LOWER DIR: Deputy Commissioner Lower Dir Basharat Ahmad has announced that work on installing a solar power system at Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Samar Bagh will begin soon, followed by the establishment of a blood bank at the facility.
The announcement was made during a public grievance redressal session held at Samar Bagh Sports Complex under the chairmanship of the deputy commissioner. Assistant Commissioner Samar Bagh Muhammad Ayaz, Additional Assistant Commissioner Saeedullah, the District Health Officer, District Education Officers (Male and Female), the Assistant Director Local Government, heads of various departments, local elders, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and a large number of young people attended the session.
During the open forum, participants highlighted several public concerns, including non-functional water supply schemes, road construction, electricity load-shedding, excessive billing, meter-reading problems, the establishment of blood banks at Munda and Samar Bagh hospitals, faulty streetlights, illegal parking, drug trafficking and alleged ghost employees in government departments.
Deputy Commissioner Basharat Ahmad listened to the complaints and issued instructions to the relevant departments to address the issues. He said the solar power installation at Samar Bagh Hospital would be undertaken first, after which a blood bank would be established at the facility.
Crackdown on Drug Dealers Ordered
The deputy commissioner directed authorities to launch a crackdown against drug dealers and instructed the DSP Samar Bagh to provide details of individuals allegedly involved in drug trafficking.
According to the administration, action would also be taken against those involved in drug dealing under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance.
To address electricity-related concerns, the Executive Engineer of PESCO and the Assistant Commissioner Samar Bagh were assigned special tasks to improve the recovery of outstanding electricity bills. The deputy commissioner said measures would be taken to reduce load-shedding hours in Samar Bagh once electricity bill recovery improved.
Departmental heads also responded to complaints during the session, while immediate steps were taken to address some of the issues raised by residents.
Special Session for Persons With Disabilities
To address the concerns of persons with disabilities, the deputy commissioner directed the Assistant Commissioner Samar Bagh, District Officer Social Welfare, District Officer Zakat, the district officer of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), and the Health Department to organize a special awareness and complaints session in Samar Bagh next week.
He added that persons with disabilities could also submit their complaints through the Deputy Commissioner’s WhatsApp complaints cell.
The assistant commissioner was further directed to prepare a comprehensive plan to improve traffic flow and sanitation and begin implementing it immediately.
Elders Appreciate Anti-Encroachment Drive
During the session, local elders from Sub-Division Samar Bagh appreciated the district administration’s anti-encroachment campaign and free medical camps organized under the supervision of the district administration and the Health Department.
They stressed the need to continue these initiatives to address public concerns, improve essential services and strengthen coordination between government departments and local communities.