THE district government of Dera Ghazi Khan could not fulfill the aspirations of the people regarding development works and provision of basic facilities and security.

The people have suffered a lot during the last five years of the first district government under the devolution plan. The situation remained the same under the new district government led by Maqsod Ahmed Khan Leghari.

After the passage of 13 months, the new district government is still unable to start a single mega project. The incomplete sports stadium is waiting for completion since long. The DHQ hospital could not get the attention of the district government in addressing basic problems like acute shortage of life-saving drugs, vaccines (anti-rabies, BCG and anti-tetanus) and basic necessities like soft drinking water (DHQ has only domestic connection of water supply). There is also no connection of fuel gas at nursing stations in the wards. Tall claims of an increase of 250 beds in the hospital still exist on paper.

Development schemes under the citizen community boards could not commence due to alleged political discrimination as there are differences between the district nazim and naib nazim over the issue. It is pertinent to mention that naib nazim Dost Muhammad Khosa is district president of PML-N and son of president of Punjab PML-N while district nazim Maqsood Ahmed Khan is supposed to be close to the chief minister of Punjab.

It is worth mentioning that union council nazim cannot get grant without signing a memorandum of understanding with the district Nazim.

A resolution against violation of merit in the appointment of educators was adopted in the district assembly. The resolution claimed that 25,000 applications were received for appointment. The transfer of at least 170 male and female teachers was made on political grounds on the direction of district nazim while the district naib nazim had reportedly opposed the transfers. MNA Meena Ehsan Leghari had written to President Pervez Musharraf that district nazim Maqsood Ahmed Khan Leghari has become an obstacle in the way of achieving the target of model district for literacy as he is influencing the department for his own target.

The law and order situation is not satisfactory either. As many as 11 bomb blasts have taken place in the district since August 2005, including a fatal one which claimed two lives. Robbery, motorbike snatching and street crime have increased alarmingly.

Smuggling of Iranian petrol is on the rise in the district with the alleged connivance of BMP, Punjab police and the district government. Smuggled petrol is being sold openly in and around the city by dozens of illegal small outlets. Neither the district nazim nor the civil defence department have taken any action against them. The establishment of illegal outlets for the sale of smuggled petrol is dangerous in the context of the law and order situation of the district.

There is a shortage of officers in the district administration as junior officers have taken additional charge of other important offices. The political assistant to tribal area, Naeemullah Bhatti, has assumed additional charge of Baloch Levy, DDO (R) Taunsa and secretary regional transport. The district officer (labour) has taken additional charge of EDO (CD). He is also performing his duties as district officer (coordination). Nasrullah Khan Chadhar has two offices -– deputy district officer (revenue) and district officer (revenue). EDO (literacy) Rasheed Mazari is also steering the office of EDO (information technology).