SHC irked by delay in healthcare projects
A file photo of the Sindh High Court building.
The Sindh High Court (SHC) Hyderabad circuit bench has sought an explanation from the Sindh chief secretary (CS) and health secretary regarding a decade-long delay in the construction of three hospitals in Latifabad.
“The three health facilities for cardiology, paediatrics and nephrology would have contributed substantially to the health sector. But, unfortunately, the Sindh government didn’t approve those schemes,” the bench stated in the order. It added that the government had failed to satisfy the court by providing justifiable reasons behind the inordinate delay in the approvals.
The SHC observed that the government respondents, in their comments, revealed that the funds allocated for the unapproved schemes of Latifabad were diverted to other schemes in the health sector in Qasimabad taluka of Hyderabad.
The bench ordered the provincial government to not only submit a detailed report to explain the delay but also ensure that the same projects were approved and executed promptly.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 5th, 2023.