TAXILA: Despite Punjab government’s tall claims about the provision of healthcare facilities to the citizens, work on the Basic Health Unit (BHU) at Jand in the district of Attock could not be completed even after 10 years.

According to official data, former district nazim Attock Tahir Sadiq had initiated the establishment of the BHU at Dhak locality of Jand tehsil. A local landlord donated four kanals to the health department in 2006 for the BHU. The project, costing about Rs10.246 million, was approved in January 2007.

It was decided that Rs3 million would be provided by the district government and the remaining Rs7 million would come from the provincial government.

The district government released its share of Rs3 million to the contractor in March 2007, who built the structure as per the available funds. But the provincial government did not release its share. As a result, the contractor stopped work.

Work on the project was stopped after the provincial govt did not release its share of funds

According to the local people, the project fell prey to politics as it was initiated by Mr Sadiq who belonged to the PML-Q at that time. After coming to power in 2008 the PML-N did not release the funds not only making the half-completed health unit a ghost house but also depriving the residents of the remote area of an opportunity to get basic healthcare facilities at their doorsteps.

Malik Mohammad Nawaz, the local landlord, told Dawn that he had donated the land to the government as the people of the area were without basic healthcare facilities.

“Many victims of accidents, pregnant women as well as newborn babies have died due to the unavailability of basic healthcare facility in the area.” He said it was unfortunate that even a project initiated for the betterment of the citizens could not be completed due to political differences.

When contacted, the executive engineer of the building division confirmed to Dawn that the BHU project had been put on the backburner for over 10 years.

He said several letters had been submitted to the district, provincial and federal authorities for the issuance of the funds but to no avail.

“Due to the unavailability of funds the contractor stopped the work at the site.”

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) District Health Authority Dr Javed Iqbal said the project was initiated before his appointment. He, however, confirmed that work on the project remained stopped due to the unavailability of funds.

He said as soon as the government releases the required funds work on the project would be started again.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2017