55k community health inspectors deployed

Punjab CM eyes digital health profile of every household

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has launched the province's first community health inspectors programme.

More than 55,000 community health inspectors from across the province attended the launching ceremony at the Punjab Hockey Stadium.

Addressing the ceremony, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the provincial government believed in proactive governance rather than reacting after problems emerged, emphasising that preventive healthcare remained central to her administration's vision.

She said that once the 55,000 community health inspectors stepped into the field, diseases would be driven out of Punjab. "The government no longer waits for people to come to it; instead, it goes door to door," she said, adding that prevention is far less painful than treatment after illness has already taken hold.

The chief minister said that when mothers, sisters and daughters come forward to serve in the field, no one can defeat Punjab. She described the community health initiative as a transformative step, stating that Punjab's women have the strength and determination to change the province's destiny.

She said the inspectors undergo months of training and are ready to serve the humanity by delivering healthcare at the grassroots level.

Calling the health inspectors her "eyes, ears and pride," she said Punjab is becoming self-reliant across sectors with women playing a defining role in development and improving public health.

She said that through clinics-on-wheels and field hospitals, treatment had already been provided to nearly 30 million people across the province.

Under the new programme, community health inspectors will conduct basic diagnostic tests, including blood sugar checks, and administer injections.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said she had taken personal interest in designing the inspectors' uniforms and approving their toolkits. She added that 25,000 individuals have already been provided employment under the programme, with a monthly salary of Rs50,000. "Those who prove themselves through performance will see increases in their salaries," she said, acknowledging the demanding nature of door-to-door service.

She explained that the programme will result in the creation of a digital health profile of every household, enabling early detection of diseases and maintaining complete medical record through digital systems.

Patients will be examined and, where necessary, referred to relevant hospitals for treatment.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the dignity and respect of women serving in the field is a collective responsibility.

Digital assets

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also met a delegation of the UAE-based Damac Group to discuss investment opportunities in the province. The two sides explored accelerating the tokenisation of government and commercial assets across sectors.

The delegation was led by Damac Group CEO Amira Hussain Sajwani and Managing Director Ali Hussain Sajwani.

Both sides agreed to work towards expediting the tokenisation of public and commercial assets, with a proposal also discussed for launching a pilot tokenisation project of commercial assets in the Nawaz Sharif IT City. Damac Group expressed interest in investing in Punjab, particularly in emerging technologies and digital assets.

The chief minister said the province was being positioned as Pakistan's gateway for foreign direct investment (FDI) in digital assets and new technologies. She noted that Punjab accounted for 65 per cent of Pakistan's IT exports.

Highlighting Punjab's human capital, she said more than 25,000 IT graduates enter the workforce annually, providing a strong talent base for technology-driven growth. She added that Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala were fast emerging as dynamic technology hubs, underscoring Pakistan's potential to become a global centre for IT and digital innovation.

"The timing for investment in Punjab is ideal," the chief minister said, adding that the province offered vast opportunities for youth and international investors alike.

Central Business District Punjab CEO Imran Amin briefed the delegation on opportunities for tokenisation in CBD Punjab and the Ravi Urban Development Authority.