Quackery: Crackdown launched against sale of ‘performance boosting’ substances

Two arrested, inventories and publicity literature seized.

FAISALABAD:


Faisalabad district administration has launched a crackdown on quacks illegally selling substances touted to boost sexual performance. The crackdown has been launched over complaints of people who had contracted various diseases after the use of these substances, District Coordination Officer (DCO) Naseem Sadiq has told The Express Tribune.


He said two men were caught for selling these substances in a raid led by Assistant Commissioner (City) Zaheer Anwar Jappa on Thursday. The stock of illegal substances and publicity pamphlets were also seized during the raid on Sargodha Road.


A case has since been registered against the suspects, Salman Raza and Muhammad Shafiq Khan, at Millat Town police station under Sections 292 (Sale of obscene books), 293 (Sale of obscene objects to young person) and 294 (Obscene acts and songs) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

DCO Sadiq said the campaign was launched after a number of complaints were received form people who had contracted various diseases on using these substances. He said he had directed officials to remove wall-chalking done by the quacks about these substances.

The DCO said two teams had been constituted to carry out the campaign against the illegal activity. “One team will conduct surveys and compile data and the other team will conduct raids and make arrests,” he said. He said a cell would be formed to monitor the performance of these teams. The cell will be responsible for coordination, he said. “It will keep the raiding team updated on quacks identified during the survey but missed out by them,” he said.

He said strict action would be taken against officials found non-serious about the campaign. “The sale of these substances is a public health concern. No negligence will be tolerated,” he said. The DCO said those found shirking work would be sacked.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25th, 2012.
Load Next Story