MALAKAND: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Sunday ordered suspension of excise, health and traffic officials during his surprise visits to various places including hospitals, checkposts and police stations in Mardan and Malakand districts.

A statement said that the chief minister drove to Mardan and Malakand without any protocol and security detail. He paid a surprise visit to an excise check post in Sher Ghar Mardan and ordered immediate suspension of all the staff deputed there for negligence.

The staff was relaxing in a room instead of checking vehicles on the road when chief minister reached the checkpost. He quizzed the officials about their negligent attitude but they made an excuse of hot weather.

Mahmood Khan pays surprise visits to different places without protocol

Mr Khan said that being chief executive of the province, if he could go out in heat and visit various places, why they could not perform their duty for which they were being paid from public exchequer.

Expressing dissatisfaction over sanitation and cleanliness in certain localities of Mardan, he issued warning to the tehsil municipal officers to improve the situation as soon as possible.

The chief minister also paid a surprise visit to Dargai hospital to inspect the treatment facilities being provided to patients there.

Taking notice of poor management and unhygienic condition in the hospital, he ordered suspension of the medical superintendent and issued warning to the rest of the staff. He also sought explanation from deputy commissioner and district health officer of Malakand in that regard.

Taking cognisance of poor traffic management in Sakha Kot, Mr Khan ordered suspension of the concerned traffic chief and other officials.

He said that negligent government officials would be dealt with an iron hand and strict action would be taken against them.

He said that all the government departments and public servants would have to give top priority to the public service for maximum facilitation of people. He added that any kind of laxity would not be tolerated.

The chief minister termed better and improved public service delivery as one of the top most priority of the government. He said that all the government functionaries would have to perform excellent duty to ensure better public service delivery.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2021