Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday sought the replies from provincial secretaries of Finance & Local Government by December 12, 2019 in a petition pertaining to non-release of funds for purchase of medicines in the hospitals of Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC).

A division bench of the SHC sought the replies after the KMC moved the court about shortage of funds to buy the medicines in 13 hospitals, fall in the domain of the KMC.

The court asked the two secretaries of Sindh Government to inform why the funds have not been released on the account of purchase of medicines.

The KMC submitted in the court that Sindh Government approved the funds for purchase of medicines for its 13 hospitals. The KMC's counsel told the court that medicines have been purchased for these hospitals, but Finance Secretary Sindh withheld the funds for these medicines.

He stated that pharmaceuticals companies are filing the suit against the KMC due to its failure to pay the amount against these medicines.

The counsel said that the outstanding dues are the tune of Rs 170 million, but Sindh Government is not releasing the amount.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019