Citizens offered free transport

CM announces relief package for commuters, farmers

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced that government public transport services in all cities of the province have been made free for a month, including the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train, Metro Bus Service, Speedo Bus, and Green Electric Buses, allowing citizens to travel without purchasing tickets.

The decision is part of a relief package announced to help citizens across the province cope with the fallout of an ongoing global economic crisis following the launch of a national savings and austerity programme by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also announced financial support measures for farmers and food security.

A subsidy of Rs100 per litre of diesel per acre will be provided to farmers.

Motorcycle owners will also receive relief, with a subsidy of Rs100 per litre on up to 20 litres of fuel, amounting to Rs2,000 per month for each registered owner.

According to a statement, the CM paid tribute to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for maintaining petroleum product prices and supply for one month despite global challenges, stating that billions of rupees worth of relief had been provided to protect citizens from economic hardship.

She emphasised that Pakistan, due to its reliance on imported oil, is more vulnerable to the effects of global conflict and economic instability.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz appealed to citizens to prefer public transport over private vehicles during the prevailing extraordinary circumstances. She reaffirmed the government's commitment to easing the economic burden on the people and assured them that more relief would be provided as conditions improve.

Meanwhile, chairing a meeting, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz set a target to make 24 new primary stroke centres functional across the province by June 30.

She approved the formation of a 12-member advisory committee for the CM Stroke Programme to be headed by Provincial Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, with Professor Qasim Bashir as convener.

The participants were informed that 15 primary stroke centres are functioning, where 700 patients had been administered life-saving injections, preventing lifelong disability. Stroke management centres are operational at major hospitals in Lahore. Additionally, such centres are functioning in Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan, Narowal, Rahim Yar Khan, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Bhakkar, and Layyah.

During phase-I of expansion, additional centres will be established in Gujrat, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Vehari, Jhelum, Kasur, Mandi Bahauddin, Sheikhupura, Toba Tek Singh, and Khanewal. Phase-II will expand the services to Chakwal, Pakpattan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Mianwali, Bahawalnagar, Hafizabad, Chiniot, Lodhran, Khushab, Okara, Attock, Nankana Sahib, Wazirabad, Murree, Kot Addu, and Talagang.

The chief minister also approved a plan to establish four additional thrombectomy centres for advanced stroke treatment, while comprehensive stroke centers are functional at Punjab Institute of Neurosciences and Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology.

New stroke centres will also be set up at Holy Family, Allied, Nishtar and Bahawal Victoria hospitals.

Each primary stroke centre will be linked to a nearby neurology facility, and dedicated "stroke bays" will be established to provide rapid and specialised care.

In a statement, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed sorrow over the death of three labourers in a lift accident in Faisalabad.

The chief minister also condemned a suicide attack targeting civilians in Bannu and appreciated timely action taken to foil a suicide attack on a police station.