August 09, 2008	Saturday	Sha’aban 6, 1429

RAWALPINDI, Aug 8: Traffic barriers installed in all the state-run hospitals in Rawalpindi have been removed and the parking contracts cancelled on the directives of Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif. But hospital authorities believe that free entry of vehicles into the premises of the health centres would be a `security risk’.

A senior official said the CM had directed immediate cancellation of the parking contracts and removal of the barriers inside the hospitals throughout the province.

In Rawalpindi, private contractors had installed barriers in Rawalpindi General Hospital, District Headquarters Hospital and Holy Family Hospital.

Every vehicle, except ambulances and doctors’ cars, had to pay the parking fee even if it was shifting a patient to the hospital.

On many occasions, there had been exchange of hot words between the vehicle owners and the private contractors and complaints were registered with the medical superintendent concerned, but to no avail.

However, the hospital authorities believe that the government’s move would create parking problem and it would also be a security risk as anybody could enter the hospital premises without check.

Meanwhile, three robbers snatched Rs350,000 from the cashier of a construction company in the jurisdiction of Sabzi Mandi police.

Arham Ahmed was going to office after drawing the cash from a bank when the bandits riding a motorcycle intercepted his car and snatched the cash.