Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday said that the access to quality health-care services was the inherent right of every Pakistani, which unfortunately was denied to them for long. It is only through provision of quality and affordable health services that the nation can achieve its full potential and gains on the economic and social fronts, he added.
The prime minister was chairing a meeting to review progress on the implementation of Prime Minister’s National Health Programme (PMNHP), here at PM’s House. “We want to reach out to the poorest of the poor with a comprehensive package of curative health services, as I believe that the combination of diseases and poverty could be lethal for any poor family. We will break this deadly nexus”, he added. The PM directed the Ministry of National Health Services for extending the programme to the entire country including FATA, Gilgit Baltistan and AJK with stringent monitoring system and zero tolerance for inefficiency at the implementation level. He said that the federal government would implement the programme in the entire country as the remote areas of KPK and Sindh were more vulnerable to diseases and the prevailing poverty in those areas did not allow people to afford healthcare facilities.
He said, “Our government will ensure sustainability of this programme through uninterrupted and continuous flow of public sector resources. I do not want the pace of this crucially vital programme to be hampered by lack of resources as there is nothing more dearer to me than the success of this initiative.” Appreciating the supportive role of NADRA and State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan to this landmark initiative, the PM expressed gratitude to all technical partners of PMNHP, including World Health Organization, World Bank and GIZ.
Later chairing a high-level meeting which reviewed the progress of new Islamabad international airport project and its allied infrastructure, PM Nawaz Sharif said the infrastructure projects were the backbone of a growing economy and essential for facilitating masses. Aviation Division Secretary Irfan Elahi informed that 95 per cent work on the airport terminal building had been completed and during March this year all civil works would be completed. Thereafter, the facility would undergo extensive testing to conform the international standards and by July 2017, the airport would be ready for operations, said a press release of the PM Office media wing.