DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A serious case of alleged financial irregularities involving fuel funds allocated for frontline polio workers has emerged in the Health Department of Upper South Waziristan, where Rs1,742,500 reportedly drawn for fuel expenses of EPI vaccinators and TSV employees was not paid to the concerned staff.
According to an official inquiry letter issued by the Regional Director General Health Services (South) Dera Ismail Khan the amount relates to fuel expenses for July, August and September 2025 during the tenure of former District Health Officer (DHO) Upper South Waziristan Dr. Muhammad Tufail.
The matter came to light following a complaint by TSV employees prompting the formation of a two member inquiry committee comprising Dr. Abdullah Jan, DHO Upper South Waziristan and Dr. Hamidullah EPI Coordinator, DHO Lower South Waziristan.
After examining the relevant records and documents, the inquiry committee reportedly established that Rs1,742,500 had been withdrawn under the head of fuel charges for EPI vaccinators and TSV employees but had not been disbursed to the concerned staff.
The committee also pointed out alleged irregularities in the issuance of other POL bills and recommended recovery and distribution of the outstanding amount among the entitled employees.
Taking serious notice of the findings the Regional Director General Health Services (South) has directed former DHO Dr. Muhammad Tufail to ensure payment of Rs1,742,500 to the entitled TSV employees in the presence of the inquiry committee and submit a compliance report within seven days.
The official directive warns that failure to comply may lead to a recommendation for strict departmental action against the concerned officer under the Efficiency and Discipline (E&D) Rules.
Copies of the official correspondence have also been forwarded to the Secretary Health Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Director General Health Services KP Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) KP Deputy Commissioner Upper South Waziristan and other relevant authorities.
The development has raised serious questions about the treatment of frontline polio workers who continue to perform their duties under challenging conditions including extreme weather difficult mountainous terrain security threats and life-threatening risks.
These workers travel door to door to administer polio drops to children often reaching remote areas where access is extremely difficult.
Despite numerous challenges they continue to perform their national responsibility to protect children from lifelong disability.
The non payment of officially allocated fuel expenses has raised concerns about how these employees are expected to bear the transportation costs of performing their assigned duties.
The workers are not seeking charity but demanding their legitimate financial entitlements allocated by the government for official duties.
Public and departmental circles have called upon the higher authorities to ensure immediate payment of all outstanding fuel expenses to frontline polio workers conduct a comprehensive investigation into the withdrawal and non-disbursement of Rs1,742,500 and audit other allegedly irregular POL bills.
They have further demanded that those found responsible for financial irregularities should face legal and departmental action while a transparent mechanism should be introduced to ensure timely payment of fuel and other duty related allowances in the future.
The central question remains Why are frontline workers who risk their lives to protect children from polio, being forced to struggle for their legitimate fuel expenses
The report is based on an official inquiry letter provided by the Regional Directorate General Health Services (South). The version of the concerned officer will also be incorporated if and when it becomes available.
