Daily Times

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has abolished Re 1 out-door patient department (OPD) fee at all government hospitals across the province with immediate effect.

Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Khawaja Imran Nazir and Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique have issued directives to secretaries concerned for immediate compliance with the order of the chief minister.

Specialised Healthcare Secretary Najam Ahmad Shah and Primary and Secondary Healthcare Secretary Ali Jan Khan have issued notifications in this regard.

Medical superintendents of all teaching hospitals, district headquarters (DHQ) hospitals and tehsil headquarters (THQ) hospitals have been directed to ensure compliance with the order and display banners for awareness of people coming to the health facilities. Secretary Ali Jan Khan said that the order would also be applicable to all rural health centres (RHCs) and basic health units (BHUs) across the province.

All chief executive officers (CEOs) of the district health authorities have been asked to ensure the compliance in their respective districts.

Meanwhile, the chief minister Saturday said that more than Rs 9 billion would be given to provide relief to the people during the holy month of Ramazan under the relief package.

A statement quoted the chief minister as saying that a subsidy of Rs 8.78 billion would be given under which a 10kg bag of flour would be available at Rs 250, while 20kg bag would be available at Rs 500.

He said that more than 318 Ramazan bazaars had been set up across the province while model bazaars set up at various places would also work as Ramazan bazaars. He said that agriculture fair price shops had also been established at all the bazaars where Rs 20 per kg subsidy has been given at gram pulse, gram flour, dates, apples and bananas, while ghee, cooking oil, chicken, eggs and sugar would also be available at low prices as compared to the market price.

The statement said that more than 2,000 “Madni Dastarkhawans” had been set up all over the province where free Iftar and Sehar meals would be served. He directed the authorities concerned to ensure that rates of all food items at Ramazan bazaars and open market be displayed at prominent places and digital price boards should also be installed.

The chief minister said that edible items of good quality should be available abundantly and benefits of the Ramazan package should reach the public at any cost. He ordered foolproof security arrangements at all Ramazan bazaars, and directed provincial ministers and secretaries to visit the bazaars to check price and quality of foodstuff on a daily basis. He said indiscriminate crackdown should be launched against profiteers and hoarders.