Punjab govt ordered to allocate sites for disposal of hospital waste

LAHORE: The Supreme Court on Saturday directed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government to allocate specific sites for disposal of hazardous waste of public hospitals in the province.

A bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, gave this direction while hearing a suo motu case regarding disposal of hospital waste.

At the previous hearing, the chief justice had directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to conduct an inquiry into a contract awarded to a private company for burning of waste of public hospitals in the city.

The court was informed that a private company was awarded a contract for disposal and burning of hospital waste.

It expressed concern over transparency of the award of the contract and decided to get it investigated.

Separately, the bench took up a suo motu case regarding the appointment of head of Overseas Pakistanis Commission Punjab.

During the Proceedings, a NAB official submitted a report about the appointment of former head of Overseas Pakistanis Commission Punjab, Afzaal Bhatti.

It was stated in the report that Afzaal Bhatti’s appointment was made against the rules and regulations.

Chief Justice directed NAB to recover the amount paid to Afzaal Bhatti under the head of salary.