PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Friday visited various hospitals, including Lady Reading Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex, in the city and enquired after the people injured in the incidents related to the rainstorm which hit the provincial capital on Thursday night.

He announced Rs300,000 for the family of each killed, Rs50,000 for the injured and Rs0.1 million for any person disabled in the incident. He also expressed profound grief and sorrow over the loss of human lives and properties in the rainstorm, according to a handout.

The chief minister met the injured persons and assured that they would be provided free and quality treatment till their full recover. Provincial minister for information and higher education Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani and other relevant officials accompanied him.

Mr Khattak directed the health officials to display signboards outside every gate and ward of the hospitals inscribed with guidelines about how to avail free medicines and treatment to facilitate patients and their attendants.

He said that health minister Shahram Tarrakai, secretary health and other high ups of the health department had been directed to pay surprise visits to hospitals and healthcare centres regularly not only in Peshawar but all over the province to ensure availability of staff and facilities there.

Mr Khattak said that shortage of funds would not be tolerated as excuse in provision of better treatment facilities to patients.

The chief minister said that he quickly reacted to the natural calamity and contracted the divisional and district administrations for provision of immediate relief to the affected people.

Mr Khattak also directed Pesco authorities to repair the damaged power lines to ensure smooth power supply to the residents.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2014