CM suspends Juvenile jail staff on poor arrangements, seeks report from DC on Model Bazar fire

BAHAWALPUR: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar reached Bahawalpur late Friday on a three-day visit and made a surprise visit to Borstal Institute of Juvenile Jail and suspended the jail staff over poor arrangements.

After his arrival at the airport, the chief minister also visited Model Bazar affected by fire. He stopped his vehicle upon seeing the Model Bazar affectees and alighted from the vehicle.

He inspected the model bazar and assured the affectees of compensation of their damages, saying that sympathies of the Punjab government were with them.

He said estimates of damages of stalls and shops which were burnt would be made and immediate steps would be taken for reconstruction.

He directed Deputy Commissioner Bahawalpur Shozab Saeed to submit an early report about estimates of the damages.

Later, the chief minister visited Borstal Institute Juveniles Jail where superintendent jail was absent.

He inspected the barracks of Juveniles and asked the prisoners about the facilities provided to them.

He talked to the Juveniles and asked about weather condition. "Tell me about any other problem so that it could be solved," he added.

He also inspected the dining room and the kitchen to examine the dining facilities. He checked the food being provided to the prisoners.

The chief minister asked the Superintendent if food was available for prisoners. However, he expressed his displeasure over finding the empty crockery and reprimanded the jail staff.

He asked when were the Juveniles provided food and he was told that dinner was served to the prisoners by 4:30 PM.

Buzdar also directed to get the nonfunctioning TV of the barracks repaired. He added that Juveniles should be provided necessary facilities in their barracks.

Chief Secretary, IG Police, ACS (Home), spokesman to CM Dr. Shahbaz Gill and others were present on the occasion.

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also paid a surprise visit to Bahawal Victoria Hospital and talked to the patients and their attendants in the emergency ward.

Patients expressed their satisfaction over the arrangements.

He also went to different wards and pharmacy of the hospital.

Buzdar would also preside over a meeting of Punjab Cabinet on the second day of his visit.

The meeting will review problems of Bahawalpur and other districts and law and order situation will be examined in a special meeting as well.

The chief minister will also be given a briefing about development schemes. He will hold meetings with parliamentarians, party workers, delegations of lawyers and Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce.