Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar inaugurated the Sehat Insaf Card programme for Faisalabad and Chiniot at a ceremony held at Punjab Medical University in Faisalabad on Friday.
He also distributed Sehat Insaf Cards among the deserving people. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that approximately seven million families and 350 million people would benefit from Sehat Insaf Cards. Around 30 percent population of the province will be provided health cover, while 22 percent population of Faisalabad and 23 percent population of Chiniot will get free treatment facilities through this programme, he added. He said that disfranchised segments of society deserved special attention of the government, which was responsible for providing best treatment facilities to them. The government has launched Sehat Insaf Card programme through Sehat Sahulat programme in the province and I am thankful to Allah Almighty for providing me an opportunity to serve the indigent strata, he said.
Usman Buzdar said that Sehat Insaf Card is a wonderful initiative which has been launched by the prime minister himself and added that the PTI government was working with full dedication and commitment for the welfare of the impecunious strata. Shelter home is another unique project for people by the PTI government, he added. He said that quality healthcare facility will be provided free of cost to every card holder and its family in private hospitals. Maximum ceiling of health card is Rs 720,000 which can be increased in case of need and the government will also bear expenses for transportation of health card holders to hospitals.
Treatment facility for eight different diseases, as well as accidents, will be provided free of cost through this card and free follow-up facility will also be provided besides the provision of medical consultation with regard to the health of mother & child, surgery and emergencies without any cost.
The chief minister said that Rs 152 billion would be spent on 500 development schemes in Faisalabad division. It is our commitment that every city will be made the best in every respect. He said that eastern waste water treatment plant will be constructed in Faisalabad with an amount of Rs 19.33 billion. This plant would also be helpful in saving lands from water-logging along with irrigating the land and provision of clean drinking water to the people. He said that Allama Iqbal Industrial Estate will be set up under Faisalabad Industrial Estate, Development and Management Company (FIEDMC) adding that FIEDMC will herald industrial revolution in the province. Allama Iqbal Industrial Estate is the only CPEC project in Punjab where more than 150 Chinese companies will invest. He said that the PTI has come into power with the commitment of public service, adding that it is burning midnight oil to achieve this objective.
Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid said that past governments invested in buildings and bridges but the incumbent government was investing in human beings, which would make the country strong. She said that Sehat Insaf Cards are being issued to 411,000 families in Faisalabad and 88,000 families in Chiniot. Secretary Specialized Health Momin Agha said that Rs 720,000 are being given for treatment through this card and added that this programme has been launched in 21 districts. Around 350 million deserving people will be issued Sehat Insaf Cards by the end of this year. Punjab government is constructing nine new hospitals while emergencies of 13 hospitals are being upgraded during the current year, he added. Later, the chief minister inaugurated latest ICU in DHQ hospital Faisalabad. Provincial ministers Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Ch. Zaheer-ud-Din, Hafiz Mumtaz Ahmad, Ajmal Cheema, federal parliamentary secretary Farrukh Habib, members of the parliament from Faisalabad and Chiniot, Secretary Specialized Health and Medical Education and others were present on the occasion.
Meanwhile Buzdar took notice of torture to death of an 18-year old girl in Chunian and sought a report from Kasur DPO. He directed the authorities to take legal action by arresting the criminals as soon as possible.
Separately, Buzdar took notice of the incident of burning to death of a married woman in Narowal and sought a report from the DPO. He directed to initiate legal action against the criminals involved in this incident, adding that provision of justice should be ensured to the bereaved family.