PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi on Tuesday imposed a complete ban on the use of mobile phones during duty hours by hospital administrations, government school teachers and all government employees, taking notice of public complaints over negligence in service delivery.
The directive was issued during a surprise late-night visit to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), where the chief minister listened to complaints from patients and their attendants regarding poor administration and lack of attention by hospital staff.
According to a spokesperson for the Chief Minister House, citizens complained that patients were often left unattended for extended periods while hospital staff and administrators remained busy on their mobile phones during duty hours, adversely affecting treatment and patient care.
The chief minister warned that negligence in public service due to mobile phone usage would not be tolerated under any circumstances and said strict action would be taken against violators.
He urged members of the public to report such violations by recording videos of doctors or staff members using mobile phones while on duty and forwarding them to the authorities for immediate action.
“You send the complaint, the rest is my responsibility,” the chief minister said, adding that a dedicated complaint cell was being activated to ensure swift redressal of public grievances.
He also directed the hospital administration to ensure the immediate provision of quality medical facilities and warned that officials found negligent in performing their duties would face strict disciplinary action.
The chief minister reiterated that improving healthcare services and restoring public trust in government institutions remain among the top priorities of his government.
