Millions squandered repairing MRI machine

Confusion reigns over Ayub MTI equipment in assembly session

PESHAWAR:

Millions of rupees have been misappropriated while repairing a faulty old MRI machine instead of purchasing a new one for Ayub Medical College and Medical Teaching Institute, it emerged in Tuesday's session of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.

In response to a question from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz member Shehla Bano, government member Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani revealed it is being claimed that the MRI machine is broken, after which a new machine was purchased.

"However, the reality is the opposite. According to my information, they have spent money to get the old machine into working condition and have claimed it is a new machine," Ghani claimed. "An MRI machine is not like a matchbox that can go missing; now it is being said that the old machine is lost and a new one has arrived."

It was observed that whole security detail is deployed at a medical teaching institute. "This is not a trivial matter; no new machine has come; the old machine has been installed, and this is a clear case for the committee."

Special Assistant for Health Ihtisham Khan responded that a health emergency was declared in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, during which caper rules were suspended.

"No new machine was acquired; rather, there was a gas leak in the old machine, which was repaired under the upgrading policy."

He added that now, an inquiry has been sought through the anti-corruption department, and the assembly would be informed about the progress.

Provincial Assembly member Shehla Bano stated that MRIs are not used during Covid. "This is a significant case of corruption, and I have evidence regarding this. Therefore, this question should be referred to the relevant committee."

After seeking the assembly's opinion, the speaker sent the question to the standing committee concerned.

Meanwhile, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati expressed his displeasure over the non-implementation of production orders for assembly members, clarifying that if a department's secretary fails to comply with an order, they will be declared an undesirable person by this house.

During the assembly session on Tuesday, government member Shafiullah raised a point of order, stating that the CM's special assistants, Liaquat Khan and Anwar Zeb, have been arrested in Islamabad, for whom production orders have been issued, but despite this, the Federal Interior Ministry has not complied with the orders.

The speaker remarked that he had issued production orders for two MPAs the previous day, questioning why these orders had not yet been implemented.