District hospital Layyah: Irregularities to attract strict action: CM

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif presided over a high-level meeting, here on Wednesday, in which report of Chief Minister's Inspection Team regarding District Headquarters Hospital Layyah was presented. Addressing the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif said that strict action will be taken on irregularities in the construction of extension project of District Headquarters Hospital Layyah, non-posting of medical staff and non-installation of machinery on time.
He said that the persons responsible of irregularities committed from the process of tendering of construction of building to the purchase of machinery will be held accountable. The chief minister said that the building was constructed with large amount of money but neither staff was posted nor machinery was installed. Had there been a regular system of monitoring, the situation would not have risen to such extent, he added. What is the justification of the machinery lying packed in cartons, Shahbaz Sharif questioned officials concerned. He said that the departments concerned have been writing letters to each other but did nothing practically. He said that the forensic analysis will be conducted from the beginning of the project of the hospital till the criminal delay committed so far. Had the officials of Health Department been paying visits to the districts, the real situation would have known to them, he added. The chief minister said that whosoever committed negligence would be awarded punishment. He said that those wasting the resources of the people have no right to remain on their posts. He said that District Headquarters Hospital Layyah will be made a test case and the persons responsible of criminal negligence will be sent to jail. Shahbaz Sharif said that he is answerable to 100 million people as well as Almighty Allah. He said that non-availability of staff and machinery in the hospital is highly lamentable.
He said that officials concerned neither have fear of Almighty Allah nor the people. Had there been an effective check and balance, the situation would not have reached to this extent, he added. He said that now the matters will not be run in this way in Punjab.
The Chief Minister expressed strong indignation over concerned officials. He also strongly reprimanded DCO and EDO Health Layyah on unsatisfactory reply. He directed to constitute a high level committee which will consider in detail every aspect in the light of recommendations of Chief Minister's Inspection Team and fix the responsibility. Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Tanvir Aslam Malik, Advisor Health Kh Salman Rafique, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, concerned secretaries and senior officials attended the meeting. DCO and EDO Health Layyah attended the meeting through video link.