Islamabad, September 19, 2023 (PPI-OT): The Senate Standing Committee on States and Frontier regions convened at the Parliament House, presided over by Chairman Committee Senator Hilal Ur Rehman, on Tuesday. Senators Bahramand Khan Tangi, Dost Muhammad Khan, Gardeep Singh, Sania Nishtar, Syed Mohammad Sabir Shah, Shamim Afridi, and Haji Hidayat Allah attended the meeting. The committee meeting also saw the participation of Secretary Safron, Special Secretary of Health Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and other relevant officials.

During the meeting, a comprehensive discussion took place, focusing on the committee’s recommendations concerning the operationalization of the type D hospital in village Shindad, Jawaki, FR Kohat. Senator Shamim Afridi expressed his strong discontent regarding the lack of implementation of the committee’s recommendations. Committee members noted the health department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s failure to address this issue for almost three years. The Special Secretary Health, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, informed the committee about ongoing efforts to make Shindad hospital functional, including the posting of three medical officers and the conversion of the hospital to solar power, along with the installation of beds. Following deliberations, the committee directed the Special Secretary Health Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to ensure the hospital’s full functionality within a week including installation of X-Ray machines, deployment of doctors and maternity home at the hospital.

The meeting delved into a thorough discussion regarding the appointment of 492 nursing staff in the health sector under the AIP program in the merged districts. It was noted that out of 2390 applications received for 481 seats, 348 nurses are presently serving. The committee emphasized on merit-based appointments and urged the swift appointment of all the entitled nursing staff. Special Secretary Health Khyber Pakhtunkhwa informed the committee of 80 remaining vacant seats under the project, prompting the committee to recommend appropriate measures for filling these positions. The Chairman Committee resolved to correspond with the Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on this matter. The Special Secretary Health, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, committed to pursuing this issue with the establishment in line with the committee’s directives, with an additional focus on establishing a monitoring mechanism for the nursing staff.

Special Secretary Health Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provided the committee with an update on the progress regarding the regularization of 1774 contract employees of the Health Department. Senator Dost Muhammad Khan questioned the discrepancy in regularizing employees across departments within the merged districts. Special Secretary Health Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assured that these employees would be regularized post inquiry and verification, with a target to achieve this by November. The committee requested a breakdown of all 1774 employees for their review and suggestions in the next meeting.

Furthermore, the committee engaged in an extensive discussion concerning the recognition of Faiz Muhammad Ghaznavi, the grandson of Nawab of Junagadh, Mahabat Khan, as heir. Faiz Muhammad Ghaznavi himself were present during the committee meeting. After hearing the arguments presented by both sides, the committee resolved to convene an in-camera meeting to deliberate on this matter further.

Representatives from the Relief and Rehabilitation Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa updated the committee on the utilization of 1.5 billion rupees allocated by the federal government for the repair of public houses in the South Waziristan district. The officials clarified that the Finance Division informed them that this matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Planning and Development Department. The committee decided to involve the Finance Division, Planning and Development department, and Finance Division Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in addressing this issue.

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