawagai tehsil.

The authorities found 10 private health facilities operating without registration with the relevant department and sealed them on the spot. The statement added that the inspection team urged the general public to avoid unregistered and unlicensed health facilities and to seek treatment only from registered facilities to prevent health complications.

“There is no longer any room for elements that are playing with the health of the public for their vested interests in the district.

Citizens are requested to inform the health department about the operation of any unregistered and illegal health facilities in their areas,” the statement said.

It further stated that the action, part of an anti-quackery campaign, would continue across the district.

The department said that practicing healthcare without proper authorisation was not only a serious crime but also a cognisable offence and administering injections without the prescription of a qualified doctor was totally illegal.

DRUGS: The residents of Khar the other day staged a protest demonstration against growing illegal trade of drugs in the region.The demonstration held at the main chowk of Khar Bazaar was attended by people from different walks of life in large numbers.

The protesters, chanting anti-drug slogans, claimed that drug abuse and the illegal trade of various narcotics had increased significantly in the region due to lack of proper action by the relevant authorities.

The demonstrators were addressed by Engr Khista Muhammad and others who noted that along with the rise in drug trade, several dangerous new narcotics had been introduced in the area and that a large number of people, mostly youth, were using those freely.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2026