MIANWALI: An inquiry committee has found more than Rs1 million embezzlement in polio campaign funds, it is learnt.

The committee, headed by Mianwali District Officer (Health) Dr Muhammad Rafique Khan, consisted of DDO (Health) Dr Sajjad Husain and District Quality Control Board Secretary Furqan Qureshi.

A couple of months ago, health DDO Dr Abdul Razaq Khan received complaints from polio field staff that they were being paid less remuneration contrary to rules and respective officers got their signatures on full payment slips.

Dr Razaq got written statements of the complainants and sent the report to the EDO (health) for action and recovery of the embezzled amount.

Mianwali EDO Dr. Muhammad Khan Malik vide his letter No.6088 dated Dec 17, 2013 constituted the inquiry committee which recorded statements of DSV, vaccinators and LHWs.

In their written statements, 851 LHWs stated that they received less payment from respective vaccinators. The inquiry report said Rs194,220 less payment was made in Mianwali tehsil, Rs194,220 (Piplan) and Rs84,820 (Isakhel) while Rs104,840 worth of refreshment amount had no record.

EDOH Accountant Hafeezullah Khan in his written statement admitted that Rs2,121,200 were received by DSV Abdul Hameed Shakir during polio campaigns in Sept-Oct 2011, March-April 2012, July 2012, Oct 2012 and Nov 2012.

The inquiry committee also obtained written statement of accused Abdul Hameed Shakir who admitted that as per government/WHO policy all the payments relating to polio campaigns must be made to all field staff through their accounts but he received cash and made less payment to field staff.

The committee observed that Abdul Hameed received Rs104,840 under refreshment charges head but produced no record.

The panel declared Hameed guilty as he misused his official position and paid less to his subordinate staff.