PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has directed the health department to take immediate steps to address the issue of shortage of healthcare practitioners including lady doctors and skilled lady health visitors (LHVs) in the newly established Upper Chitral district to control infant mortality rate.

According to a statement, he also directed the department to take necessary steps on priority basis for upgradation of tehsil headquarters hospital in Booni to district headquarters hospital having basic specialties and to ensure posting of specialist doctors there.

Chairing a meeting here on Tuesday, the chief minister said that specialist doctors would be posted to the hospital in the best public interest under the government posting and transfer policy. He added that no political pressure would be entertained in that regard.

The meeting reviewed progress on provision of basic health and education facilities in the backward areas of Malakand division, said the statement.

The chief minister directed officials of health department to take necessary steps to address the issue of shortage of doctors and other medical staff in the healthcare centres of Lower Chitral and Upper Dir and submit a report to him.

He also asked the higher education department to complete the remaining work on the under-construction building of Government Girls Degree College Sakha Kot as soon as possible. He ordered the officials to ensure commencement of classes in the college from the coming academic session.

Mr Khan ordered the higher education department to complete feasibility study for the establishment of a commerce college in a government building available in Shangla district as soon as possible.

The meeting directed the authorities concerned to shift the Polytechnic College Batkhela, being run in a rented building, to a permanent building, identify suitable land for setting up girls degree college in Khwazakhela and complete feasibility study within three months for the establishment of Swat University campus in Dargai.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2021