Policy priority: Record budget for healthcare, says Shahbaz

Meeting held to review progress on Pakistan Kidney and Liver Transplant Institute

LAHORE: A record healthcare allocation has been made in the current fiscal year. It will be used to build new hospitals, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Wednesday. He was presiding over a meeting to review the progress on Pakistan Kidney and Liver Transplant Institute and Research Centre Project.

Institute’s Board of Governors president Dr Saeed Akhtar briefed the meeting about the progress on the project. “The project is a trendsetter in providing quality public health facilities. Modern treatment facilities will be available to kidney and liver patients after completion of the project. Provision of quality treatment facilities to the common man is the top priority of the government. Record funds have been allocated for improving public health facilities,” he said. The chief minister said that the project was of great importance. “Work should be carried out on this project expeditiously. Special attention should be paid to the quality of the construction work,” he said.

The chief minister said that there would be no shortage of resources for providing quality public health facilities. He directed officials to finalise a proposal for setting up of a university as part of the project. “Recommendations in this regard should be submitted at the earliest. A nursing school should also be set up. All departments concerned should work for the project in a coordinated manner,” he said.

The chief minister said that arrangements should be made for foreign training for doctors, nurses and paramedics. Adviser on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique, Health Department and Communication and Works secretaries and NESPAK managing director were also present.

Train station designs: The chief minister presided over a meeting to review the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project. The meeting approved the design and colour scheme of train stations. “Comfortable, safe and economical travelling facilities will be available to the people after completion of the project. A business plan should be evolved for trade activities at the stations,” he said. Shahbaz Sharif praised the members of the committee for designing train stations and said that the structures should be simple and impressive. Khawaja Ahmed Hassaan, MPA Majid Zahoor, WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari, architect Nayyer Ali Dada, the Lahore commissioner and the DCO were present.

CM visits Hafizabad

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited Jorian village in Hafizabad and met Abubakar alias Akram, whose hands had allegedly been cut off by a landlord.

Talking to Akram and his family, the chief minister said that he shared their grief. He said that a committee had been constituted for investigating the incident. “Those found responsible will be brought to justice,” he said.

He gave a Rs1 million cheque to Akram. He said that the Punjab government would bear the expenses of providing prosthetic limbs to Akram. “He will be provided a suitable government job after his recovery,” he said. Muhammad Siddique, Akram’s father, said that the accused had cut his son’s hands with a lawn mower.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2015.