BAHAWALNAGAR: Taking notice of Rs120 million irregularities in contracts at the Bahawalnagar District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar suspended Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Inamul Haq Khilji from service and initiated a departmental inquiry against him.

He also suspended from service the chief officer of the Minchanabad municipal committee for mismanagement and negligence and ordered an inquiry against him. Mr Buzdar visited Bahawalnagar on Friday and review security, cleanliness and ongoing development projects and announced new development projects.

DHQ sources told Dawn that Mr Buzdar expressed concern over reports of mismanagement and irregularities in the hospital and directed the administration to get their house in order and also indicated that strict action would be taken against those found involved in corruption.

The chief minister also distributed cheques to the needy people and paid surprise visits to different departments.

He announced two-way 75 kilometre road from Bahawalnagar to Hasilpur to be built with Rs10 billion funding from the Asian Development Bank. He said that eight kilometre road would be built in Minchinabad at the cost of Rs370 million.

Announces several development projects for Bahawalnagar

He said that the medical college project in Bahawalnagar would be given special attention while irregularities in drainage projects in Chishtian and Bahawalnagar would be investigated. The chief minister said that a dialysis and a cardiac unit would be established in Bahawalnagar and it would be ensured that snake and dog bite vaccines were available in rural health centers. He said that other development projects in Bahawalnagar would also be completed soon. He directed the officials to take necessary precautions to safeguard against dengue.

Provincial ministers Akhtar Malik, Syed Samsam Bukhari and Shaukat Lalika, MPA Mian Fida Hussain, PTI leader Shaukat Basra and Tahir Bashir Cheema were present.

He planted a sapling on the lawns of the DC office as part of the plantation drive and distributed relief funds cheques among deserving person and students.

He visited different branches and departments of the DC office and directed the officials to ensure cleanliness and about checking the records as well as being gentle and compassionate while dealing with people.

He visited the Bahawalnagar DHQ Hospital and checked the facilities being provided to patients in the emergency ward. He also inquired about the patients health in the dengue ward and directed the officials to take special care of dengue patients.

The CM announced to construct a 10 km long road from Haroonabad to Mianwala Bangla and a 50 km road from Haroonabad to Fort Abbas. He said that a road would be built from Khichiwala to Chak 178/7 and announced that all three projects would be included in the development. programme of the current fiscal year. A road from Bahawalnagar to Head Sulemanki would be included in the development programme of the next fiscal year.

While going back to Lahore from Bahawalnagar, the chief minister landed in Minchinabad and inspected cleanliness arrangements in the city. He showed his displeasure over the presence of garbage and suspended the chief officer. He visited the Minchinabad Police Station and took notice of the debilitated condition of the building. He also announced building two new police stations in the city. The CM also spoke to the under arrest suspects and inquired about the facilities being provided to them. He ordered to build new washrooms for the prisoners after they complained about it.

Mr also announced upgrading the Minchinabad THQ Hospital.

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2019