Punjab govt boasts of 54 initiatives including 35m Sehat cards

Whitepaper highlights major programmes launched by provincial govt

LAHORE: The Punjab government has released a 60-page whitepaper, titled ‘Taraki-o-Khushali, Manzil Hamari’, to showcase the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) performance during the last 16 months.

The government has highlighted 54 initiatives for change in the province, including issuance of Sehat Insaf Cards to around 35 million citizens, establishment of shelter homes in all nine divisions, launch of Ehsaas programme for the needy, Hamqadam programme for differently-abled persons and Bahimat Buzurg for elderly persons.

Other initiatives include Silahe-Fun programme for artists, Masawat programme for the transgender community, Nai Zindagi programme for acid victims, Sarprast programme for orphans and widows and Khiraj-e-Shuhda programme for families of martyrs.

The report highlights that the government has initiated Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme in Lodhran, Chishtian and Renala Khurd and launch of Clean and Green Pakistan campaign across the province, and constitution of Aab-ePak Authority for provision of clean drinking water to the public.

For farmers, the government has introduced agriculture credit scheme, issued revised support price for wheat and sugarcane and established farmers’ counters in markets.

The report reveals that the government has opened doors of public guest houses for the general public.

Over 150,000 youth will be trained in different technical skills under the Hunarmand Nojawan Programme.

The construction and expansion of over 1,500 kilometres of roads in rural areas will be completed under Naya Pakistan Manzilian Assan programme.

In the education sector, the report highlights, the government has started Insaf Afternoon School programme and 10,800 schools are being converted on solar energy.

The government has planned construction of small dams in different areas in Koh-e-Suleman. Several projects of new canals, including Jalalpur Canal and target to provide water at tail end in next 10 years, establishment of 10 new special economic zones and establishment of Allama Iqbal Industrial Zone in Faisalabad over an area of 4,000 acres were also mentioned.

The government has also initiated construction of 13 roads through private-public-partnership.

According to the report, the government has introduced Punjab Corruption Complaint Mobile App for Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment.

Increase in tax receipts and introduction of online tax deposits whereas passage of 30 laws, including Punjab Local Government Act and The Punjab Village Panchayats and Neighbourhood Councils Act were mentioned in the report. It also highlights that around 35 new laws are in pipeline for approval.

The report also highlighted the provision of 14 new buses for special education institutions, the decision to shift all brick kilns to zig zag technology to counter smog and the restoration of 656 water schemes with an estimated cost of Rs330 million.

In the health sector, recruitment of 25,000 vacant positions, including doctors, addition of 9,000 new beds in public hospitals and establishment of nine new hospitals, including five mother and child care hospitals were also mentioned in the report.

The report also pointed out the round-the-clock provision of medical aid through 194 rural health centres and completion of 16 mega project in health sector with an estimated cost of Rs13 billion.

The report also mentioned that the government has appointed vice chancellors in 15 public sector universities on merit besides recruitment of 5,000 CTI college internees, planned to establish 43 new colleges and a project of construction of 2,800 new class rooms across Punjab.

Commenting on the government’s performance, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Punjab Spokesperson Uzma Bukhari said no doctor or specialist is willing to get appointed in Punjab.

“Punjab Public Service Commission’s requisition for appointment of doctors has been returned five times.” The government has failed to fill thousands of vacant post in School Education department, she maintained.

“Patients are not getting medicines in public hospitals but the government is distributing health insurance cards.”

“No foreign investor is ready to make investment in this fake scheme.” The government has made Aab Pak Authority just to facilitate Punjab governor because, as per constitution, no federal government representative can head any authority in the province, she remarked.

Opposition leaders highlighted that most of the feathers in the PTIled government’s cap are in preliminary stage or projects that are being run by charities across Punjab. “The government lacks vision and is incapable of executing any mega project in the province.”