MANSEHRA: The health department on Thursday launched a crackdown on medical stores and clinics operating in parts of Lower Kohistan district in violation of the Drug Act, 1976.

Drug inspector Mohammad Ashraf told reporters in Lower Kohistan that raids were conducted on illegal medical stores and clinics in Jigal, Dubair, Pattan and adjoining areas. He said notices were served on the owners of all such facilities.

Mr Ashraf said all other medical stores and clinics operating without formal permission would be sealed.

`We won`t spare those playing with the people`s lives,` he said.

The official also said legal action had been initiated against medicalstores involved in profiteering.

He said the department couldn`t allow anybody to play with the lives of patients or fleece money from them through other means whatsoever.

ENCROACHMENTS: Residents on Thursday demanded the start of an anti-encroachment campaign in Mansehra city and its suburbs to ensure smooth flow of traffic on the roads.

`Mansehra city and its outskirts are overcrowded due to the influx of families displaced by the 2005 earthquake. Unfortunately, authorities have yet to widen roads to address traffic mess,` resident Rabnawaz told reporters.

Leading a group of locals, he said he and other local elders met the deputy commissioner and tehsil council chairman and requested them for anti-encroachment drives on the Abbottabad Road, Shinkiari Road, Kashmir Road, Lari Adda area and Karakoram Highway, but to no avail.

He said pedestrians and motorists suffered due to encroachments.

`Encroachments on theAbbottabad Road hamper traffic from the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital to Khatm-i-Nabuwwat Chowk during the daytime and even at night,` he said.

Mr Rabnawaz said over Rs700 million was spent recently on the digging of the nullah and sewerage lines in the city under the Beautification Project but rainwater inundated roads as those facilities were choked.

`The tehsil municipal administration collects huge taxes from citizens and traders but has failed to provide people with basic facilities,` he said.

Resident Mohammad Ajmal said temporary encroachments and footpath handcarts on Abbottabad Road caused hurdles to traffic. He said patients and their attendants came to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, the only tertiary health facility in upper parts of Hazara but struggled to move freely on the Abbottabad Road and its pavements due to encroachments both temporary and permanent.

The resident demanded removal of encroachments from roads and pavements.