Nursing board faces probe over irregularities

Health Dept orders inquiry into alleged result manipulation and bribery

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has constituted an inquiry committee to investigate alleged financial irregularities involving the Controller of the Nursing Examination Board, Peshawar, officials said on Friday.

The inquiry committee has been directed to submit its report to the provincial government within three days. According to sources, the committee is headed by the Additional Secretary Health, while its members include the Deputy Secretary Budget, Section Officer (MTI), Deputy Director Nursing and other relevant officials.

Sources said complaints alleging financial irregularities involving millions of rupees had recently surfaced against the Controller of the Nursing Examination Board. The allegations have prompted the Health Department to initiate a formal inquiry into the board's financial and administrative affairs.

Earlier, the Health Department had reportedly barred the Controller from dealing with the checking and marking of examination papers and matters relating to the announcement of results for the 2025-26 session.

The action followed a written complaint submitted by Malakand College of Nursing to the Health Department, in which serious allegations were levelled against the Controller. According to the complaint, the Controller allegedly facilitated students in passing examinations in return for money and arranged for failed candidates to be declared successful.

The complaint referred to nursing examinations held in May, with their results reportedly announced on September 12. It alleged that dozens of students were declared failed without any clear justification and were subsequently passed without undergoing a fresh checking process. The complainant alleged that money was collected from some students for changing their results.