LAHORE: The provincial government has initiated proceedings against the chief executive officer of Lahore District Health Authority and 14 other serving and former district health officers under Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (Peeda) Act on charges of corruption and misconduct.

The action was proposed against them in light of the findings of an initial inquiry report wherein they were found guilty of embezzlement of funds.

Some of them were accused of management level misconduct, inefficiency and others were held guilty of corruption amounting to the tune of Rs30 million.

The [embezzled] amount was allocated for the salaries of dengue workers and the same was withdrawn from the bank accounts.

Probe finds them guilty of embezzling funds meant for dengue staff

Some female officers were also among others against whom the charges of alleged corruption proved true.

Interestingly, a majority of them was still serving against key positions in the same department despite being guilty of the charges.

All the [15] officials were given an ample chance to appear before the inquiry officer who heard them at length in response to the show-cause notices issued to them under Peeda Act 2006.

“Pursuant to the hearing proceedings, reply of accused persons, the official reports of the three senior officers and merit of the cases, the defence taken by the accused officials before the undersigned and by applying my own conscious and judicious mind as well, I am of the considered opinion that 10 of them were prima facie guilty of managerial role”, reads the official report. A copy is also available with Dawn.

They included CEO Lahore Dr Faisal Malik Ajaib, ex-DHO Dr Raja Zubair Abbas (presently In-charge Hospital Lal Quarter Samanabad Lahore), ex-deputy DHO Allama Iqbal Town Dr Hameedullah (presently posted at Infectious Diseases Hospital Bilal Gunj Lahore), ex-DDHO Data Aziz Bhatti Town Dr Muhammad Zahid Munir, DDHO Aziz Bhatti Town Dr Muhammad Rizwan Waheed, DDHO Gulberg Town Dr Fareed Masood Rana, ex-DDHO Samanabad and Wagah Town Dr Shahid Nabi (MO/BS-17) (currently, medical officer, BS-17, Government Police Hospital Police Lines, Qilla Gujjar Singh, Lahore), ex-DDHO Shalimar Town Dr Shahzad Mushtaq and DDHO Allama Iqbal Town Dr Irfan Rafique.

The report revealed that the corruption charges against other officials, including three lady doctors, were very serious.

Some of them included the amount paid to the ‘ghost’ workers, 69 bounced cheques and withdrawal of Rs30 million.

The primary & secondary healthcare secretary issued an order to initiate proceedings in terms of section-5 read with section-9 of the Peeda Act, 2006 against the officers in the light of the recommendations of the inquiry officer.

Referring to some corruption cases, the report said Aziz Bhatti Town DDHO Dr Mohammad Idrees disbursed salary in cash to daily wagers hired from July to September 2022 in violation of Punjab financial rules.

He made payment in cash to ‘ghost’ workers, inflicting huge financial loss on the exchequer.

He was also accused of hiring contingent paid staff without interview, notifying recruitment committee, merit list and proper joining reports.

The report revealed that ex-DDHO Ravi Town Dr Nadia Atta committed financial embezzlement in lieu of payment of salaries of dengue daily wagers (hired for 89 days).

According to the report, Rs965 per day wages were approved by the government for dengue staff. However, they were paid Rs777.

Dr Nadia disbursed salary in cash to daily wagers hired from July to September 2022 in violation of rules.

The cheques given to daily wagers bounced due to insufficient funds in the account.

“She withdrew Rs30,000,000 from the Punjab Bank through different cheques but did not pay the salaries rightly to the workers which depicts her corruption”, reads the report.It said ex-DDOH Ravi Town Taskeen Raza did financial embezzlement in lieu of payment of salaries of dengue daily wagers (hired for 89 days).

The report said they were paid Rs777 per day against the approved Rs965.

The allegations of similar nature were also proved against Allama Iqbal DDHO Hafiz Naveed Ahmad, Gulberg Town ex-DDHO Dr Sobia Muneer and Cantt Zone ex-DDHO Dr Ajeebullah.

The inquiry report also held junior computer operator Ravi Town Waqas guilty of corruption.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2023