Murree Hospital project: CM orders legal action over Rs4bn loss to exchequer

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab has ordered legal action over the loss of Rs4 billion caused to the exchequer, in the construction of the Murree Hospital project during the previous government’s tenure.

The decision was taken in a meeting presided over by CM Maryam Nawaz here on Wednesday. She expressed her dismay over not paying attention to the health issues by the previous government. She expressed her severe indignation over the loss of Rs4 billion to the government exchequer in the Murree Hospital project and ordered legal action against those responsible for it.

The meeting also reviewed a proposal to establish medical colleges with the help of public-private partnerships in Attock, Mianwali, Vehari, Bhakkar and Jhelum. A briefing was given on the construction and rehabilitation of hospitals, ‘Clinic on Wheels’, free medicines distribution and other matters.

The meeting reviewed health reforms and other related affairs. The CM ordered early completion of 2,500 basic health units (BHUs) and 300 rural health centres (RHCs), and health upgradation projects. She ordered establishment of a new hospital in Murree and provision of angiography machines in Jhelum, Attock, Mianwali, Murree, Sahiwal and Sialkot hospitals.

Separately, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz held a meeting with Ambassador of Turkmenistan Atadjan Nurlyevich Movlamov. She said: “We want Turkmenistan to benefit from Punjab’s investment opportunities in energy, industry, livestock and agriculture.” She discussed with the ambassador various possibilities of increasing cooperation between Punjab and Turkmenistan for the promotion of trade and investment. “Trade in textile, pharmaceutical, agriculture and livestock sectors can be increased.”

CM Maryam Nawaz took note of the torture of a teacher at Government High School 9/95 L, Sahiwal, sought a report from commissioner Sahiwal and ordered to arrest the accused.

Separately, CM Maryam Nawaz said, “There is a dire need to create an awareness among people to protect them from thalassemia disease.”