CM Maryam seeks explanation on civic service deficiencies

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has sought an immediate explanation from the deputy commissioners of Okara and Sahiwal after the CM’s Inspection Team uncovered overcharging at a hospital parking lot and deficiencies in civic services.

The team conducted late-night surprise visits to the Okara District Headquarters and Depalpur and Chichawatni Tehsil Headquarters Hospitals.

At the Chichawatni THQ Hospital, the team received complaints about excessive parking charges and ordered cancellation of the contract and registration of a case against those responsible.

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The team also noticed stagnant rainwater and non-functional streetlights in Okara district. Based on a report, CM Maryam expressed displeasure and sought explanations from the DCs of Okara and Sahiwal.

She ordered the relevant authorities to immediately start reconstruction of the dilapidated Depalpur Road.

Meanwhile, following the arrest by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) of nine government employees and three frontmen in various districts, CM Maryam said the time had come to eliminate corruption from government institutions across Punjab.

According to an official statement issued on Sunday, ACE teams conducted raids and trap operations in several districts against officials allegedly involved in receiving bribes.

In Bahawalnagar, an assistant commissioner’s office clerk was allegedly caught receiving a bribe and a case was registered against him. A former union council office naib qasid was also arrested during a trap raid. In Vehari, an excise department official was arrested while allegedly accepting a bribe. In Dera Ghazi Khan, a computer operator at Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital was caught during a similar operation.

A naib qasid of the local government department was arrested in Mandi Bahauddin and booked in a corruption case. In Jhang, the ACE arrested a tehsil office reader for allegedly receiving a bribe. Two alleged frontmen, Mohammad Yasir and Abdullah, were arrested in Muzaffargarh.

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In Lahore, the ACE registered a case and arrested a patwari’s munshi, Mubeen Akhtar, over allegations of corruption. Another alleged frontman working for a patwari was also caught receiving a bribe.

In Chakwal, PERA Force Sergeant Asif Kamal and Naib Qasid Talal Hussain were arrested in a trap operation.

“We will not rest until every government institution is free of corruption and corrupt elements,” the CM said, according to the statement.

She directed the relevant authorities to continue action against officials and other individuals involved in corrupt practices.