Health experts say that unhygienic environment and non-sterilisation of equipment uses in beauty and hair salons is a major threat in spreading of hepatitis and AIDS, but there is a very poor check by Islamabad administration and its concerned departments on beauty and Hair salons operating in the federal capital Islamabad.
After the approval of amendment in 2003 regarding Islamabad Capital Territory Bylaws 1960, Islamabad administration has registered only 100 beauty parlours and 250 hair salons among thousands of beauty and hair salons operating in the jurisdiction of the federal capital.
According to the documents submitted in the National Assembly by the ministry of Interior it has been told that Hair Salons and Beauty Parlours are registered by Directorate of Municipal Administration under ICT Municipal Bye Laws 1960; amended 2003 for registration of Hair Salon and Beauty Parlours by inclusion of Hepatitis and AIDS in the Chapter with the title of Infectious Diseases.
DMA said that that it has registered 100 Beauty Parlours and 250 Hair Salons so far. Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad’s DHS is responsible to manage the Islamabad health system for sectoral areas within municipal limits demarcated by CDA whereas DHO office which is working under the ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination is responsible for rural, sub-urban and peri-urban areas of the federal capital.
In written reply submitted in the Parliament DMA revealed that AIDS Test is not conducted by DHS as objection was raised by National AIDS program in 2002 which is the only program allowed to conduct AIDS tests and keep record of AID patients in Pakistan.
DMA Claimed that Beauty Parlours and Hair Salons are inspected routinely for checking hygiene of staff, equipment and environment. They are directed to undergo medical test examination BY Lab of DHS MCI and resultantly each staff is issued certificate of Fitness based on Hepatitis B and C tests however on ground facts are different from the situation.
In current year, DMA inspected only 189 Beauty Parlours and Hair Salons out of which 49 were issued medical certificates, 43 were issued notices and 21 were issued challans in different sectors of Islamabad.