Extensive investigation: Fix responsibility for project irregularities, directs CM

DCO, health EDO reprimanded for irregularities in hospital extension project


Our Correspondent August 12, 2015
DCO, health EDO reprimanded for irregularities in hospital extension project. PHOTO: INP

LAHORE:


Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday formed a committee to review in detail the report of an inspection team formed to probe complaints about irregularities in Layyah district headquarters (DHQ) hospital extension project.


The committee was asked to fix responsibility for delayed completion of construction work at the new hospital block and the failure to make it operational by filling vacancies and installing machinery procured for it. He suggested that a forensic examination of the premises be conducted as part of the inquiry.

Sharif said officials responsible for irregularities in various phases of the project, from the bidding process to the procurement of machinery, should be exposed and given stern punishments.

Earlier, the chief minister reprimanded officials concerned including the DCO and the health EDO, who had joined the meeting through a video link, for their failure to come up with a satisfactory explanation for the delay in completion of the project. He said had an effective monitoring system been put in place by the Health Department there would have been no delay in completion of the project. He warned the officials concerned that he would not tolerate such negligence in discharge of in future.

The chief minister said it was appalling that after all the money spent on the construction of the building no medical staff was posted there. He said the department had also failed to make arrangements for use of state-of-the-art machinery procured for the facility.

He said the situation could have been different if the officials concerned had visited the project site to monitor progress instead of exchanging letters between themselves from their offices.

Sharif said that by giving stern punishments to those responsible for irregularities an example should be made out of the Layyah DHQ extension project. “I cannot let such negligence go unpunished. I’m answerable to the 10 crore people of the province as well as Allah Almighty,” he said. He said it appeared that the officials concerned had no fear of the people or the Almighty.

Earlier, the Chief Minister’s Inspection Team briefed the meeting about the findings of its investigation.

Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah and Tanvir Aslam Malik, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique and Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal were also present on the occasion.

Timely completion of drug testing lab sought

The chief minister directed officials concerned to ensure that there was no delay in establishment of a drug testing laboratory in the province.

He said medicine samples should be referred to renowned foreign laboratories till completion of work on the project.

He was presiding over a meeting to review progress in an ongoing crackdown on spurious and substandard medicines.

The chief minister said that the drug testing laboratory should be constructed on the pattern of the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory.

Alongside, he said that satellite drug testing laboratories should be established in all divisional headquarters as well.

The chief minister directed officials concerned to continue indiscriminate action against businesses found manufacturing and selling spurious and substandard medicines. He said strict action should also be taken against those manufacturing medicines without a licence from the government for the purpose.  He said the department concerned to seek assistance from law enforcement agencies in the crackdown.

Earlier, the Punjab Forensic Science Agency director general briefed the meeting about progress in establishment of the drug testing laboratory.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2015.

COMMENTS (1)

Muhammed | 8 years ago | Reply The idiot doesn't understand that you need create institutions with management that are appointed on merit and not on the whim of corrupt officials.
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