Two health officials grilled on citizens’ complaints

Lahore: Explanation was sought from two officials on the basis of online complaints lodged through Citizen Feedback Monitoring Program (CFMP) by numerous citizens in Pakpattan.

According to the details, the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) has deployed a digital system-CFMP, to receive citizen feedback about certain public services across the Punjab. The data received in CFMP showed that an Operation Theater Assistant Ali Sher of the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Arifwala illegally charged a Rs. 300 from a patient for his treatment.

Another citizen complained that Dr. Ajmal Shahzad frequently remained absent from his duty at a Rural Health Centre in Pakpattan. The Executive District Officer (EDO) Health of Pakpattan Dr. Siraj-ud-Din issued show cause notices to both individuals thereafter.

Speaking on the system, Chairman PITB Dr. Umar Saif that it was devised on the personal demands of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif who desired to eradicate corruption from the public offices and bring transparency, accountability and improvement in efficiency of the government departments and offices.

He told that it was the commitment to the cause that CM Punjab used to contact the citizens visiting public offices to avail govt. services through a robo-call to know whether they had faced any misconduct or forced to pay bribes. “Each complaint seeking action is immediately forwarded to relevant authorities, who are bound to take prompt corrective actions, redress grievances and report back to CM accordingly through the same digital mode,” he added.