Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Friday said that he would personally monitor the development schemes and added that exhibitory projects were designed, instead of public welfare schemes, in the past.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony for the reconstruction of 200-bed gynaecology hospital in Rawalpindi, he said that Sehat Insaf Card Scheme had been started in 18 districts of the province, and around seven million families and 35 million people would benefit from it. “The PTI government is honoured to introduce state-of-the-art projects, including the gynaecology hospital, under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan.”
Buzdar said the cabinet had accorded approval to upgrade the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology as a cardiac and vascular diseases centre, and patients suffering from cardiac as well as paralysis diseases would benefit from the latest treatment facilities. He said that Ring Road would be constructed with a cost of Rs 45 billion in Rawalpindi, and a signal-free expressway would also be constructed with an amount of Rs 70 billion for drainage of water from Nullah Lai, and to improve the transportation facility. He said that the PHA was working on different projects to restore the original grandeur of Rawalpindi, and added that 474 development schemes would be completed in the Rawalpindi division with a cost of around Rs 157 billion. “The delay in the completion of Rawalpindi gynaecology hospital is deplorable,” he added.
Slams previous government for designing exhibitory projects instead of public welfare schemes
Separately, talking to different delegations at his office, Buzdar said rulers in the past exhausted the national kitty by following wrong policies, but the present government had provided resources on a priority basis for public welfare schemes despite the financial crunch. He said that a colossal Ramazan Package had been introduced to provide relief to the people in the holy month. “During the previous tenure, pomp and show were exhibited in the name of Ramazan Bazaars. On the other side, the PTI government has saved Rs 2 billion by doing away with the culture of ostentatious display of things. Various items of daily use are available in Ramazan Bazaars at cheaper rates. I have visited Ramazan Bazaars and checked the prices and quality of items, and also deputed the ministers for the monitoring of these bazaars,” he added.
He said the huge subsidy was meant for the people and its fruits would be transferred to them. He made it clear that the illegal increase in the rates of essential items would not be tolerated because the provision of relief to the common man was the agenda of the government.
Earlier, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza called on Buzdar at his office and discussed various matters, including improvement in the health sector and continuation of immunisation campaign with further zeal and effectiveness. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that the provision of better healthcare facilities to the people was the first priority and added that the government was working to transform the hospitals as exemplary institutions in the province. “Speedy implementation of the roadmap is in progress to develop the health sector and to provide most modern medical facilities to the people. The purpose of health sector reforms is to provide the best facilities to the people. All possible resources will be utilised to provide healthcare facilities to the common man,” he added. He said that reforms were being introduced to synchronise the traditional healthcare system with the latest needs and requirements. “The ongoing health sector reforms program will soon yield far-reaching effects and no dearth of resources will occur to provide better facilities… the provision of the qualitative healthcare system in hospitals is the right of patients.” He said that fruits of funds allocated for the provision of latest medical facilities would be transferred to the people. “Every promise made with the people will be fulfilled and all have to work collectively for the success of the immunisation campaign. The line departments will also have to work proactively to save the children from infectious diseases,” the CM concluded.