PESHAWAR, June 4: Reacting to public complaints, NWFP Zakat and Ushr Minister Hafiz Hashmat Khan on Friday ordered transfer of the entire staff of the office of the senior social medical officer of the Lady Reading Hospital.

A handout said the order was issued by the minister during a surprise visit to the hospital. The minister checked record of the office and expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of the staff.

He listened to complaints of patients present on the occasion andissued directives for their redressal. The staff of the Zakat office at the hospital apprised the minister of their problems.

Patients complained that some people were involved in getting medicines from Zakat fund and selling those in the market. The minister directed the hospital authorities to make judicious utilization of Zakat funds and evolve a strategy against their misuse.

During a meeting at the office of the hospital's chief executive, he directed the administration to prepare a summary in order to get morefunds from the Centre as the Rs100,000 monthly allocation for the 1,200-bed LRH was not enough.