LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif paid surprise visits to Government Teaching Hospital, Shahdara, and Government High School in Karbath, an adjacent village, on Friday.

He reviewed educational facilities being provided to the students in the school and medical facilities to the patients at the hospital.

At the hospital, he inquired from the patients and their attendants about treatment facilities being provided there. On a complaint of non-provision of free medicines, he expressed indignation as the government apportioned billions of rupees for provision of free medicines.

Mr Shahbaz inspected operation theaters and sought improvement in cleanliness.

He also reprimanded the hospital administration over non-functional of an operation theater and a sterilization room.

An orphan girl told the chief minister that she had been asked to bring medicines from outside on a “parchi” (prescription) upon which he expressed displeasure and directed the hospital pharmacy to provide her free treatment.

He also announced financial assistance for Sana.

The chief minister also reprimanded the medical superintendent (MS), who arrived on duty much late when the CM was visiting the hospital.

The MS also could not give a satisfactory reply about the non-availability of some medicines.

The chief minister also went to the Karbath school and reviewed educational facilities being provided there by inspecting classrooms, a science lab and an IT lab.

He expressed indignation over the non-functioning of computers in the IT lab.

Taking notice of marking at paper sheets by the students, he directed that preparation of paper sheets was the job of the teachers.

He also directed the headmaster to improve the condition of classrooms and cleanliness arrangements.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2016