KARACHI:The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday ordered Sindh government to release funds of Sindh Government Children Hospital North Nazimabad Karachi within a week and sought a progress report in this regard in next hearing.
A two-member bench of the SHC, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali, heard a petition filed by citizen Zaahir Ali through his lawyer Asad Ifekhar against Sindh government for not releasing funds to the children hospital. The court ordered Sindh government to release funds within a week and ordered the relevant authorities to submit a progress report till 26th November.
Justice Mazhar remarked Chief Secretary had even signed the release of funds. “This all is done on court orders,” justice Mazhar remarked. The court asked the lawyer now what did he want?
Lawyer Iftekhar argued that the summary of funds had been signed but funds were not released. At which, assistant advocate general, Shehryar Mahar, argued a summary was signed on 10th November and today is 16th November so how funds could be released within the short period of six days?
The lawyer for the hospital argued that Sindh government had singed a summary for only Rs200 million, however, it had to sign the summary of Rs2.3 billion because there was more than 200 employees in the hospital who had not been given salaries since seven months.
At which, the justice Mazhar remarked that basic matter is treatment of children, directing the hospital, he ordered that treatment process must be continued while other matters will be resolved later. The lawyer said it is the second largest hospital for children in Karachi which is being administrated under public private partnership. The court, later, adjourned the hearing till 26th November.