Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday that all resources were being utilized for the eradication of dengue virus, adding that the medicines for dengue were being imported by air to ensure timely provision of medical facilities to the patients.
Shahbaz was presiding over a meeting held to review the steps taken for eradication of dengue. The meeting was attended by the members of National and Provincial Assembly, secretaries of various departments and experts of Sri Lankan medical team. Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz said that about 1100 doctors and nurses had been trained in various districts of Punjab so far for the eradication of dengue virus. He said that consultants were visiting private and charity hospitals regularly and examining the dengue patients, adding that this step had made best treatment and diagnostic facilities available to all the patients.
The chief minister called for immediate actions to eradicate dengue, including creating awareness through media and education in schools and effective disposal of garbage.
He directed the Food secretary to ensure that hotels and restaurants were taking preventive measures for dengue. The Food secretary informed the participants of the meeting that the 9 teams formed by the Food Department had inspected 278 hotels and restaurants on Friday.
Meanwhile, addressing a seminar on the “role of youth in the campaign against dengue”, held at University of Engineering and Technology (UET) on Saturday, the chief minister said that the “Dengue” of corruption had ruined the country.
Shahbaz said that institutions in Pakistan were weak, whereas persons were powerful. If the accountability of judges, generals and politicians had been held in the past, no one would have dared to loot the national exchequer today, he added. The chief minister informed the audience of the steps that the government had taken to eradicate dengue, urging the students to play their role in creating awareness among the people regarding dengue.
Speaking on the occasion, UET Vice Chancellor retired Lieutenant General Muhammad Akram Khan said that a ward consisting of ten beds had been set up for dengue patients in the University Health Clinic. The chief minister also addressed the lawyers’ forum of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) on Saturday. Addressing the lawyers, he said that the objective of the October 28 rally was to establish a new system based on hard-work, trust and justice.
Shahbaz said that the lawyers had played a historical role in the restoration of judiciary and offered many sacrifices for the cause, however the sacrifices were being insulted by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government that was engaged in rampant corruption and plundering in the country, he added.
