LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar on Monday directed the departments concerned to remain fully vigilant and alert in the wake of the possible threat of flood and stated that all possible steps should be taken to combat the possible flood.
“All encroachments in riverine areas should also be removed to avoid loss of life,” he said while further directing that emergency work must be done to improve the organisational capacity of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
He was chairing a high-level meeting at his office to review the performance of Primary & Secondary Health, Specialised Health & Medical Education, Board of Revenue, Punjab Land Record Authority (PLRA), PDMA, Industries, and Agriculture departments besides reviewing the ongoing public welfare schemes for citizens of Lahore.
Provincial Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, SMBR, principal secretary to CM, Specialised Health & Medical Education secretary, Agriculture secretary, Industries secretary, Lahore Division commissioner, Primary & Secondary Health Special Secretary, PDMA DG, Punjab Land Record Authority DG and the head of SMU attended the meeting.
Addressing the meeting, Buzdar said that the latest weather radar costing an amount of Rs737 million will be installed in Sialkot to monitor the weather situation.
He said that every possible step will be taken to facilitate the people. “We do not believe in lip-service. The people will be facilitated through practical measures,” he said while directing relevant authorities to expedite development work for providing early relief to the people.
He said that billions of rupees were wasted on exhibitory projects during the last ten years and criminal negligence was shown by shamelessly ignoring the fundamental needs of the people. “Former rulers did things which were not needed by the common man. However, the PTI government is giving particular attention to providing necessary facilities to the general public,” the chief minister said.
Further, the chief minister said that the number of Arazi centers will be increased to facilitate the people at doorsteps. He directed that construction of 115 new Arazi centers to be completed by December 31, adding that new centers will create more employment opportunities besides providing relief to the people.
He said that the healthcare system is being improved by revamping the health department on modern lines. The government is recruiting new doctors to fulfill their shortage in remote areas. He emphasised that the medicines’ procurement system will be made foolproof and disclosed that only disposable razors could be used at barber-shops to avoid Hepatitis disease. “The Punjab Health Department should take necessary steps to ensure the use of disposable razors,” he added.
He informed that emergencies of THQ hospitals will be upgraded and in the first phase, emergencies of 100 THQ hospitals will be upgraded by the government. He regretted that very low resources were allocated for improving the sewerage system during the last ten years and added that the Punjab government is starting a new project worth Rs14 billion to improve the sewerage system of Lahore.
He said that a project costing billions of rupees is being launched in the provincial metropolis to provide clean drinking water to the people while comprehensive planning has been made to repair street lights and roads patchwork in Lahore.
