CM approves 1,000-bed hospital for Lahore

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has given approval to include the project of setting up of a new 1,000- bed hospital on Ferozepur Road in Annual Development Programme (ADP).

He also directed departments concerned to resolve issues related to transfer of land allocated for the hospital at the earliest. Presiding over the 47th meeting of Cabinet Standing Committee for Finance and Development here on Saturday, Buzdar highlighted that a new general hospital was being constructed in provincial capital after 30 years.

“Previous regimes did not bother to increase health amenities keeping in view the increasing population of the provincial metropolis.” He announced that every citizen of Punjab will be provided Sehat Insaf Card by 2021 as it is the commitment of the incumbent government to provide health coverage to every citizen. The meeting gave approval to various social welfare schemes, including setting up shelter homes (Panagah) in all divisional headquarters besides provincial metropolis with the cooperation of Baitul Maal.

The meeting also approved construction of an emergency and OPD block at the teaching hospital Dera Ghazi Khan which would cost Rs2 billion. The chief minister directed the health department to redress the important matters for setting up emergency and OPD block at the earliest.

The meeting decided to revamp 122-kilometre long road from Chokiwala (N-55) tehsil Taunsa to N-70 (Chappar, Balochistan) via Zain, Barthi and Kharar Buzdar at a sum of Rs9 billion. The road from Chowkiwala to Zain will be constructed by the Punjab government with its own resources while the federal government will be requested to provide funds for the construction of the rest of the portion.