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Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
BBH faces governance, financial collapse
Several dengue patients are isolated in mosquito nets at the Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi. PHOTO: ONLINE The Special Monitoring Unit's inspection report has revealed serious mismanagement, financial irregularities, patient exploitation, and a systemic breakdown of governance at Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), Rawalpindi. The findings have been submitted to the Punjab Chief Minister, accompanied by recommendations for urgent reforms. The report describes the state of healthcare delivery and basic facilities at the hospital as "extremely poor". Inspectors found that the majority of doctors and paramedical staff were absent, while ICU patients were left lying on bloodstained beds without the supervision of either doctors or nurses. Despite overwhelming crowds in the Emergency and Outpatient Departments, only two service counters were operational. It was further revealed that 80% of prescribed medicines were unavailable, compelling patients to purchase them from outside. Government-supplied drugs were missing from the pharmacy, while cartons of expired medicines were discovered on-site. Members of staff were found soliciting bribes from patients, including at token counters where payments were demanded in exchange for services. In one case, a patient was asked to pay Rs90,000 to avoid queues and obtain surgery. The inspection team also observed doctors and nurses distracted by mobile phones during duty hours, while pharmaceutical companies appeared to wield undue influence. Promotional brochures and calendars of pharmaceutical firms were found displayed in the office of the Medical Superintendent (MS). Sanitation across the hospital was described as "paralysed". Toilets were declared unusable, water filtration plants were out of order, and drinking water supplies were unsafe. Additional complaints were received about exposed electrical wiring and leaking ceilings in the OPD building. The hospital is burdened with liabilities totalling Rs440 million, while CCTV cameras were disabled and no biometric attendance system was in place. Nor was there a designated waiting area for patients and their families. Conditions at the hospital canteen were also found to be deplorable, with unhygienic food, inflated prices, and piles of waste. Parking contractors were reportedly charging Rs50 per vehicle, despite the official rate being Rs30. The Special Monitoring Unit, attaching all evidence, has submitted the report to the chief minister with a call for immediate remedial action. The monitoring exercise identified critical shortcomings in the provision of medicines, parking, sanitation, food services, washrooms, water filtration, and surgical procedures, and urged comprehensive reforms without delay.
Business Recorder
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Muharram-ul-Haram: CM Maryam directs administration to ensure foolproof arrangements
LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif presided over a special meeting with regard to reviewing arrangements on the eve of Muharram-ul-Haram in which important decisions were being taken. She sought an immediate emergency plan from the administration. She directed to ensure strict implementation of the code of conduct and further directed to adopt zero-tolerance for committing violations of the code of conduct. She directed to immediately arrest those found involved in spreading hateful content on the social media. She directed to ensure a complete ban on displaying banners, posters and wall-chalking throughout the province. She directed to immediately arrest those violating the ban on flying drones during Muharram-ul-Haram. She directed the Provincial Ministers, Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, RPOs and DPOs to personally oversee arrangements of Muharram-ul-Haram. She also directed all stakeholders to personally visit the scholars. The Chief Minister directed the Safe City Authority to make functional out of order cameras and further directed the Special Monitoring Unit to monitor and report on hateful content. She directed to launch mock drills of security arrangements for Muharram-ul-Haram and further directed to install 'sabeels' in a uniform manner for Muharram processions and gatherings. She also directed to provide refreshing drinks, lemon water and cold water bottles to the participants during Muharram processions along with identification and monitoring of 'sabeels'. It was agreed to install iron pipes for security purposes during Muharram-ul-Haram processions and gatherings. She directed to set up a sprinkling of water to protect the mourners and participants from severe affects of heat and humidity. She directed to formulate a formidable plan to protect the mourners from heatstroke. She directed to set up field hospitals and clinics on wheels along with 'Ashura' processions and further directed to issue effective traffic management plan as well as timely traffic advisories. On this occasion, she called for making arrangements to ensure timely drainage of water in case of rainfall. The Chief Minister also directed steps to activate Hotel Eye and Travel Eye and