DADU, Feb 27: An inspection team of the Sindh chief minister's, during visits to health care facilities and schools in the district, has found 37 doctors absent and 79 primary schools closed.

The head of the team, Nazar Hussain Mahar, directed the DCO to suspend the absentee doctors and school staff. This correspondent was informed about the visits, made over the past three days, by Mr Mahar here on Monday.

According to him, his team paid surprise visits to different healthcare centres, including Civil Hospital Dadu, taluka hospitals of Kotri, Sehwan, Johi, Khairpur Nathan Shah and Basic Health Units of Manjhand, Haji Khan and Kakar.

The team members, including Manzoor Awan, Farooq Amin and Changez Khan, checked the attendance registers and found 37 doctors absent from their duties. The team also visited primary girls and boys schools in Dadu, Kotri, Sehwan, Johi, Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah and Thana Bula Khan talukas and found 79 schools closed.

As a result, the team leader directed the DCO to take action against the absentee doctors and education officials of grade-17. Mr Mahar also directed the DCO and EDOs of Dadu district to prepare a report on the ghost officials of different government departments.

Mr Mahar told this correspondent that a report about the visit would be submitted to the Sindh chief minister which would be followed by an action against the absentee officials.

WHEAT MOVEMENT: Sindh food secretary Mir Mohammad Parhiar said on Friday that a target of procurement of 600,000 tonnes of wheat had been fixed for current harvest in the province.

Talking to journalists here on Friday, he said that the target was 500,000 tonnes last year but the food department had purchased 325,000 tonnes wheat from the growers.

He said that wheat movement would be controlled during current season by establishing check-posts at the exist points of different cities and towns throughout province.

He warned that any trader, transporting wheat from one to another district, would be arrested and an FIR would be lodged against him. He said that the licences of those flour mills had been cancelled which were selling flour and wheat on higher rate.

District Council: Awam Dost Panel members of the Dadu District Council boycotted the council session for the second consecutive day here on Thursday. They are protesting against non-release of funds to Nazims for development schemes.

As soon as District Naib Nazim Zahid Hussain Jatoi started the proceedings, member Mohammad Parial Birhamani walked out of the session. The other members followed him.

Led by Balishah Union Council Nazim Rahim Bux Solangi and Yar Mohammad Kalhoro Union Council Nazim Syed Imam Ali Shah, the members also held a demonstration outside the council hall for two hours.