–CM inaugurates new facilities at District Headquarters Hospital Narowal
–Appreciates govt officials for working hard with shared determination
–Chinese consul general to Lahore visits PKLI
NAROWAL: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday took a jab at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s performance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) during his five-year tenure.
“I do not understand how opposition parties criticise us. Did Imran Khan make even one new hospital (in KP)?” Shehbaz said while addressing an inaugural ceremony at District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) in Narowal. He added that Imran has ‘destroyed’ Peshawar.
The Punjab CM threw light on the development and health projects initiated in Punjab in comparison to other provinces. “They [PTI] used to call me ‘Showbaz Sharif’ and termed the Lahore Metro Bus project ‘jungla bus’ but now they are spending billions to make a metro bus for Peshawar,” he said.
“In KP, not one hospital university or college has been built in the last five years,” he said and added that Sindh is also in the same state.
“Just look at what has been done in Karachi. Even Sindh has been destroyed,” lamented the chief minister.
“We have completely transformed DHQ, CT Scan services will now be provided around the clock and we have also installed automatic surgical beds,” he said about the facilities specifically for Narowal.
Elaborating the Punjab government’s focus on providing uniform facilities to the rich and poor, Shehbaz said, “Punjab government has initiated a new phase of public health in the country. Millions sacrificed so the poor could be provided quality health care.”
He said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led Punjab government had given new hopes to the disfranchised segments of the society by setting up such quality hospitals.
“Along with the latest facility of PKLI in Lahore, a network of hepatitis filter clinics has been spread across the province to provide free treatment and medicines to the patients. It is for the first time that resourceless persons are getting same medicines which are given to the resourceful dignitaries,” said the chief minister and added that pathology labs had been set up in district hospitals besides special wards for the treatment of prisoners.
“We have ensured equality in the hospitals and billions of rupees are spent every year for the provision of medicines,” he said.
“South and Central Punjab are equal for us,” he concluded.
Earlier, the chief minister inaugurated a new emergency block, hepatitis filter clinic, CT scan facility at the hospital and mobile health units for Narowal and Sialkot districts.
Shehbaz visited various sections of the hospital and inquired after the health of the patients. He also lauded Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir, Secretary Ali Jan Khan, political colleagues and administration for their untiring efforts.
Separately, the chief minister said that the Punjab government had set an example of public service by working as a team.
Addressing a ceremony of high-ranking officers at the Darbar Hall of the Civil Secretariat, he said that officers had worked with vision, commitment and shared determination.
“The officers of Punjab government have set examples in every sector and positive results have been achieved as a result,” he said and added that the government had ensured the provision of best services to the masses. “Provincial bureaucracy, police and other officers have discharged their obligations wholeheartedly.”
He said that appreciation of Punjab in other provinces and at the international level was, in fact, the acknowledgement of the officer’s hard work.
The chief minister also distributed cash awards and commendatory certificates among the civil, police and administrative officers for showing outstanding performance and said that the Punjab government had always given priority to transparency, quality and speed.
He also said the speed with which energy projects were completed was unprecedented and the time which he had spent with the Punjab administration was the best of his life.
CHINESE CONSUL GENERAL IN LAHORE VISITS PKLI:
Meanwhile, People’s Republic of China’s Consul General in Lahore, Long Dingbin, paid a visit to the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Center where he met with the hospital’s President and CEO Prof Dr Saeed Akhter.
Upon his visit along with other officials of the consulate, he was informed that PKLI was focused on reducing the burden of kidney and liver diseases by raising awareness about preventive measures in addition to providing free or subsidised treatment facilities to the poor at par with the rich without any discrimination.
The visitors said that PKLI was an excellent project that would definitely raise the standard of healthcare delivery in Pakistan. Dingbin, at the occasion, said that the consulate would provide scholarships to help PKLI in training its staff, including nursing and paramedics.
He also donated $50,000 to the hospital as a goodwill gesture by China, over which, Prof Dr Saeed Akhter thanked him for their resolve to support the noble cause.
Dr Saeed said that there was a heavy prevalence of hepatitis in Pakistan and China, and so, both should join hands to eliminate the deadly diseases through collaboration in cutting-edge research and sharing of modern technology.
The CEO also told the delegation that the government of Punjab would provide full financial support to the hospital to operate 500 beds for the first 3 years. Later, the government would give a 25% recurrent budget and the hospital would generate 75% of the budget each year through various activities including diagnostic services, donations, zakat, patient care, hotel, shopping mall etc.