GUJRAT: The newly created Wazirabad district is yet to get its separate administrative staff and offices even two months after being upgraded from a tehsil of Gujranwala, causing inconvenience to the people of the district.

The administrative affairs of Wazirabad are currently being run by Gujrat Deputy Commissioner (DC) Amir Shahzad Kang and District Police Officer (DPO) Ghazanfar Ali Shah on additional charges, thus increasing the workload on both the offices as well as other departments.

A senior administrative officer said since Gujrat too had been elevated to a divisional headquarter, and was also the hometown of the Punjab chief minister, the administrative machinery here was already overburdened for four months. So, the Punjab government should take measures to appoint Wazirabad’s own DC, DPO and other staff for the convenience of the people of both these neighbouring districts, he suggested.

PML-N MNA from Wazirabad Dr Nisar Ahmed Cheema also criticised the provincial government for its failure in appointing a regular DC and DPO in the district.

In a statement, he said such a situation had been adding to the anxiety of the people of Wazirabad where it seemed the homework had not been completed to establish separate administrative offices and government departments, and assign the relevant staff.

The MNA claimed there were reservations among the locals about including areas like Dilawar Cheema and Saroki in the new Alipur Chattha tehsil instead of retaining them in Wazirabad tehsil.

Currently, the offices of the assistant commissioner and sub-divisional police officer are being used by the DC and DPO, respectively as a stopgap arrangement. It is also learnt that the district and divisional administration have not been able to select a site for the establishment of the district headquarters in Wazirabad.

Gujrat Commissioner Ahmed Kamal Maan while talking to Dawn said the provincial government had sanctioned the administrative posts for Wazirabad district and posting of regular officers and staff was now in the final stages.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2022