SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah and Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed on Wednesday visited Wana, the district headquarters of Lower South Waziristan, to review the ongoing development projects, inspect educational institutions, health facilities and assess the overall law and order situation in the region.

Dera Ismail Khan Division Commissioner Zafarul Islam, Regional Police Officer Syed Ashfaq Anwar, MNA Zubair Wazir, MPA Ajab Gul Wazir, deputy commissioner Nasir Khan, district police officer AsifBahadur and other officials also accompanied them.

The chief secretary visited various departments of District Headquarters Hospital, Wana, including emergency unit, laboratory and different wards. He expressed satisfaction on the overall situation with the available facilities. However, upon noticing certain deficiencies, he took immediate action by contacting the health secretary and directed release of Rs250 million in hospital funds by the end of the day.

The chief secretary also inspected government degree college and government high school, Wana. He expressed displeasure over the deteriorating conditions and poor management of these institutions. He directed the authorities concerned to ensure immediate improvements. He emphasised the provincial government`s commitment to uplifting the standard of education in the region.

At the deputy commissioner`s office, the chief secretary received a comprehensive briefing on various developmental schemes. He expressed disappointment over the absence of certain officials and warned that negligence in public service delivery would not be tolerated.

He further announced that all line departments would be shifted from Dera Ismail Khan and Tank to Wana, enabling better service delivery for local residents.

The chief secretary also spent some time with orphaned children at their centre. He appreciated the institution`s efforts in supporting vulnerable segments of society. He also held a jirga with tribal elders from Ahmadzai Wazir, Sulemankhel, and Dottani tribes. The elders highlighted longstanding challenges faced by their communities.

Addressing the gathering, the chief secretary assured construction of small dams to address water scarcity in Wana, adding construction of Wana-Gomal Zam and Jandola roads was a mega infrastructure project. He said early operationalisation of category-D hospitals in Sholam and Toi Khullah was on the cards.

He also directed to immediately operationalise nonfunctional schools and health facilities across the district. On the law and order front, IGP Zulfiqar Hameed outlined key measures aimed at strengthening the police system in the region. He announced that police stations would be upgraded with modern facilities and reforms would be accelerated. Correspondent