Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Thursday inaugurated the latest cardiac MRI machine at Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) which has been setup with a cost of Rs 30 crore. He also inaugurated the CT angio machine. Chief Minister also went to the emergency block and inquired the patients about health facilities provided to them. He was given a briefing about the treatment facilities. He was informed that CT angio machine is a 640- slice apparatus which is the first of its kind in the country. Similarly, cardiac MRI machine will provide international level treatment facility. Talking on the occasion, Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of friends of PIC and said that start of air ambulance will also be pondered over. Latest facilities will be provided in hospitals so that the hapless patients could get qualitative treatment facilities, he added. He said that PIC model will be extended to remote and far-flung areas adding that healthcare system will be further improved to provide best facilities to the patients. It is my desire that quality healthcare facilities should be available in remote areas round-the-clock and latest cardiac hospitals should also be established in backward localities. He divulged that a plan is being made to provide beast healthcare facilities in backward areas. He added that board of management of PIC will be constituted soon. Talking to the media, Chief Minister said that 2.5 lakh patients are provided treatment facilities in PIC every year adding that he has inaugurated cardiac MRI and CT angio machines. I am heartened that emergency has been extended to 200 beds and state-of-the-art facilities are provided in this hospital. He also thanked Friends of Punjab Institute of Cardiology (FPIC) for the construction of emergency block adding that Gohar Ejaz and his companions have done a praiseworthy job in this regard. We will extend this model further, he added. He said that PTI led government in Punjab has got limited budget and work is being done for the betterment of healthcare system while remaining within the financial resources. He informed that Multan Institute of Cardiology and Wazirabad Institute of Cardiology will also be upgraded and facilities will be further improved in Recep Tayyip Erodgan Hospital Muzaffargarh. Similarly, cardiac facilities will be made better in DG Khan and Bahawalpur and people will soon perceive change around them. The way PIC has been established and Rescue 1122 is serving the masses, I have also dreamt of starting air ambulance service and this dream will be materialized by the grace of Allah Almighty. To a question, he said that all the projects of the previous tenure which are beneficial will be continued and no project of public interest will be closed. To another question, he said that health and education are two mega departments and that is why, they have been bifurcated and I am of the view that their unification would not be correct. To a question, Usman Buzdar said that every job is being done on merit in Punjab and postings of officers are also being made on merit. To another question, Chief Minister said that he wants to visit his ancestral area but is not finding time due to different engagements. Every job is being done according to rules and regulations in Punjab; he added and commended the efforts of FPIC. Spokesperson to CM Shahbaz Gill, CEO PIC Prof. Nadeem Hayat Malik, Gohar Ijaz of FPIC, MS and different philanthropists were also present on the occasion. Anti-polio campaign: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar presided over a high-level meeting at his office to review different steps taken for the elimination of polio from the province. Addressing the meeting, Usman Buzdar said that saving the children from the deadly disease of polio is a national obligation and Punjab government is performing this duty as an important responsibility. We will work in an organized manner to make Pakistan a 100 percent polio-free country. He directed that special campaign should be continued in high-risk districts including Rajanpur, DG Khan and Muzaffargarh. Special attention should be paid to the districts where samples of sewer are found positive. The meeting decided that survey should be conducted to collect verified data of differently abled children of remote and tribal areas. The Chief Minister directed DG (Health) to submit a report after conducting survey soon. He said that securing the future of the children is an important responsibility of us all. Therefore, parents should ensure vaccination of their children to save them from polio. Health department teams should also ensure anti-polio vaccination of every child, he said. He directed that no child should be deprived of anti-polio vaccination and concerted efforts should be made to achieve the anti-polio targets. Midnight oil should be burnt to achieve the targets of anti-polio campaign as there is no room for any leniency in this regard, he added. Usman Buzdar further said that workers should discharge their responsibilities with utmost dedication to make anti-polio campaign a success. DG (Health) briefed the Chief Minister about different steps taken for elimination of polio. Chief Secretary, Secretary (Coordination) to CM, Special Secretary (Primary Healthcare) and DG (Health) attended the meeting. Allama Iqbal’s Birth Anniversary Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that Allama Iqbal was harbinger of unity of the Muslims and he addressed the whole humanity by standing above the geographical limitations. He has given a new message of hope to the youth and encouraged the society to think in a positive manner. In his message, the Chief Minister said that Allama Iqbal was a great scholar whose teachings and philosophy is guiding us even today. Today is an occasion to remember the teachings and philosophy of Poet of the East Allama Dr. Muhammad Iqbal. He said that youth can catalyze change in the society by following the message of Allama Iqbal and added that vision of a new Pakistan is in accordance with the philosophy and ideas of Allama Muhammad Iqbal. Prime Minister Imran Khan is committed to transform the country in line with the philosophy of Allama Iqbal, he said. In fact, Allama Iqbal awakened the Muslims of Indo-Pak sub-continent from deep slumber through his poetry and philosophical thoughts. The proposal of setting up of a separate homeland for the Muslims depicts the political acumen of Allama Iqbal who rekindled the youth and highlighted the greatness of Islamic heritage. It is the need of the hour to establish a judicious socio-economic system by following the teachings and philosophy of Allama Iqbal. He said that we should also make a commitment on this day that objectives of creation of Pakistan will be achieved by following the message of Allama Iqbal. We should also make it sure that strenuous efforts will be made to transform Pakistan according to the ideas and philosophy of the founding father by following the teachings of Allama Iqbal, the Chief Minister concluded. Published in Daily Times, November 9th 2018.