LAKKI MARWAT: The district government has decided in principle to set aside an amount in the next ADP for providing the government city hospital here with modern facilities.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held at the hospital on Tuesday, chaired by district nazim Ishfaq Ahmad Khan Meenakhel.

Assistant commissioner Sadagatullah Khan and representatives of communication and works and health departments were in attendance.

The hospital`s medical superintendent Dr Ghulam Nabi briefed the meeting about available facilities and stressed the need for provision of an additional power generator, and equipment and machinery for the operation theatre, construction of water tanks and sheds and repair of overhead water reservoir. He said the modern facilities would help ensure provision of quality healthcare.

The meeting also discussed matters pertaining to attendance of doctors and paramedics and availability of medicines. Mr Meenakhel said his government was committed to equipping the city hospital with all facilities. `Residents from across the district are dependent upon this hospital, hence the district government will leave no stone unturned to equip the health facility with essential equipment and machinery,` he maintained.

OUTLAW ARRESTED: Police claimed to have arrested a wanted outlaw after exchange of fire in Dagar Kilay on Tuesday.

An official said the action was initiated when DPO Syed Khalid Hamdani received information about the presence of wanted men in the rural locality. He said the cops came under attack as soon as they started laying a siege to the hideout of criminals.

Police returned the fire and succeeded to capture a proclaimed offender indentified as Riaz, resident of Goraka Dilasa Shah, he maintained, adding the arrested criminal was wanted by police in cases of murder and attempted murder.

Separately, police arrested scores of wanted men and suspects during a search and strike operation conducted in different parts of the district. DPO Syed Khalid Hamdani led the operation, said the official, adding the law-enforcers eliminated hideouts of criminals` gangs and held four proclaimed offenders and 26 suspects.

The seizure included two Kalashnikovs, a rifle, three shotguns, 15 pistols, 226 bullets and over one kg hashish, he added, saying cases were registered against anti-social elements and drug traffickers.

Also in the day, a proclaimed offender, Matiullah of Abakhel, surrendered to police. Correspondent