Roadside barbers draw scrutiny over hepatitis risk

ISLAMABAD: Open-air barbers working from a single chair in labour hubs, roadside markets and neighbourhood streets are being linked to concerns over the spread of infections, including hepatitis, even as the practice continues in some parts of the city because of lower prices.

Roadside grooming has become less common over time and the older custom of going door to door has largely faded. However, such barbers are still present in markets, workshop areas, goods transport stands and bus terminals. Their services remain cheaper than formal salons, with haircuts priced at Rs150-200 and shaving at Rs100, compared with Rs500-1,000 for haircuts and Rs300-450 for shaving in salons. Facial treatments cost Rs300-500 on the roadside, while larger shops charge around Rs1,500.

Medical experts warned that contaminated blades can transmit hepatitis, tuberculosis and even cancer. Doctors cautioned that if a blade used on a cancer patient is reused, the disease could be passed on.

Some roadside barbers rejected the criticism. Raja Shakeel, who works at Committee Chowk and said he inherited the profession from his father, said he has been in the trade for 13 years. He maintained that tools are washed with hot water and that each blade is used only once, adding that objections stem from their poverty and inability to afford shops. Uzair Ahmed, a barber working at District Courts, said he has been in the business for 10 years and has not faced complaints about disease transmission, while also disputing comparisons with larger salons.