ATTOCK, Feb 3: Punjab government is introducing Danish school system to provide quality education to the rural and backward areas’ children in order to bring them on a par with urban areas, said provincial Chief Secretary Javed Mehmood during his visit to the district on Tuesday.

Talking to local reporters, the chief secretary said under this system, schools would be set up in rural areas of all districts. For this purpose, lands are being identified during his province-wide visits in all districts to start construction of school buildings soon, he said.

The CS identified lands in Langer union council of Jand Tehsil, Khuda Gharsheen village of Fatehjhang tehsil and Malikmala village in Hazro Tehsil for setting up the schools.

He said that the prime mandate of his inspection visits is to assess the working and performance of government departments detect irregularities and to improve service delivery besides identifying the shortcomings.

He directed the concerned department heads to improve their working within the available resources and manpower, enforce discipline, ensure good governance, cleanliness, proper maintenance of buildings, and enforce discipline.

He said the government was providing funds and necessary resources and directed the departments to utilize them judiciously. For instance, he cited the provision of Rs5.5 million for the smooth functioning of dialysis unit at the Attock district headquarters hospital to facilitate the kidney patients.

Special focus of the inspection visit is also on hospitals, revenue department, educational institutions and other public functionaries to assess their working.

He said the Punjab government recently launched a campaign against tainted officials in the revenue department. It was revealed that despite registration of cases with the police and anti-corruption departments and public complaints, they are performing on their posts.

All details and record are being obtained from the police and anti-corruption department in this regard to purge the revenue department of the corrupt elements, as they are not only creating problems for the public but also tarnishing the image of the government, he said.

About his visit to Attock, he said that his inspection team members would remain in all the six tehsils of the district for about one week to complete the inspections of all departments.

Replying to a question over reappointments of government officials on the same post on political recommendations, the CS admitted that they were creating hurdle in ensuring good governance, therefore the chief minister had imposed ban on such practices.

Responding to a question about commission and kickbacks in the award of contracts, he said that system could not be changed but the government would keep strict check on the works department to ensure transparency and quality in development works. “Commission and kickbacks affect the construction quality and is a wastage of public funds”, the chief secretary said.

He also directed the department to avoid unnecessary and extra construction work to reduce the cost escalation. We are struggling hard to bring improvement in the administrative system but face many hurdles but hoped that the ongoing process and handwork would yield results.

Earlier, the chief secretary inspected different departments of DHQ Hospital, including dialysis unit, and inquired about the brand new pickups parked at the district health office. The chief secretary was informed that the vehicles could not be delivered due to lack of field staff.

He also expressed concern over spending Rs10 million on a park of the hospital. He also inspected the widening of Attock-Kamra road and directed the authorities to expedite the work.