Medicines shortage: Minister orders probe into alleged irregularities at PIMS

CADD establishes curriculum wing; orders reshuffle at FDE

ISLAMABAD: Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has ordered a probe into alleged irregularities in the purchase of medicine and faulty equipment at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims).

The minister ordered the inquiry after taking note of patients’ complaints about medicine shortages and faulty equipment during a visit to the hospital on Thursday.

The minister expressed his frustration at the poor state of affairs and arrangements in the hospital, especially its emergency department.

CADD Secretary Khalid Hanif said a CADD deputy secretary has been also appointed coordination director to follow-up on hospital issues.

CADD establishes curriculum, textbook wing

The ministry has also established its own curriculum and textbook wing after the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training refused to turn over control of its curriculum wing.

The “Capital Curriculum and Textbook Wing for Islamabad Capital Territory” was created in pursuance of Article 25-A of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to free and compulsory education to all children, said a press release issue here on Thursday.

After devolution of the education ministry in 2010, the wing was under the control of CADD until December 2014, when it was transferred to the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training at the request of state minister Balighur Rehman. Later, CADD requested the prime minister to revert the move, but the request was turned down.

Rehman is currently working on a plan to establish a National Curriculum Council to coordinate and implement uniform curriculum in schools and colleges in all the federating units. In this regard, a meeting of education ministers is expected in February.

FDE reshuffle

A number of jobs changed hands at the Federal Directorate f Education (FDE). Under the new arrangement, Tarnol Area Education Officer (AEO) Gulshan Ara Baloch has been directed to report to her school, immediately while Sadia Adnan has replaced her as AEO.  Similarly, Schools Director Fareeda Yasmin has been transferred and made the Urban AEO, Abdul Waheed has replaced Fazle Mullah as Bhara Kahu AEO, while Schools Director Iftikhar Qureshi has been directed to report to his school.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th, 2016.