BAHAWALPUR: South Punjab Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Saqib Zafar Secretariat has asked the managements of all private hospitals and clinics in 11 districts in the region to get registered with the health department, announcing a massive crackdown on illegal quacks and medical stores without any discrimination.

According to an official handout issued on Friday, South Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Saqib Zafar announced it while presiding over a meeting along with health Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Muhammad Saqib Aziz and heads of health institutions and facilities of Bahawalpur, Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan.

South Punjab primary and secondary healthsecretary Tanveer Iqbal Tabbasum, additional secretary specialized health care Amjad Shoaib Tareen, Quaid-e-Azam Medical College (QAMC), Bahawalpur, Principal Prof Dr.Shehzad Anwar and Sheikh Zayed Medical College Rahim Yar Khan Principal Prof.

Dr Tariq Ahmed participated in the meting through video-link.

Addressing the meeting, ACS Saqib Zafar said the inspection of all private hospitals and clinics should be ensured and the institutions and facilities lacking the indicators issued by the Punjab Healthcare Commission would be taken to task.

He said that measures had been taken tolaunch a grand operation against the quacks in the region.

He said as many as 254 health facilities were providing treatment f acilities to the holders of InsafSehat Card in south Punjab.

Dr Saqib Aziz said that as many as 2,384 and 3,643 quacks` clinics were sealed in Bahawalpur and Multan divisions, respectively, during the previous months.

HOAX CALL: The Jallah Arian police on Friday arrested a man under Telegraphic Act for allegedly making a hoax emergency phone call regarding a robbery near 386-WB village.

According to police, the hoaxer, Imran, called the police claiming hat an unidentified robber snatched Rs100,000 cash from him. However, when police reached the scene and invesugated the matter it turned out that no robbery was committed.

The police said the caller actually had a dispute with a neighbour over children`s fight.