SAHIWAL (Sahiwal News – Imran Saqib): On the orders of the Specialised Health Care and Medical Education Department, an unauthorised canteen constructed on the premises of Sahiwal Teaching Hospital has been demolished.
The canteen had been built in front of the Musafir Khana, a facility meant for patients’ attendants, in violation of the terms of the contract.
According to details, Additional Secretary (Finance) of the department, Ashfaq ur Rehman, took notice of the illegal construction during his visit to the hospital on Saturday and ordered the immediate demolition of the canteen.
Following the department’s directives, Medical Superintendent (MS) of Sahiwal Teaching Hospital, Khalid Khan, contacted District In-charge of the Punjab Enforcement Regulatory Authority (PERA), Noman Qaiser, to ensure the removal of the unauthorised canteen.
It is worth mentioning that a temporary shop had existed near the Musafir Khana for several years. Former MS Zulfiqar Haider had verbally allowed the contractor, Usman Khalid, to construct a cleaner and more permanent structure at the site; however, no written approval was ever issued. The contractor subsequently built a permanent structure with a fiberglass roof adjoining the Musafir Khana.
The construction, however, drew objections from the hospital administration and visitors, who termed it an encroachment on public space.
Principal of Sahiwal Teaching Hospital, Professor Dr Muhammad Akhtar, has also constituted a two-member inquiry committee headed by Dr Shahid Nadeem to fix responsibility for the unauthorised construction.
Sources said that the contract for the hospital’s general canteen, including the doctors’ canteen, was awarded to private contractor Usman Khalid for Rs145 million during the current financial year.