HAFIZABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Saturday urged the national institutions to show mutual respect, because for being the constitutional bodies they were bound to respect each other. Addressing the launching ceremony of PM’s National Health Programme in Hafizabad district, he said the political decisions were made by the people at polling stations. He said the labeling of public representatives as mafia, thieves or dacoits was not appropriate. He said the government respected all the institutions hence the institutions were also bound to reciprocate. Abbasi said for the last two years, Nawaz Sharif was being portrayed as the lone accused in the country and being implicated on similar charges in different forms. He said public representation was not an easy task, so while voting the people should judge as who would be best capable of representing them the right way. Above all, the moral authority of the candidate should also be judged, he added. The prime minister said under Nawaz Sharif’s leadership, the PML-N always resolved national and public issues and talked of country’s development. The projects executed during the last five years were more than even those done during the last 65 years, he added. Abbasi reiterated that against 17,000 MW generated since inception, PML-N government added 10,000 MW to the national grid, besides ensuring surplus gas supply and enabling the country to export 0.6 million tons fertilizer. The prime minister said the government kept up its journey of development despite all conspiracies and sit-ins. He also urged the national institutions to serve within their domains. He said the people had already given their verdict on Nawaz Sharif’s politics in recent bye-election in Lodhran. “You will see the repetition of this decision in July elections too,” he added. The prime minister said that the National Health Programme was the vision of Nawaz Sharif who had thought of providing medical facility to the poor at par with the rich people. He said the health insurance card would ensure free of charge medical treatment of up to Rs 0.3 million to the entitled persons in best hospitals of the area. He said the scheme was growing successfully and even many countries were consulting with Pakistan over the methods of programme’s successful implementation. He said although the health was a provincial subject after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, Nawaz Sharif planned to extend federal government’s services in health sector without any political discrimination across the country. He assured the gathering that the programme would be expanded and its shortcomings would be addressed. Abbasi said it was up to the people to decide whom they elect in July elections. He reiterated that the PML-N had decided not to allow rigging in Senate elections and resist those involved in horse-trading even before and after the polls. He viewed that the people contesting elections using their riches or some venal MPAs instead of public support could neither serve the masses nor the parliament. He said it was only the parliament that went through accountability after every five years. The prime minister agreed to the demands of establishing a university campus, construction of new roads and maintenance of old ones as requested by the local representatives. He also assured the provision of gas supply to the remaining villages of the district. The ceremony was also attended by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, Health Minister Saira Afzal Tarar, Minister of State Arshad Leghari, Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, Special Assistant to PM Dr Musaddik Malik, Mian Shahid Bhatti MNA and senior officials from ministries and divisions allied with the programme. Earlier, the prime minister launched the health scheme by distributing insurance cards among the needy men and women from various localities of the district. Published in Daily Times, February 18th 2018.