TIMERGARA: The rural health centre in Ouch has yet to be made fully functional despite its construction in 2004.

This came to be known when Lower Dir deputy commissioner Mohammad Zubair and assistant commissioner Hikmatullah Wazir on Monday paid a surprise visit to the RHC on the directives of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary.

Talking to journalists during the visit, Mr Zubair said that he was shocked to know that the RHC had not been functional since its handing over to the health department in 2004.

He said that all the wards, operation theater, laboratories and dental block were well-equipped, but the centre remained non-functional due to unavailability of doctors.

The deputy commissioner said that he would send to high ups report of his visit so that appropriate action could be taken against the people responsible for the wrongdoing.

He said that ambulance vehicles purchased for the health centre had been lying unused for last eight months.

In-charge of the hospital, Dr Sanaullah, while briefing the deputy commissioner, disclosed that 13 residential quarters had also been handed over to the health department.

He said the water supply scheme had also been out of order since its handing over to the department, adversely affecting routine functions of the hospital.

Sources told Dawn that the lady health visitor posted to the hospital was conducting delivery cases at her private clinic, as a result, equipment at the hospital’s labour room was rusting. They said the then health authorities were involved in the irregularities.

RECOVERED: The Lower Dir police on Monday claimed to have recovered 15 stolen motorcycles and arrested three accused belonging to an inter-district gang of car lifters.

Speaking at a news briefing the district police officer Ghulam Habib and SP (investigations) Rahatullah Khan said police raided different places and recovered a stolen motorcycle and arrested an accused named Noorul Hassan.

The officials said during interrogation Hassan disclosed names of his five other accomplices.

The DPO said two other accused, Asadullah of Ouch and Bilal of Khat Kalay Talash were arrested and 14 motorcycles recovered from their possession.

He said raids were being conducted to arrest other auto thieves.