Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has appreciated the steps taken by the government for early rehabilitation of the flood-hit population besides hailing measures to save students from drug addiction.
During his visit to the provincial capital on Monday, the PTI chairman held a detailed meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. Both leaders discussed the current political situation, development projects and issued faced by citizens.
While appreciating the Punjab government, Khan said its aid package would ensure early rehabilitation of the affected families. He underscored the need to accelerate the welfare schemes to provide necessary relief to the people and expressed regret over the previous government’s alleged enmity with the people by stopping the welfare projects initiated during the PTI rule.
The chief minister apprised the former prime minister about the treatment of more diseases under the health card scheme. He said all hospitals in the province would be converted to solar energy in phases.
While briefing the PTI leader about the Punjab Control of Narcotics Substance Act, 2022, Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi highlighted that strict legislation was being enacted to make educational institutions drug-free. Strict punishment would be proposed for selling drugs in higher educational institutions.
The government is carrying out legislation to keep the minimum punishment two years and maximum life imprisonment. The owners, as well as employees, would be responsible for the sale and use of drugs in educational institutions, he said and added that an autonomous institution, special force and courts would be set up to eradicate the drug trade.
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He said heirs of those who had died due to rains and floods had been paid Rs1 million per person. The amount of compensation has been increased to redress damage to houses, crops and livestock, he added.
He said new development schemes were also being started according to former prime minister Imran Khan’s vision as the welfare of the common people was a focal point of the Punjab government.
Provincial Senior Minister Aslam Iqbal, Minister for Specialised Healthcare Dr Yasmin Rashid, former federal minister Hammad Azhar, Hafiz Farhat Abbas, Iftikhar Ghumman, Wasim Ramey, Mudassar Machiana, the chief secretary and others were also present in the meeting. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Elahi approved the inclusion of complicated liver surgery in the health card programme and accorded approval in principle to increase the funds for the scheme.
Similarly, complicated heart surgery of child patients would also be included in the health card programme.
The chief minister said surgery of the liver, kidney and pancreas would be facilitated through Bahria International Hospitals, while the inclusion of complicated liver surgery would further facilitate the needy patients. The operation and post-operative-care facilities would be provided through the health card in Bahria International Hospitals.
The chief minister also issued a statement expressing a deep sense of sorrow over a Pakistan Army helicopter crash in Balochistan and extended sympathies to the bereaved heirs. He paid tribute to the martyrs.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2022.
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