MANSEHRA: The anti-corruption establishment (ACE) on Friday urged people to help it check corruption and irregularities in government departments in the Hazara division.

`You should come forward and lodge complaints against corruption and administrative and financial anomalies in government departments,` ACE assistant director in Hazara division Khan Afsar Khan told an open forum here.

People from different walks of life attended the forum and submitted dozens of applications seeking action over `corruption` in the revenue, education, health, forest, agriculture, fisheries, communication and works, mineral, and other departments.

`We have a proper mechanism before lodging FIRs for graft cases. Our director approves cases for investigation or physical inspection.

If fraud or anomalies are detected, we proceed with the formalities for arrest of suspects,` the ACE official said.He promised action on corruption complaints.

Mr Khan said complaints should be accompanied with corruption evidence.

ACE circle in charge for Mansehra Abid Khan said the department was investigating multiple cases of corruption and irregularities in devolved departments. He said officials found guilty of corruption would be brought to justice under the relevant laws.

FUNDS RELEASED: The provincial government has released funds for remaining reconstruction work on the tehsil headquarters hospital in Balakot, which was destroyed by the 2005 earthquake.

`The government aims to ensure quality healthcare services for the residents of Balakot and has released funds for the completion of the reconstruction work of the only public sector health facility, which is expected to start functioning next month,` MPA Munir Hussain Lughmani told a meeting attended by the heads of devolved departments at Tehsil Municipal Administration`s hall in Balakot on Friday.

He said that although the TehsilHeadquarters Hospital destroyed in the earthquake where many lives were lost, was currently operating in a rented building but lacks adequate healthcare, diagnostic, and bedding facilities causing significant difficulties for local patients.

The PTI lawmaker said Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur included this incomplete project in special schemes and released the required funds.

`This state-of-the-art facility will be completed next month, and residents of the entire Balakot tehsil will benefit from quality healthcare and other related services, he said. Mr Lughmani said positions for male and female specialists` doctors, paramedics, and other staff were also being filled.

`We have already moved the apex court to ensure the development of the New Balakot City housing project to ensure allotments of residentialplots to quake survivors, he said. Mr Lughmani said the Supreme Court had ordered the federal government to release Rs1 billion to complete development infrastructure.

He, however, said those funds have not yet been transferred, leaving the mega housing project for the settlement of survivor families in limbo for the last 16 years.