‘Public officials should identify corrupt elements’

Shahbaz says public officials who know about corrupt elements and fail to take action are considered equally guilty.

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that public officials who know about corrupt elements and fail to take action agaist them would be considered equally guilty.

He was presiding over a meeting after laying the foundation stone of and inaugurating several development projects in Dera Ghazi Khan on Saturday. Earlier, Shahbaz suspended chief engineer (Irrigation) Mehr Muhammad Amin for his failure to complete the construction of Maneka Canal in one year.

During the meeting, Shahbaz also directed the CMIT to reach DG Khan along with expert engineers within four days to inspect Rs1 billion water supply and drainage scheme for alleged embezzlement of funds. He said that payment in all development projects would only be made after a third party audit was undertaken. Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa, the senior adviser to the CM, MNAs and MPAs from the district, PML-N office bearers and district administration officials were present in the meeting.

The chief minister announced development projects of more than Rs2 billion for the district. These included construction of a medical college building, Danish Schools for boys and girls, main roads and bridges and the establishment of a government degree college in Choti.

He approved the setting of a degree college in Choti Zairin, construction of roan from Chokiwala to Zain and a roundabout at Pul Dat Chowk and repair and widening of 2.5 km patch of road from Chowk Choorhata to the Intermediate Board.

Shahbaz further directed the district Health Department to post a heart specialist at the district headquarters (DHQ) hospital within three days and to speed up the process of issuing tenders for the construction of a medical college in the district.

Later, he laid the foundation stone of a paramedical institute and a hostel which would be built within a period of one year and three months at a cost of Rs40 million. He also inaugurated Nawaz Sharif Park and Chowk Choorhata, completed at a cost of Rs17 million and Rs12 million, respectively.

The chief minister said that the projects would be completed in time and to avoid inconvenience with regards to the availability of funds, he directed the Planning and Development chairman and the Finance secretary to reach DG Khan for making necessary arrangements.

Shahbaz directed the DG Khan Commissioner to select a suitable piece of land within two weeks to move the vegetable market out of the city.

During a briefing given by Regional Police Officer Ahmad Mubarak Ahmad, Shabaz directed the police department to activate peace committees and utilise their resources for maintenance of peace during the month of Muharamul Haram.

He said that DG Khan was meeting point of all the provinces and that there was a need to strengthen the police force in the district.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2010.