Daily Times

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif Sunday chaired a high-level meeting in which a delegation led by Abraaj Group’s Health Impact Committee Chairman David Nicholson also took part.

In the meeting, the Abraaj Group expressed interest in cooperation with the Punjab government for improvement in healthcare system, training of doctors and nurses and coordination for diagnose of diseases.

In this regard, a joint committee of the Punjab government and the Abraaj Group would present its final recommendations on the future plan in the next few days.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said, “We will have to take immediate steps to improve healthcare system.

The chief minister said that the Punjab government had taken the management of ambulance service of hospital from Health Department and handed it over to Rescue 1122.

Punjab, he said, was the only province of Pakistan where ambulance services were being run on coordinated system for the first time and with the introduction of new ambulance service system, improvement had been seen in timely shifting of patients to hospitals. “I am confident that hard work, determination and passion to improve healthcare system will bear fruits one day,” he added.

The chief minister said that training of doctors, nurses and other paramedic staff as per international standards was need of the hour, and in this regard “we would take benefit from the experience and expertise of the Abraaj Group”.

The Abraaj Global Healthcare chief executive officer expressed his resolve to work with the Punjab government for improving healthcare system in the province.

Provincial ministers Khawaja Salman Rafique, Khawaja Imran Nazir, additional chief secretary, Planning and Development chairman, officials concerned and medical experts were also present on the occasion.

Separately, the chief minister Sunday felicitated the Hindu community of Pakistan on the eve of Holi.

In his felicitation message, the chief minister said that that all the minorities, including the Hindu community, were equal citizens of Pakistan and they had equal rights. “The role played by Hindu community in the socio-economic and political field is appreciable.”

He said that the Hindu community residing in Pakistan had played a great role for the progress and prosperity of the country. The chief minister said that the protection of rights of minorities had an important place in religious teachings and protection of human rights without any discrimination was the recognition of Islamic society.

The chief minister said that it was the responsibility of the state to provide basic rights to minorities and also to protect their rights. “We respect the Hindu community residing within Pakistan and all the minorities living in Pakistan are our valuable asset,” he added.