K-P follows IK’s welfare state vision

Govt aims to provide people with easy access to basic services: CM

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has said that PTI government has taken pragmatic steps for the establishment of a welfare state, adding that the ultimate goal of the efforts and struggle over the years is to contribute to the national economy and provide people of the province with easy access to basic services.

In a statement regarding reforms and transformation strategy of his government, the CM said that PTI has emerged as the only political party that is representative of Pakistanis and stands for their rights. The provincial government has proved this by taking practical steps over the last four years which have resulted in significant improvement of the overall service delivery system in the province, he said.

The CM noted that some of the welfare initiatives of the provincial government include Sehat Card, uniform academic curriculum, revamping and rehabilitation of healthcare centres, outsourcing of healthcare facilities in far-flung areas, establishment of service delivery centres, provision of honorarium to prayers leaders and clerics of minorities, launching of Kissan Card, reforms introduced in patwar system, solarisation of mosques, improvement in the communication network and other initiatives under the good governance strategy.

He added that the provincial government has worked beyond its capacity for the welfare of public and never compromised on its manifesto regarding investment in human development despite multiple challenges. Khan said that public confidence in the strategy devised by the provincial government has increased significantly. Under the Sehat Card Plus scheme, free treatment facilities have been made available to 9.6 million families of the province, which is a milestone achievement towards Imran Khan’s vision for the establishment of a welfare state, he said.

Since the roll out of the Sehat Card initiative, hundreds of thousands of families have availed free treatment whereas expensive treatments including liver and kidney transplants have also been covered under the scheme to reduce the burden on families of patients. In order to ensure provision of facilities to citizens at their doorstep, service delivery centres and citizen facilitation centres have been established where multiple services are provided online including issuance of card and domicile certificate.

Additionally, the incumbent provincial government is working on the rehabilitation and up-gradation of existing schools alongside the establishment of new schools to provide uniform education opportunities to people across the province. In addition to this, the government is also setting up model schools where students will be imparted both traditional and religious education. The provincial government, for the first time in the history of the province, has started an honorarium for religious scholars and solarization of mosques. So far, around 8,000 masajid have been solarized while conversion of 9,000 mosques to solar energy is in the pipeline.