DLP Report
PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s Standing Committee on Health on Wednesday ordered the formation of a fact-finding committee to investigate alleged irregularities and overstaffing in recruitments across various cadres of the health department.
The committee, chaired by MPA Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani, met at the Provincial Assembly Secretariat. Health Minister Khaliqur Rehman, members of the standing committee, MPAs Asif Masood, Ikramullah Ghazi, Hamidur Rehman, Aijaz Mohammad, Adnan Khan, Suresh Kumar, Bary Lal, Askar Parvez, Sobia Shahid, Asma Alam, Rehana Ismail and Jamila Paracha, along with senior officials from the health, law and finance departments, the Accountant General’s Office and the assembly secretariat, attended the meeting.
The issue was raised by MPA Hamidur Rehman, who expressed concern over alleged excessive recruitment and procedural irregularities in different cadres of the health department. The committee directed the sub-committee to submit its findings within 15 days after reviewing the recruitment process, transparency and compliance with relevant rules.
The committee also discussed the solarisation of government health facilities in Upper Waziristan after MPA Asif Masood highlighted prolonged electricity outages affecting healthcare services in the district. Health Secretary said that under the Annual Development Programme, public health facilities across the province were being shifted to solar power in phases and that health centres in Upper Waziristan would also be included in the initiative.
Minority lawmakers Suresh Kumar and Askar Parvez raised the issue of delays in implementing the two per cent quota for minorities in appointments to medical superintendent and officer deputy medical superintendent posts. The health secretary informed the committee that consultations with the law department were under way and that a summary would soon be submitted for approval to resolve the matter.
MPA Aijaz Mohammad questioned why a deputy medical superintendent at the Nahqi Health Centre continued to serve despite the completion of an inquiry against the official. The health secretary assured the committee that appropriate administrative action would be taken in light of the inquiry report.
The committee emphasised the need to ensure accountability, transparency and merit in the health department to strengthen public confidence in the healthcare system.
MPA Adnan Khan informed the meeting that the earthquake-affected building of Ayub Medical College was being reinforced with an iron-frame structure to ensure the safety of students, staff and patients.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Chairman Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani sought the report of a fact-finding committee constituted to examine the MRI machine and related records at Ayub Teaching Hospital. The committee’s chairperson, Shehla Bano, said the report had been completed and would be presented at the next meeting.
The chairman also directed health department officials to ensure transparency, merit, effective oversight and the provision of quality healthcare services across the province.
