LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar said on Friday that telemedicine will be promoted in the province by utilising state-of-the-art information and communication technologies.
“As a result, patients from far-flung areas will be able to consult specialists in larger cities,” he said while speaking to people belonging to Dera Ghazi Khan and other cities of the province at the Arfa Karim Technology Park.
A pilot project of telemedicine will soon be launched in DG Khan and Taunsa Sharif to facilitate people of tribal areas, the chief minister said and added that after its success, the scope of the facility will be extended to other cities as well.
“Youth of backward areas will be provided employment opportunities through dexterous use of IT as vast opportunities of progress exist in the field.”
Youngsters, he said, will be provided with necessary training regarding running IT-based businesses in technology incubation centers so that they are able to earn a livelihood through freelancing.
“E-Khidmat Centres, e-Rozgar Centres and e-Earn Centres will also be established in remote areas to facilitate the people living there,” the chief minister said and disclosed that establishment of a special economic zone and IT University’s sub-campus in DG Khan was on cards as well.
Separately, Chief Minister Buzdar presided over an important meeting at AKTP, during which China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) related projects and development schemes for future were reviewed.
Addressing the meeting, he said that special economic zones will be set up across the province to help change the destiny of the people and investors will be given incentives in these zones to make Punjab the centre of trade as well as economic activities.
“Establishment of a mini-dam in Taunsa Sharif will be examined to store the gushing waters of the area’s hill-torrents,” he said and added that completion of the Multan Nishtar-II project and a cancer hospital for DG Khan is also under consideration.
The chief minister reiterated his government’s commitment to bring a revolution of information technology in DG Khan and other backward areas of the province and said that Chinese investment in the social sector of the province will be welcomed.