HAFIZABAD-The eye patients across district Hafizabad are compelled to get medical treatment from private hospitals due to unavailability of eye specialist in DHQ Hospital.

During a survey conducted by this correspondent, the people regretted that in the district, which happens to be electoral constituency of State Minister for Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar, the masses are getting little or no health services, adding there is no eye specialist in DHQ Hospital and the poor patients have no other choice but to go to private hospitals. They said that the poor people of the district cannot afford expensive treatment in private clinics and hospitals.

They informed this correspondent that there are three vacant posts of eye specialists in the DHQ Hospital since long. However, no appointment could be made against it.

Local Patients Welfare Society demanded the Punjab Chief Minister to ensure early appointment of eye specialists in the hospital to end miseries of eye patients in the district.

FILLING STATIONS, MILK SHOPS SEALED

A total of five filling stations were sealed for being run without getting no-objection certificates while eight dairy farms were sealed for storing milk in prohibited blue drums here the other day.

Assistant Commissioner Umar Farooq Warraich along with TMA Chief Officer Muhammad Ashraf Dhothar raided different filling stations in different areas of the district and sealed five of them including Safdar Ali Pump Lakhia, Asif Sultan Pump Kaleke, Rai Wazir Pump Chak Kharal, Gondal Pump Channi Hanjrawan and Saif Ullah Pump Marh Bashi.

On the other side, DDO Health Dr Rehan Azhar sealed eight dairy farms and fined milkmen for storing milk in banned blue drums.

‘Corrupt’ tehsil officer punished

The DCO has relieved the Tehsil Officer Revenue of his charge and put his services at the disposal of the Punjab Local Government Secretary, following his inefficiency and misappropriation of funds. The DCO also ordered a probe into the conduct of the officer.

According to official sources, TO-R Ikram Ullah Sandhu was posted at TMA Hafizabad about six years ago and during this period, encroachments increased due to his alleged malpractices. He also misused his authority, office vehicles and machinery. During this period, several complaints were submitted against him but he always escaped the allegations unscathed due to his alleged connections with the top officials. Mr Sandhu also used to receive money from encroachers through his “so-called agents.” Different local organisations have appreciated the DCO for taking action against the corrupt officer. They also demanded registration of a case against him for misusing his authority.

According to official source, since the appointment of new Chief Officer Muhammad Ashraf Dhothar about a month back, 80% encroachments on the city roads and markets have been eliminated.