NAROWAL: Deputy Commissioner Shahrukh Niazi has launched a probe into the allegations of corruption in the construction projects of the Punjab Highways Department in Narowal and formed a three-member inquiry committee to look into the matter.

There are allegations of corruption in the construction of the 19km long Eidgah Grid Station-Ancha Kalan road in Zafarwal built at a cost Rs760m. The road was completed with substandard material and it fell into disrepair 15 days ago.

The highways department allegedly connived with the contractor in the project of Dillepur Road in Narowal and made full payment to him without construction of drainage channels.

Substandard material was allegedly used in the newly-constructed road in Dab village near Narowal, which cost Rs6.6m. An amount of Rs70m was to be spent on the one-way road constructed from Runsival to Railway Station Narowal. As soon as the work on the project started, the rates were revised and the cost of the project was raised to Rs100m.

The officers of the highways department made an advance payment of Rs70m to the contractor.

The DC took notice of the complaints and formed a three-member investigation committee, led by Assistant Commissioner Zohaib Ahmed Anjum. Its other members are the deputy director development and municipal officer Narowal.

Punjab Highways Narowal EXEN Saba Afzal dismissed the allegations of corruption, terming them baseless. She said the weather had turned cold due to which the Eidgah Grid Station road had been affected and it would be repaired with the change in the weather.

SEALED: A team of the Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has sealed eight illegal clinics, hospitals and laboratories in Narowal district.

In tehsil Shakargarh, the commission team, along with Assistant Commissioner Shiza Rehman, checked the Rehman Clinic, Naseem Akhtar Clinic, Arslan Clinic and Gulfam Dental Clinic and found quacks treating the patients. It sealed the clinics. The team went to private hospitals and sealed them due to unavailability of qualified staff and non-registration with the PHC.

In Narowal, the PHC team, along with AC Zohaib Ahmed Anjum, checked the Bismillah Laboratory, Rahman Lab and Umar Lab and found unqualified staff and violations of the standard operating procedure of the commission.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2022