Private medical colleges: income tax commissioner summoned with record of tax returns

The Supreme Court on Saturday summoned income tax commissioner along with the record of tax returns filed by private medical and dental colleges in Lahore. Earlier, Advocate Ayesha Hamid, head of a court-commission, submitted reports regarding inspection of different medical and dental colleges.
The CJP directed the office to hand over the report to counsel of Pakistan Association of Private Medical and Dental Institutions (PAMI) and Lahore Medical and Dental College for their replies. He also directed ad hoc committee of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to submit its opinion on the reports. The PAMI also submitted reports on behalf of Rawal Institute of Health Sciences Islamabad, HBS Medical and Dental College Islamabad, and Islamabad Medical and Dental College about admissions made by them. The remaining medical colleges had been directed to do the needful positively within a period of one week.
About hospitals' waste, Advocate Hamid said there were some discrepancies in the report submitted by Environment Protection Agency (EPA) with regard to the incinerators installed in the public sector hospitals for disposal of the waste. Expressing serious disappointment with the performance of Secretary Environment Saif Anjum, the Chief Justice warned him of removing from his office if he failed to satisfy the court on next hearing.
The CJP ordered the secretary to measure air quality index from six different points in the city and submit a report. Referring to approvals issued to Orange Line Metro Train project by the EPA, the Chief Justice observed that the agency had become a personal servant of the government.
Meanwhile, Secretary Health Najam Ahmad Shah told the court that the process of installation of state-of-the-art multifunctional incinerator plants was under way which shall be completed in future. Meanwhile, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) through its counsel told the court that notices highlighting the violations had been issued to all the marriage halls. Aitzaz Ahsan appearing before the court said that the LDA rules provide the minimum area for a marriage hall not be less than four kanal and eight kanal for marquees which was highly unreasonable.
He said there were certain areas in Lahore city where no such space was available proposed for a marriage hall. The court directed the Director General LDA to consider this point and file his report also.