The rapid rise of so-called aesthetic clinics in Islamabad is putting the health and safety of people, especially women, at serious risk.
A disturbing number of these facilities are neither licensed nor registered with the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA), nor staffed by qualified medical professionals, yet continue to operate openly without fear of action from authorities.
Under the Islamabad Healthcare Regulation (IHR) Act, 2018, obtaining a license is mandatory to open and operate any healthcare establishment in Islamabad.
As per the definition provided in the Act, the term “healthcare establishment” also includes cosmetic centers, slimming and aesthetic clinics, hair transplant clinics, and domiciliary care services.
A survey conducted revealed that several newly established outlets in Islamabad’s commercial hubs, particularly in I-8 Markaz, are offering cosmetic and skin enhancement procedures without the requisite licensing, specialist training, or health and safety protocols.
The phenomenon is being driven by the lure of easy money, with more and more individuals opening such centres after seeing others profit from the trend.
Sources told ProPakistani that many of these clinics are owned by investors with no medical background. They hire untrained female staff at nominal salaries to perform invasive and high-risk procedures, including fillers, Botox injections, laser treatments, and skin resurfacing.
To shield themselves from liability, owners reportedly compel these young women to sign affidavits stating that, in the event of any mishap with a client, the responsibility lies solely with them.
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has already barred general MBBS and BDS practitioners from performing aesthetic medicine without proper credentials and specialist training.
However, in a blatant circumvention of this regulation, such clinics often hire a single young doctor for appearance’s sake, while the actual procedures are carried out by unqualified technicians.
During the course of the survey, several women shared harrowing accounts of botched procedures that left them with infections, burns, and permanent scarring.
Many declined to be named, citing privacy concerns, while others admitted they were unaware of how to file a complaint. The absence of a transparent and accessible reporting system has left victims without recourse, and rogue operators free to continue their practices.
IHRA, the statutory body mandated to register and regulate healthcare establishments in Islamabad, has faced repeated criticism for failing to curb these unsafe operations.
Despite clear legal provisions and regular public warnings, enforcement against unregistered aesthetic clinics remains sporadic at best. Critics allege that the authority is “shying away from its responsibilities” and enabling the continued endangerment of public health.
Public health advocates and legal experts are stressing the urgent need for decisive action. They urge the IHRA to shut down all unregistered aesthetic clinics, impose strict penalties on owners who hire unqualified staff, and ensure that only certified specialists carry out high-risk cosmetic procedures.
They also demand public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the dangers of seeking treatment at unregulated establishments.
With the growing popularity of cosmetic enhancements and a clientele willing to pay for perceived beauty solutions, Islamabad’s unregulated aesthetic industry has become a breeding ground for malpractice. Without immediate and firm intervention, experts warn, the human and reputational cost will only escalate.
If a healthcare establishment fails to obtain a license under the IHR Act 2018 within the required timeframe, the IHRA may impose a fine of up to Rs. 1,000,000 or order the closure of the establishment.
