–CM inaugurates several revamping projects at DHQ Hospital Rajanpur
–Says serving south Punjab pivot of PML-N’s politics
RAJANPUR: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Chaudhry Nisar was former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s friend and not his.
The PML-N president said this while speaking to media after an inaugural ceremony at District Headquarters Hospital in Rajanpur.
However, he later clarified that he was talking about 1988. “He used to constantly complain about me to Mian Sahab,” Shehbaz said, adding that he had always been scolded by Nawaz because of Nisar.
However, he said that their relationship was bitter for some time but eventually it improved.
He said that Nisar has to be “dealt with like a child” and that they keep trying to pacify him and resolve any issues.
When asked if he will succeed in convincing Nisar to put his differences aside this time around, the Punjab chief minister answered, “God willingly.”
Nisar, who has been associated with the PML-N for over three decades, has publicly spoken about his differences with the party following Nawaz’s ouster last July and subsequent public mobilisation campaign. In February it was reported that Nawaz had parted ways with his longtime associate Nisar.
Last month, Shehbaz met with Nisar and asked him to not leave the party.
Earlier in the day Chief Minister Shehbaz inaugurated a CT scan machine and mobile diagnostic unit at DHQ Hospital Rajanpur.
Speaking on the occasion, he said that CT scan machines were being installed in different districts of the province with an amount of Rs1.20 billion. “The installation, working arrangements and payment of salaries of the staff will be borne out by the company,” he said and added that the tests would be conducted free of cost at DHQ hospitals and the expenses would be bared by the Punjab government.
The chief minister also inaugurated other revamping projects at the hospital and inspected different sections including OPD, gyne-ward, cold storage facility and burn and dental health units. He took a round of different wards and inquired after the health of the patients. The chief minister also asked the patients and their attendants about the provision of medical facilities, medicines and doctors.
“The revamping of the DHQ hospital was started three years ago and when I visited it earlier during floods… its dilapidated condition had left me disappointed,” said Shehbaz and added that he was pleased to witness the hospital now as best surgical wards, dialysis center and dental surgery facilities were available for the patients and its pharmacy could be compared to any private medical store of Lahore.
The chief minister said that serving southern Punjab was the pivot of PML-N’s politics adding that various steps had been taken for the development of different southern districts by the government. “Development projects have been completed with a cost of billions of rupees in southern Punjab and more funds have been provided as compared to its population,” he said.
“We have provided 42 per cent to 45 per cent resources to 31 per cent population of southern Punjab and the development works have been speedily completed despite different challenges,” he further said.
