PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker Chief Minister Justice retired Syed Arshad Hussain Shah has directed the authorities concerned to move a statement of expenditures in the next cabinet meeting for approval to make the Khyber Institute of Child Health (KICH) operational without delay.

Mr Shah issued the directives while chairing a meeting on the project, which was launched in 2013 under the Public Sector Development Programme, a statement issued from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Wednesday said.

The meeting was informed that around 90 per cent of civil work had been completed on the specialised medical facility for children, but the authorities concerned were facing issues in making it operational due to absence of gas and electricity connections and an external sewerage line for waste disposal, the statement said.

Mr Shah ordered the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) to chalk out a plan for early construction of sewerage line for KICH. He also directed the quarters concerned to devise a plan in coordination with high ups of SNGPL and Peshawar Electric Supply Company for provision of gas and electricity connections to the hospital.

Mr Shah said issue of release of funds for procurement of medical equipment for the hospital would be taken up with the relevant authorities at federal level. He added KICH was of vital importance for the citizens of the province and no further delay would be tolerated in its operationalisation.

The meeting was also informed that besides release of funds for procurement of medical equipment, creation of new posts was also required for making the hospital operational.

Adviser to caretaker chief minister on health Dr Riaz Anwar, additional chief secretary Syed Imtiaz Hussain Shah, secretary health Mehmood Aslam, Pesco chief executive officer Qazi Tahir, PDA director general Khalid Mehmood and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2024