MANSEHRA: Chairmen of village and neighbourhood councils have demanded of the provincial government to release funds for the early completion of work on the Oghi tehsil headquarters hospital.

“Work on our THQ hospital began in 2016 and was to be completed in 2018. Not only did the project miss that deadline, it is in doldrums as well to the suffering of the residents,” chairman of the Oghi neighbourhood council Dr Wajid Ali told reporters.

Accompanied by chairmen of other village and neighbourhood councils, Dr Wajid said former MPA Wajiuz Zaman Khan had performed the groundbreaking of the health facility after the release of Rs200 million by the provincial government.

Residents threaten street protests

He said that the contractor abandoned work last year depriving the people of Oghi, Tanawal and even Torghar of healthcare services.

Chairman of the Chajar village council Zahir Swati complained that the residents had to go to health centres in other cities for treatment.

He said that authorities should ensure the immediate release of funds for the successful execution of the key healthcare project without further delay.

Chairman of the Kolika village council Haq Nawaz warned that if the requisite funding wasn’t released for the THQ hospital project, the locals would take to the streets to force authorities into doing it.

When contacted, contractor Ghulam Sadiq claimed that the provincial government had approved Rs300 million funds for the completion of the hospital work but released just Rs200 million.

“I stopped work on the THQ hospital after spending an extra amount of Rs50 million but the government has yet to clear my dues,” he said.

Mr Sadiq insisted that he would resume work as soon as the government cleared his dues.

INJURED IN ACCIDENT: Nine members of a family, including women and children, suffered critical injuries as a speeding van rammed into a truck in Battal area here the other day.

The police said that the accident occurred after the driver lost control of the van on the Hazara Expressway while negotiating a sharp turn.

They added that the family was on the way from Battal to Rawalpindi.

A Rescue 1122 squad shifted the injured to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, Mansehra, in ambulances.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2023