continue the combing operation along with obtaining an anti-drone system. She while addressing the meeting said that SOPs of Muharram-ul-Haram should be seen to be implemented in letter and spirit. Hanging electric wires poses big risk emergency operations should be carried out in this regard. There should be no power outage at all during 'Ashura' processions and gatherings, street lights should not be turned off either. She censured that people are still falling and dying in manholes and directed private housing societies to fix sewer covers in their respective societies and other areas as well. Patchwork is done every year on Muharram, how come potholes resurface on the procession routes again? In the context of war, Muharram-ul-Haram should be considered highly sensitive Pakistan's enemies will not let the opportunity go. She said that negative forces are unnerved over the success of the operation 'Bunyan-um-Marsoos', adding that all stakeholders must remain alert all the time. She highlighted that the Punjab government carries the impression of a service-oriented government it must be maintained and enhanced. She emphasized that arrangements should be made even better than before. She directed the cabinet members to perform their duties effectively in their relevant districts. She maintained that stakeholders should be included and informed in all important decisions. She outlined that the public should see the writ of the government prevailing everywhere in an effective manner. The Chief Minister said, 'Public committees should be made active and fully mobilized in all districts. Last year, arrangements being made on Muharram-ul-Haram were appreciated and even the Shiites acknowledged them. High standards of service delivery were set a clear difference was felt during the Eid operation. It is our first and foremost responsibility to safeguard the country and the nation from hatred, prejudice and disunity. Division and hatred are poisonous for the new generation and we want to eliminate it at all costs. There is a dire need to take effective and sustainable measures to eradicate hatred and prejudice.' She maintained, 'The state should play role of a mother and this feeling should be felt and highlighted at every level. Control rooms should be fully activated at the provincial, divisional and district levels, I will personally visit any place. We broke the record of the best arrangements being made during the last Eid, and now even better arrangements should be made for Muharram-ul-Haram. I commend all Deputy Commissioners, local governments and other departments on making excellent Eid arrangements.' Home Secretary, IG Police and heads of other institutions gave a detailed briefing on the Muharram-ul-Haram arrangements. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Instant arrests over hate content ordered
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered the adoption of zero-tolerance against violation of a code of conduct for ensuring peace during Muharram. Presiding over a meeting, she ordered immediate arrest of anyone found involved in spreading hateful content on social media. The chief minister directed the authorities concerned to enforce a ban on displaying banners, posters and wall chalking throughout the province. She also ordered immediate arrest of those violating the ban on flying drones during Muharram. She directed the provincial ministers, commissioners, deputy commissioners, RPOs and DPOs to oversee the arrangements for the occasion and contact religious scholars for the purpose. Chief Minister Maryanm Nawaz directed the Punjab Safe Cities Authority to make functional the out of order surveillance cameras. She also directed the Special Monitoring Unit to monitor and report on hate content. She directed the authorities to launch drills of security arrangements and to install 'sabeels' in a uniform manner for Muharram gatherings for distributing refreshing drinks, lemonade and cold water bottles. It was agreed during the meeting to install iron railings for security during the processions and gatherings. The chief minister issued directives to sprinkle water to protect the participants of the gatherings from severe heat and humidity along with other steps to protect them from heatstroke. She ordered the setting up of field hospitals and Clinics on Wheels along the Ashura procession routes along with an effective traffic management plan and advisories. She also called for arrangements to ensure timely drainage of water in case of rainfall. The chief minister also ordered activation of the hotel and travel surveillance web applications, continuation of combing operations and the acquisition of an anti-drone system. She said the SOPs for the occasion should be implemented in letter and spirit. She said hanging electric wires posed a big risk and they should be urgently removed. There should be no power outage at during the gatherings street lights should not be turned off, she added. "It is our foremost responsibility to safeguard the country and the nation from hatred, prejudice and disunity. Division and hatred are poisonous for the new generation and we want to eliminate the at all cost. There is a dire need to take effective and sustainable measures to eradicate hatred and prejudice," she said.
