By Asim Shahzad
LAHORE – In a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Punjab Assembly, members expressed serious concerns over the poor performance of Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) hospitals and the overall functioning of the provincial health department, directing strict action against the responsible officers.
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The session, chaired by Ahmed Iqbal Chaudhry, reviewed 490 audit paragraphs related to Punjab District Health Authorities, covering financial years 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2023-24.
Key issues discussed included the non-payment of dues amounting to Rs 366.327 million and failure to impose fines worth Rs 59.818 million. The committee instructed the health department to ensure immediate recovery of dues and imposition of fines where applicable.
Further scrutiny was conducted regarding the purchase of LP medicines in violation of the LP policy, amounting to Rs 282.807 million. The committee ordered stern action against the officers involved in these violations.
Members emphasized the urgent need for the health department to adopt principles of good governance and ensure transparency in its operations. The committee also discussed in detail the mechanism required to ensure strict implementation of rules and regulations within the department.
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