DERA GHAZI KHAN, April 30: Funds for the purchase of medicine would lapse as the district livestock department, like the preceding year, could not utilize them.

However, department officials said funds lapsed due to bureaucratic hurdles last year. This year, too, as just two months left in the current financial year, funds would lapse for the same reason, they added.

Last year, Rs1.5 million were sanctioned for the purpose.

They alleged that the funds lapsed as the officials concerned could not ‘settle’ a deal with medicine companies regarding kick-backs.

The same situation prevailed this year though the government had increased the allocation to Rs2 million, they claimed.

According to rules, the executive district officer (EDO) can sanction Rs600,000 for the purchase of medicine and other equipment, while the district coordination officer (DCO) can approve the purchase more than that amount.

When contacted, district officer (livestock) could not explain the reasons for the lapse of funds. He, however, admitted that there was an acute shortage of medicine.

He said the department had sent a summary to the DCO for the purchase of medicines but received no response.

DCO Saqib Alim told this scribe that medicine could be purchased according to the rules mentioned in the district purchase manual. The department had sent a report and the process would be completed soon, he added.

According to livestock officials, there are around 1.4 million cattle in Dera Ghazi Khan district.